Improving the management of parking spaces in loading and unloading zones is a necessary measure in the mobility plans of any city. In recent years we have seen a boom in ecommerce, so as part of urban policies should be to facilitate transport companies to deliver in the last mile in an orderly manner achieving an ideal coexistence between all users: from pedestrians to vehicles.
Because in addition to the proliferation of online commerce, in any urban center there are all kinds of traditional businesses that need to make use of these reserved parking spaces on public roads for their proper operation. From receiving and shipping goods to parking to deliver orders, the drivers of goods and transport company vehicles are the ones who are authorized to use the parking spaces for loading and unloading.
The rest of the users of vehicles of any kind, including Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMV), can neither park nor park in these spaces. But every day we see that fraud is committed in the use of reserved parking spaces on public roads. And that causes all kinds of traffic problems in cities: from traffic jams to high traffic density looking for parking (traffic jostling), because the misuse of loading and unloading spaces or double-parked cars causes a chain effect.
For these reasons, at Urbiotica we want to offer technological solutions to put an end to the misuse of misuse of loading and unloading spaces in the cities. The benefits of these tools are for all citizens, with repercussions at an economic, mobility or tourism level.
Technology for parking space management in loading and unloading areas
The technology used to serve the interest of cities and their inhabitants is reflected in the solutions for unloading spaces such as U-Spot sensors, which are a flush, magnetic and autonomous square-by-square parking sensors. The detection can also be done through cameras that process images through U-Spot VISIO Artificial Intelligence and Deep learning software.
How do they operate and improve the management of reserved spaces for unloading and unloading of goods?
Detection of a vehicle occupying a reserved parking space
These sensors and cameras, which work with NB-IoT or LoRaWAN communication networks, detect the presence of a vehicle in reserved and regulated parking spaces such as loading and unloading zones. Thus, when a vehicle parks in the space, it is verified whether or not it is an authorized vehicle. And if it is not, an alert is issued so that the driver can remove the vehicle to allow its use by delivery drivers and authorized carriers of goods transport companies or similar.
In this sense, they simply detect that there is a car occupying the space, but in what concrete way do they allow to control parking spaces in zones and loading and unloading in an efficient way?
Mobile app to confirm authorized drivers
The 360º solution includes a mobile app that allows confirming and verifying that authorized drivers and users of these technologies are the ones parking in the parking spaces. The identification is therefore error-free, reliable and perfectly differentiates between authorized and unauthorized users.
In this way, the technology combines different devices (sensors or detection cameras, advanced communication networks and mobile apps) in the service of orderly and sustainable urban mobility, and to ensure that only authorized vehicles park.
In addition, this app indicates to the carriers how much time they have available, i.e. it indicates the remaining time before the parking space is used by another driver. In an orderly, simple and efficient way, working time is optimized and the productivity of the drivers is increased.
Guidance of carriers to free loading and unloading places in real time
One more technology that serves to improve the management of parking spaces in loading and unloading zones in cities is the ParkTime app. How does it works? It is a mobile app that allows carriers to be guided to vacant spaces in real time.
Thanks to this application, carriers no longer have to drive around looking for an available loading and unloading space to park. If this guidance is added to the detection and confirmation through the app of authorized drivers, the digital solutions listed in this article lead to enormous economic savings and a reduction in the environmental impact of vehicle circulation.
Why? Because it reduces the time in which vehicles circulate through the streets of cities looking for parking, in this case in the freight transport sector. This speeds up the time it takes to find a parking space, get the job done and free up the loading and unloading space. This reduces stress, eases traffic congestion, reduces noise pollution from traffic jams and improves the life and health of all city dwellers.
ParkTime
Efficient control to ensure the proper use of the sites
Finally, an essential function is the control of loading and unloading bays. By detecting the improper use of the spaces, both unauthorized users and those who exceed the time allowed, alerts can be sent in real time to those responsible for surveillance of these infractions.
This monitoring optimizes the usual control routes, resulting in more efficient management and reduced costs. Moreover, the benefits go beyond operational savings: by sensing the existence of comprehensive control, users tend to make better use of spaces, which in turn improves overall mobility.
This efficient control system not only optimizes resources and reduces costs, but also encourages parking enforcement. As a result, a more orderly and accessible parking environment is created, leading to greater satisfaction of both users and citizens in general.
The reality of parking spaces in loading and unloading zones
These are some solutions for loading and unloading zones to improve their control and efficiency in urban areas. Why are they necessary and should they be implemented in cities, with successful examples in Castellón de la Plana or Teruel? The first reason is to avoid the fraudulent use of parking spaces for loading and unloading, due to the problems in traffic and the work of carriers mentioned above.
This reality is what has led cities to implement technological solutions in this area, with the aim of curbing traffic chaos and traffic congestion that are detrimental to all citizens and vehicle drivers. Providing a solution benefits everyone, promotes the general welfare of all inhabitants and results in better urban mobility and a higher quality of life.
Sustainable mobility in Spain according to IMSCE 2021
The importance of improving sustainable mobility is evidenced by results such as those of the second Spanish Cities Sustainable Mobility Index (IMSCE) for the year 2021, prepared by Idencity together with the Association of Manufacturers and Distributors (AECOC). This report, based on an analysis of 138 indicators in 82 cities, shows that the average score of Spanish cities is 50.8%.
These indicators, distributed in five categories: mobility and transport, environment, economy, society and government, reflect a variety of factors, from accessibility and the use of public transport to air quality and the level of greenhouse gas emissions, among others. They aim to provide a comprehensive and balanced view of the current state of sustainable mobility in these cities.
In terms of the supply and demand indicators for mobility services, Spanish cities obtain an average score of 44.2% and 41.6%, respectively. The supply indicator refers to the availability and quality of sustainable transport options, such as public transport, bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian zones. On the demand side, this indicator measures how much these sustainable options are actually used by citizens.
On the other hand, the physical structure of the territory indicator, which evaluates elements such as population density, proximity of services and connectivity of the transport network, received an average score of 42.9%.
These data reflect the importance of continuing to work to improve the supply and use of sustainable mobility services, as well as mobility-oriented urban planning in Spanish cities. The goal should be to achieve higher scores on these sustainable mobility indicators in order to build cleaner, more efficient and friendlier cities.
Therefore, at Urbiotica we are convinced of the need to invest in digital solutions to improve the management and control of parking spaces in loading and unloading areas, as well as the rest of the reserved and regulated parking spaces in cities. Traffic density, pollution and parking problems for various reasons mean that there is no alternative but to look for solutions to avoid the collapse of city centers. And when it comes to unloading and unloading goods, this technology already exists with a high level of efficiency.
