Assignment 2: Summary on Smart Parking Systems (Draft 2)

IIn the article “IoT based Smart Parking Systems for Smart Cities”, Joshi (2020) stated that smart parking systems provide consumers with options of parking spaces. This article addresses technological solutions for the current demand for parking space due to increase in road users. The article discusses the pros and cons of a variety of IoT solutions such as sensors and data collection. The smart parking system is meant to aid in managing parking spaces efficiently to prevent improper parking due to the increase in road users. Using sensors to send the real-time data to the cloud, this offers the potential to create a mobile app. This allows both locals and tourists to pre-book a lot before beginning their journey, reducing wastage of fuel and time spent searching for lots. However, apps like these also present their own setbacks, namely demand and accessibility. This solution would work primarily in populated urban areas like big cities. Tourists would be required to have a working smartphone with the app installed and add their credit card information to park for the day. In these two cases, the author argues for a more efficient solution to be found.

The article is a balanced discussion looking at the potential IoT solutions available for solving one of the problems road users face today. While I agree that the solutions focus primarily in populated urban areas, the author failed to expand on the smart parking system, booking system and the development of the app.

The first area that the author failed to develop on is the smart parking system. The system is mostly effective in well-developed cities due to the technological advancement and accessibility. According to the article “Smart Parking Guidance System” published by Changi Airport, they have implemented this system through sensors and cameras to identify the occupancy of the lots using led lights for indication. The number of lots are also indicated outside the carpark to inform users of available parking lots for each area with the Parking Guidance System. Vehicle owners can also use the smart parking system to find their vehicles in case they forget the location where they parked. However, this poses an uncertainty to fully verify if the user finding for the vehicle is truly the owner or just someone who has the information of the car’s plate number.

The second area that the author failed to develop on is the booking system. The system of booking beforehand allows for drivers to plan and confirm their parking space before they even arrive at their location. According to Polycarpou, Lambrinos and Protopapadakis (2013), the system contain loopholes in it. Booking for a lot in advance would cause a rise in problems such as driver verification, how fully utilised the lot is and to ensure that the right driver is being charged. In Oakland California, the system has already been executed and the real time information such as “parking availability information, schedules and traffic conditions” is easily accessible by drivers. The system also allows for them to book for their spaces ahead of time or even instantaneously. Many people agreed that this allowed for better planning especially during busy hours and when “traffic disruptions occur”.

The final area that the author failed to develop on is the development of a mobile app that is meant to be a form of convenience. According to Lin, Rivano and Le Mouel (2017), the information harvested on the parking details are only most effective when the driver is nearby the parking area. As a form of convenience, it still reduces time spent finding for a parking space. However, the app collects and analyses data to create an algorithm to anticipate or even recommend what the user wants or needs. This then brings about the question of the user’s privacy – how much of their information will be taken and delivered to other parties for their usage. The major issue would be how hackers can receive this information. According to the author, the apps would mostly require the user to input the payment information, allowing their location to be tracked and also to access their other personal information but it might not be warmly accepted by short term users such as tourists who would use it only for a few days. Thus, the ability to control the amount of information that gets bypassed would be preferred approach that users would appreciate.

In conclusion, the smart parking system has been in development since it was first introduced. Changes has been made on the problems that were addressed. However, the loopholes in terms of how the system can be taken advantage of, the flaws of the reservation system and also the question of security from the data collected still exist.

 

Reference:

Joshi, R. (2020, February 14). IoT based Smart Parking Systems for Smart Cities. hIoTron. https://www.hiotron.com/smart-parking/

Lin, T., Rivano, H., & Le Mouel, F. (2017). A Survey of Smart Parking Solutions. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 18(12), 3229–3253. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1109/tits.2017.2685143

Polycarpou, E., Lambrinos, L., & Protopapadakis, E. (2013). Smart parking solutions for urban areas. 1–6. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1109/WoWMoM.2013.6583499

Smart Parking Guidance System: Changi Airport Group. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/media-centre/changijourneys/the-changi-experience/smart-parking-guidance-system.htmlt