Introduction
Background and Context
The demand for parking spaces in cities has grown as vehicle purchases hike. Finding a parking place has become time-consuming and arduous for automobiles, resulting in traffic congestion and wasted fuel (Kumar et al., 2020). Researchers suggest smart parking systems (SPSs) that employ technology to route cars to available parking places and optimize parking resources. According to Marinov & Toteva (2019), these systems gather data about available parking spots and send it to cars in real time using sensors, cameras, and software. After the data has been assessed and used to build the map, drivers can see it through a smartphone app or an electronic display (Brdulak, 2020). SPSs are a viable solution to the issue of limited parking places and a means of lowering traffic and improving air quality. These allow parking corporations to manage their resources better and save operating expenses.
Purpose and Significance of Literature Review
This literature review aims to offer a thorough overview of the scientific environment around SPSs implementation. There is a significant prerequisite to focus on the critical components of SPSs. The review will look into the advantages and disadvantages of using SPSs. This study’s results will help shape future research on SPSs, and urban planners will utilize them to better parking management in their cities.
Smart Parking Systems
Definition and Characteristics
Bestowing to Wirtz et al. (2020), SPSs refer to integrating technologies such as sensors, communication networks, and data analytics to optimize parking resource utilization. These systems aim to improve drivers’ parking experiences by providing real-time information on parking spot availability and guiding cars to available spaces (Loo-See et al., 2022). SPSs, according to Sharma and Manocha (2021), may alleviate traffic congestion and air pollution by shortening the time cars are parked. SPSs, according to Allam et al., boost traffic flow and speed up automotive parking (2018). In their qualitative study, Sur and Jung (2023) reveal that SPSs are widely employed in high-traffic places such as retail malls, airports, and city centers to assist users in locating, paying for, and reserving parking spots. SPSs improve traffic flow, air quality, and user experience by making parking easier (Marinova & Toteva, 2019). Intelligent parking solutions benefit customers, companies, and the environment.
Benefits and Challenges
SPSs provide a variety of advantages that improve parking management, reduce traffic, and improve the customer experience. Kumar et al. (2020) say that implementing SPSs may assist in increasing parking resource use, eliminate the demand for new parking infrastructure, and enhance the performance of current parking facilities. This improvement may minimize the time spent looking for parking places, enhancing traffic flow in parking lots and lowering overall congestion (Wirtz et al., 2020). SPSs may give users real-time information about parking availability and recommendations on how to clear spots, enhancing the entire parking experience. Referring to Marinov & Toteva (2019), consumers notified about parking availability may better plan their journeys and spend less time and effort looking for parking. By promoting client loyalty, this convenience may also stimulate repeat business and successful word-of-mouth promotion.
Nevertheless, implementing SPSs in place may need to overcome several challenges. One of the significant challenges is the high cost of implementing and maintaining SPSs (Allam et al., 2022). Loo-See et al. (2022) say that the high cost and complexity of the hardware and software components necessary for SPSs may be a substantial deployment hurdle. Concerns about privacy and security must also be addressed to guarantee that data collection and transmission about drivers and their cars are safe and shielded from unwanted access (Sharma & Manocha, 2021). The systems’ technical sophistication is an issue since they need highly skilled individuals to run and maintain.
Smart Parking Technologies
Sensor Technologies
Allam et al. (2022) state that real-time, sensor-based parking space occupancy data is necessary to detect and report vehicles in a given area to a central computer. Ultrasonic sensors can identify vehicles by listening to the vibrations of passing vehicles, according to research by Wirtz et al. (2020). They send sound waves that bounce off adjacent objects and return to the sensor, enabling a distance estimate to be determined. Because of their cheap cost, excellent precision, and ease of installation, these sensors are often used in SPSs. Magnetic sensors, according to Loo-See et al., 2022, detect changes in the magnetic field induced by the presence of a car in a parking lot. Despite their incredible accuracy, these sensors are likely to be expensive and difficult to install since magnetic sensors must be placed in each parking spot.
In a comparative study, Brdulak (2020) notes that camera-based sensors take photographs of parking places, which are subsequently evaluated to determine whether or not any spaces are available. They may include other functions, like license plate recognition, and are relatively accurate, but they may be expensive and cause privacy problems (Suhr & Jung, 2023). Conferring with Marinov & Toteva (2019), cost, accuracy, and simplicity of deployment significantly define the sensor technology. SPSs help reduce urban traffic using the best sensor technology to give cars efficient and easy parking alternatives.
