Introduction

Systems to Help Drivers Find Parking
Advanced parking systems (APS) integrate one or more electronic and construction tools to best utilize a parking structure or parking lot.

The most common advanced parking systems assist drivers in finding parking facilities with available space. They do this by obtaining information about available parking spaces, processing it, and presenting it to drivers. Information may be presented via static or changeable message signs, phone, the Internet, or in-vehicle navigation systems. See our Telecommunications Diagram on Parking Management for more information. Recently, this system has added complex security and space-saving techniques.

The first such systems were implemented in European cities in the late 1970's. Among European and Asian cities with these systems are Frankfurt am Main and Koeln, Germany; Bristol, UK; Ghent, Belgium; and Yokahama and Toyota, Japan. In the US, systems have been implemented in St. Paul, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. Click here to take a virtual tour of the Smart Park at the Baltimore/Washington Airport.

Automatic Parking Systems
These systems automatically store the cars within the facility. They have been implemented in Japan and Vancouver, British Columbia. Their purpose is to reduce the amount of space needed for parking.

Electronic and Wireless Payment
Like toll roads, some parking facilities are introducing electronic payment. It works in the same way as electronic toll collection; drivers have a transponder in their car that is read as they enter and leave the parking facility. This reduces queueing at the entrance and exit to the facility and reduces money handling costs. The wireless transmission of parking fees sent via mobile phones is also becoming an alternative to cash payments at meters. This m-commerce application is currently being tested and implemented around the globe.

Advanced Parking Meters
These meters can provide real-time information regarding whether the parking place is occupied and if the meter has expired or not. This information is transmitted by wireless modem to a server where parking enforcement staff can see which spaces contain vehicles with parking violations. These meters can also verify parking permits for special classes of vehicles, such as disabled people or adjacent residents. Such meters can reduce violations and increase revenues.

Benefits
These reduce the time spent searching for a parking place, reduce congestion, and reduce illegal parking. They also allow better distribution of parking demand and higher utilization of parking facilities.

Costs

Costs vary widely depending on the system. However, below is a table showing estimated costs for basic components during the 1990's.

Note: All costs are in $K. The date in parentheses under the capital cost value and O&M cost value represents the dollar year of the cost values.

Unit Cost Element	IDAS #	Life Years	Capital Cost $K (Source Year)	O&M Cost $K/year (Source Year)	Description
Entrance/Exit Ramp Meters		10	2 - 5 (1995)	0.2 - 0.5 (1995)	Ramp meters are used to detect and count vehicles entering/existing the parking facility. O&M costs based on annual service contract.
Tag Readers		10	2 - 5 (1995)	0.2 - 0.5 (1995)	Readers support electronic payment scheme. O&M costs based on annual service contract.
Database and Software for Billing & Pricing		10	10 - 15 (1995)	1 - 2 (1995)	Database system contains parking pricing structure and availability. O&M costs based on annual service contract.
Parking Monitoring System		10	14 - 46 (1998)		Includes installation, detectors, and controllers.

Reference

Implementation

Authors: Marika Benko, Lauren Smith, Hans Roth. Last Updated August, 2007