City Develops Smart Parking Solution With MultiTech Gateways

Solving the Frustrations of City Parking

For people who spend any amount of time behind the wheel, parking can be one of the most arduous and exasperating parts of the process. The surge in traffic congestion, stringent parking regulations, and a dwindling number of available stopping spaces have made it increasingly difficult for drivers to locate suitable parking spots.

Additionally, having to pay for parking after finally securing a spot exacerbates the frustration. In certain areas, parking meters are either hard to locate, require coins for payment, or are occasionally malfunctioning - all things that alone are frustrating enough, but when they happen in tandem (as they so often do!), it can take a situation from annoying to infuriating.

These challenges prompted a city in California to develop a user-friendly parking application designed to simplify the parking experience for its residents.

Challenge

Developing A System To Streamline Parking With Weather-Resistant Gateways

To bring this vision to life, the city partnered with a cloud solution provider with expertise in Internet of Things (IoT) devices tailored for utility and municipal applications.

"The city aimed to eliminate the need for manual parking payments and sought an improved method for city enforcement to monitor and facilitate customer payments," explained an IoT/AI Engineer at the organization. "We were enthusiastic about applying our proficiency in cloud technologies to assist them in identifying the optimal solution."

The company envisioned a system that harnessed sensors to transmit data to users through an intuitive application. At the outset, the city proposed the use of LoRaWAN®, a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) networking protocol designed to establish wireless connections between battery-operated devices and the internet, along with the requisite supporting services. Additionally, the city had specific recommendations for wireless and gateway providers.

The company conducted thorough research into various gateway options in the field, even considering alternatives from competitors.

"We had specific criteria in mind: reliability in outdoor conditions, waterproofing, and airtightness," the IoT/AI Engineer explained. "MultiTech's gateway met all these requirements and boasted an impressive LoRaWAN range."

Solution

MultiTech's Conduit IP67 Excels As Gateway For LoRaWAN Network

In the early stages of development, it was determined that a network that's renowned as the world's largest public LoRaWAN network was the ideal choice for the wireless infrastructure, and MultiTech emerged as the preferred gateway provider.

The IoT/AI Engineer stated, "We recognized from the outset that leveraging LoRaWAN was our most advantageous path. [The network's] complete compatibility with MultiTech's gateways made it a perfect match for our project."

During a site survey assessing gateway range, MultiTech's gateways demonstrated a significantly greater communication range, thereby reducing the number of gateways needed and lowering costs for the city. The Engineer emphasized, "Choosing MultiTech's Conduit® IP67, just as the city did, was an obvious decision."

LoRaWan Solutions for Smart Parking Systems

IoT-enabled smart parking sensors that could be embedded in the pavement and detect whether parking spots were vacant or occupied emerged as the top choice for the solution, while the utilization of LoRaWAN would facilitate the cost-effective connectivity of the IoT sensors to the cloud.
In order to develop a model for the parking sensors to transmit information that end users could ultimately utilize, the company developed a use-case-specific application. This application leveraged the network's dedicated APIs to monitor new data transmitted by the parking sensors installed in the pavement.

The sensor data is then transmitted via a dedicated LoRaWAN radio frequency (RF) band to MultiTech gateways strategically positioned on nearby traffic light poles. These gateways, equipped with either cellular SIM cards or Wi-Fi, facilitate the transfer of data packets from the sensors to the cloud. Whenever a new data point is received for any parking spot, the API promptly updates the information on the parking app, providing end users with real-time insights into parking space availability.

Results

1,460 Monitored Parking Spots And Happier Citizens

As of today, the city has successfully deployed sensors in 1,460 parking spots. MultiTech's gateways are operational and actively receiving real-time data from the in-ground sensors.

Most importantly, the city's residents are experiencing relief, as they now have a convenient solution that simplifies their parking experience. City officials are equally satisfied, as the system has streamlined payment processes for parking fees, contributing to increased efficiency.

"LoRaWAN technology has created new opportunities across a wide range of industries and use cases," said the CEO of MultiTech. "Cities worldwide will learn from the city's implementation, and there is no better proof point to its effectiveness than seeing it in action. The expanding accessibility of devices has allowed businesses to increase efficiencies and reduce operating costs. We proudly offer products that are part of these life-changing solutions."

Benefits

A Scalable and Reliable Municipal Smart Parking Solution

The parking solution brings convenience, efficiency, cost savings, and scalability - all of which contribute to a better parking experience for residents and city officials in the city.

Real-Time Parking Availability

IoT-enabled smart parking sensors and LoRaWAN technology allow for real-time monitoring of parking space availability. This information is promptly updated on the parking app, providing end users with up-to-the-minute insights and reducing the time spent searching for parking.

Simplified Parking Experience

The solution eliminates the need for manual parking payments, making it more convenient for city residents to park their vehicles. This simplification reduces the frustration associated with traditional payment methods.

Cost Reduction

MultiTech's gateways demonstrated a significantly greater communication range during site surveys, reducing the number of gateways needed. This cost-saving measure benefits the city.

Scalability

The solution is scalable, meaning it can easily accommodate additional sensors if necessary without requiring extensive infrastructure changes. This scalability is a cost-effective way to expand the system as needed.

Positive Impact on Citizens

The solution has led to happier city residents who benefit from the improved parking experience, reduced frustration, and greater convenience.

"Because it is running on [the network], we can easily increase the scale to additional sensors if necessary. Similar parking solutions require more infrastructure, such as dedicated RF network antennas and wiring to deploy such large applications," said the IoT/AI Engineer. "With the right technologies and the right partners in place, we were able to create a solution that worked for everyone. In the end, it's the citizens and city officials that reap the benefit, and that was our original goal."

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