Communication Technologies
SPSs depend on communication technology to relay data from parking sensors to a central server and give real-time parking availability information to automobiles. Brdulak (2020) says that SPSs use several communication mechanisms. Wi-Fi is a common communication technology in SPSs. It is a reliable and quick way to transfer data from parking sensors to a central computer and deliver real-time data to drivers. The construction of access nodes across the parking lot is required for Wi-Fi, which might be pricey. Moreover, by sending parking sensor data to a central server, automobiles may obtain real-time parking availability information through cellular networks (Suhr & Jung, 2023). This method outperforms Wi-Fi in terms of coverage while needing no new infrastructure. Cellular networks, on the other hand, may be more costly than Wi-Fi and more prone to network congestion during peak hours.
Wirtz et al. (2020) assent that SPSs may also employ LoRaWAN, a low-power wide-area network, to transport data from parking sensors to a central server. It is a feasible alternative with little infrastructure requirements and broad coverage. LoRaWAN’s slow data transfer rates compared to Wi-Fi and cellular networks make it less useful in heavily populated locations, as Allam et al. (2022) indicate in their study. The cost, range, and data transfer speeds directly impact communication technology (Marinov & Toteva, 2019). SPSs may manage traffic flow, give real-time parking information, and improve the parking experience using permitted communication technology.
Data Analytics and Management
Data management and analysis are critical components of an SPS functioning. Marinov & Toteva (2019) understand that these solutions allow parking managers to better manage parking resources by collecting and interpreting data obtained from parking sensors. This data might help machine learning algorithms estimate commuter parking availability (Wirtz et al., 2020). Parking-related considerable data research may identify patterns and behavior. SPSs can grow and adapt to store and handle vast amounts of parking data using cloud computing. Real-time monitoring of parking availability and use improves the efficiency with which parking resources are allocated, referring to Brdulak (2020). Data management and analytics technologies are essential to the success of SPSs because they enable parking operators to deliver effective, practical, and environmentally friendly parking solutions for metropolitan areas.
Mobile Applications
Suhr & Jung (2023) consent that SPSs require incorporating mobile apps to aid drivers. Travelers may save time by using parking reservation apps to book parking spots in advance. These apps help alleviate traffic congestion and simplify parking for drivers (Allam et al., 2022). Parking guidance programs assist motorists in quickly discovering parking sites by providing real-time information on parking availability and guiding cars to available spaces, as Sharma & Manocha (2021) say. These applications have the potential to minimize traffic congestion by diverting cars to less crowded parking lots. Drivers may pay for parking using mobile payment apps rather than cash or credit cards (Loo-See et al., 2022). These apps help drivers spend less time at parking meters or kiosks, paying for parking more quickly and getting on with their day.
Implementation Strategies
Planning and Design
Marinov & Toteva (2019) understand that implementing an SPS requires planning and design. It includes finding the most suitable technology, calculating the number and positioning of sensors, creating communication networks, and designing software applications (Wirtz et al., 2020). Examining the system’s possible impacts on the environment and the community is critical throughout the planning and design stages.
Integration with Existing Infrastructure
The effective implementation of an SPS requires integration with existing infrastructure. This entails integrating sensors, communication systems, and software applications into existing parking meters, payment systems, and enforcement methods (Loo-See et al., 2022). Connecting the system to other smart cities systems, like traffic control and public transit, may improve the system’s overall effectiveness.
Financing and Investment
Financial planning and investment decisions are essential components of using People. According to Allam et al. (2022), hardware and software installation, ongoing maintenance and support, and human resource costs are among the prospective costs of using this system. Public-private partnerships, grants, and loans are viable funding options for these projects (Kumar et al., 2020). The prospective revenue generated by the system must be considered to guarantee that the investment is profitable.
Stakeholder Engagement
Involving stakeholders is essential in determining an SPS installation’s success. Stakeholders include public members, parking operators, local governments, and technology providers (Brdulak, 2020). Involvement from these different stakeholders may assist in recognizing their requirements and concerns, which may subsequently be included in the planning and design stages of the project, according to Kumar et al. (2020). Stakeholders can create support for the system and ensure its long-term success.
Case Studies and Best Practices
Overview of Case Studies
SPSs have been successfully deployed in advanced cities like San Francisco, Barcelona, and Singapore, as Marinov & Toteva (2019) record. For example, sensors have been installed on the streets of San Francisco to identify the presence of autos and communicate real-time data to the cloud (Kumar et al., 2020). Enabling cars to utilize mobile apps to seek free spots minimizes the time and fuel they spend looking for parking. Parking sensors that employ magnetic fields to detect the presence of stopped autos have been placed in Barcelona, as Allam et al. (2022) establish. Vehicles may utilize mobile apps to seek free parking places thanks to data transfer from these sensors to a central system. Referring to Wirtz et al. (2020), Singapore has also installed a sophisticated SPS that employs cameras to detect occupied parking spots. This device sends data to a central database, which is then utilized to alert drivers of available parking spots in real-time (Suhr & Jung, 2023). In general, smart parking solutions are transforming how cities handle parking operations. These solutions use cutting-edge technology to lower traffic congestion, optimize parking operations, and improve the parking experience.
