Urban Parking Availability Prediction Using Multi-Sensor Fusion and Statistical Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for determining car park availability in urban areas do not provide information on roadside parking spaces and fail to predict the number or percentage of available spaces at future times, leading to inefficient parking searches and traffic issues.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing video cameras, magnetic sensors, ultrasound sensors, and light sensors to detect vehicle presence, combined with a database update process that incorporates direct and indirect data, including historical trends and external events, to estimate car park availability and occupancy levels at present and future times using mathematical models like ARMA, ARFIMA, and regression methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional display systems or navigation devices are used to provide parking availability information, then motorists can receive parking information, but the systems do not cover roadside parking spaces and cannot predict future availability
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple detection technologies (magnetic sensors, video cameras, ultrasound sensors, light sensors) into a unified platform that monitors both structured car parks and unstructured roadside parking spaces, making the system versatile across different parking types and locations
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses mathematical models (ARMA, ARFIMA, regression methods) to predict future parking availability based on historical data and current trends, providing advance information to motorists about expected availability at future times rather than only current status
2Measurement precision
If mathematical models and multiple data sources are integrated to predict future parking availability, then prediction capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a central processing unit that acts as an intermediary between multiple detection devices, databases, and prediction algorithms, coordinating data collection, storage, and analysis while managing the complexity of integrating various mathematical models and sensor types
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the parking monitoring function into separate modular components: detection devices for different sensor types, database modules for storing direct and indirect data, mathematical model modules for different prediction methods (ARMA, ARFIMA, regression), and a central coordination layer, making the complex system manageable and maintainable
3Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of all parking spaces is implemented, then information accuracy is improved, but traffic congestion and time loss during parking search increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides advance prediction of parking availability to motorists, enabling them to plan their routes and arrive at predicted available parking locations before they become occupied, thereby reducing unnecessary driving and parking search time
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual parking occupancy and compares it with predicted values, using this feedback to refine and update mathematical models and improve future predictions, creating a self-improving system that becomes more accurate over time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient prediction of car park availability and occupancy levels, reducing traffic congestion and parking time by providing accurate and timely information to users, whether for present or future times, and handles scenarios where direct data is unavailable by inferring from similar urban areas.
Implementation Method 1
the use of magnetic sensors which detect the presence of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
at least one video camera and/or at least one magnetic sensor
Implementation Method 3
at least one ultrasound sensor
Implementation Method 4
at least one light sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
System and process for estimating the availability and/or occupied status of car parks located in a given urban area at a preset time, the process comprising the following steps: f. forwarding a request for parking space availability of a given urban area at a given - present or future - time (ti) to said main unit (7); g. querying a database (17) in order to find direct and/or indirect data relating to the parking space availability of a given urban area (9) at the present time t0; h. constructing at least one statistical mathematical model adapted for investigating historical series and based on the direct and/or indirect data found in said database (17); i. generating a response report of the parking space availability in a given urban area at a given - present or future - time (t1); j. sending said report to said at least one computer device (15) associated with a user.