Analysis of Successful Implementations
SPS installation must be meticulously planned and executed for success. Sharma and Manocha (2021) state that infrastructure compatibility is an SPS’s most crucial success factor. This implies that the system must be compatible with parking meters, indicators, and other parking-related city infrastructure. According to Kumar et al. (2020), the participation of stakeholders is vital to the success of SPSs. Strong interaction with municipal governments, parking operators, and the general public is required to ensure all adopt the new system (Suhr & Jung, 2023). As most people are unfamiliar with these systems, effective teaching and communication strategies are required. According to Loo-See et al. (2022), a financially solid strategy is crucial to the long-term viability of an SPS. The system must generate sufficient revenue to support its expenses and generate a profit. Even though there may be an initial expense, if the system truly benefits society, it may be profitable in the long term.
Future Directions
Emerging Technologies and Trends
Loo-See et al. (2022) establish that the parking business is experiencing fundamental disruption due to the emergence of cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. Machine learning-based systems, for example, can estimate parking demand and optimize its usage (Allam et al., 2022). Wirtz et al. (2020) understand that the Internet of Things can link parking sensors and devices, allowing real-time data to be used to make judgments. The use of blockchain technology ensures safe and transparent parking charge transactions (Brdulak, 2020).
Potential for Scalability and Replication
SPSs execution has the potential to be developed and imitated in a variety of places and settings. A flexible and adaptable system that can be modified to match each city’s demands and peculiarities is critical to an idea’s durability and replication (Marinov & Toteva, 2019). Successful implementations in one city may give helpful insights and lessons gained that may be used in other cities’ implementations.
Policy and Regulatory Considerations
Policy and regulatory considerations are required to implement appropriate and continuously operating SPSs. Pricing, enforcement, and accessibility policies may impact parking demand and behavior (Marinov & Toteva, 2019). To ensure that the system runs smoothly, it is critical to have data privacy and security policies in place, as well as interoperability and compatibility standards. Sharma & Manocha (2021) add that the potential influence of SPSs on social fairness, environmental sustainability, and economic development must be considered in legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Findings
This literature review summarizes the present status of research on the installation of SPSs. SPSs optimize the utilization of parking resources by using a range of technologies such as sensors, communication networks, and data analytics. Sensor-based systems, wireless sensor networks, parking guidance, and PGIS, among others, are the three basic kinds of SPSs. The most significant barriers to deploying these systems are cost, technical complexity, and privacy and security issues. Sensor technologies, communication technologies, data analytics and administration, and mobile apps are the primary components of SPSs.
Implications for Practice and Research
This assessment of the literature has many implications for both research and practice. This paper illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of employing SPSs for practitioners and the fundamental components of such systems. Using this data, policymakers and urban planners may make well-informed choices about parking management in local areas. This review focuses on academic research opportunities such as developing more affordable and effective sensor technologies, applying blockchain technology to SPSs to improve privacy and security, and developing machine learning algorithms to forecast parking demand and optimize parking resource utilization.
Areas for Further Investigation
Despite the apparent advantages of SPSs, several areas still need to be explored. Future research should focus on producing less expensive and more effective sensor technologies. Due to their high installation and running costs, magnetic and camera-based sensors have a restricted range of applications. Researchers may use alternate sensor technologies like sound sensors to overcome these constraints. Also, the review deduces the need to explore the use of blockchain technology to improve the privacy and security of SPSs. Parking data could be securely shared and kept using blockchain technology while drivers and cars remained anonymous. Future research will also focus on developing machine learning algorithms that can estimate parking demand and optimize the allocation of parking supplies. SPSs may increase the efficiency of parking resource allocation by accurately forecasting parking demand, decreasing traffic congestion, and improving urban mobility.
References
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Kumar, R., Banga, H. K., & Kaur, H. (2020, November). Internet of things-supported smart city platform. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 955, No. 1, p. 012003). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/955/1/012003
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Marinov, P., & Toteva, D. (2019). Smart Cities-New Urban Areas. Trakia Journal of Sciences, 17(1), 914–917. https://doi.org/10.15547/tjs.2019.s.01.151
Sharma, V., & Manocha, T. (2021). Technological influences over factors for sustainability of smart cities. Global Journal of Enterprise Information System, 13(1), 26-41. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6717-3323
Suhr, J. K., & Jung, H. G. (2023). Survey of target parking position designation for automatic parking systems. International Journal of Automotive Technology, 24(1), 287-303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-023-0025-6
Wirtz, B. W., Müller, W. M., & Schmidt, F. (2020). Public smart service provision in smart cities: A case-study-based approach. International Journal of Public Administration, 43(6), 499-516. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2019.1636395
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