Parking Guidance Systems (PGS) – Introduction & System Selection
Parking Guidance Explained
A Smart Parking Guidance System (PGS) is a parking system that, in real-time, directs drivers to available parking. Two main functions of a PGS system are:
- Saving time and improving user experience for drivers, and
- Increasing operating efficiency of parking facilities by maximizing its capacity utilization.
The smart parking system provides real-time data on the availability of parking spaces and helps the driver park quickly and efficiently. PGS technology addresses the long-term issue of parking and pollution, which harm the environment. Sensors, real-time data, and smart mobile applications allow users to monitor available parking and reduce the time spent finding a parking space.
What is a PGS and how it works
At the very high level, PGS’s main functions include:
- Providing information on parking spaces available to drivers and to parking facility management
Assisting drivers with finding available parking spaces
A simple example of how Parking Guidance Systems work:
- A car is ‘sensed’ and counted when a vehicle enters a parking facility (for counting solutions) or when parked in an individual space using vehicle detection hardware.
- Car counting data is communicated via a PGS IT network, updating the current facility occupancy information.
- Occupancy information is displayed on Digital Message Signs (DMS), directing the driver to vacancies. Typically, this is by displaying the number of vacant spaces on each level at critical traffic flow intersections. If a PGS solution provides per-space detection granularity, the DMS will display the number of vacant spaces with directions and space type indicators like EV, visitor, disabled, reserved, etc.
- Some PGS solutions utilize per-space overhead indicator lights to display the occupancy status of each space.
- When a car leaves a parking spot (for per-space systems) or exits the facility (for counting systems), occupancy is updated and a new vehicle is directed to the vacant space.
Components of a PGS System
PGS Value Creation
A PGS saves time in locating available parking spaces. Time savings, in turn, leads to value generation for various stakeholders.
PGS Solution Types
PGS solutions can be grouped based on the method of vehicle detection. This choice drives all the main features and characteristics of a particular PGS including its accuracy, cost, level of user experience, and more.
Different solutions can be structured into several types based on these main characteristics:
- Vehicle counting vs. per-space detection
- Camera image analysis vs. direct vehicle sensing for vehicle detection
- Wired vs. wireless
PGS Selection
Considerations for choosing the right solution:
- Facility characteristics (e.g. entrance and exit lanes characteristics, new vs. retrofit, ceiling heights, etc.)
- Usage patterns
- Utilization levels
- Accuracy requirements
- Data granularity requirements
- Driver convenience goals
- Budget
Choosing your PGS solution: Counting vs. Per-Space, Hybrid Solutions
Selecting between these various solutions is typically driven by these several factors:
- Average facility utilization
- Target accuracy level
- Presence of high value/special categories spaces
- Facility complexity and drivers’ preferences
Complex designs and high implementation costs were limiting factors for most facilities until now. Cost, flexibility, and speed of implementation are among the most significant factors driving wireless PGS adoption.
Wiring was the accepted industry standard; for decades, few alternatives have existed. But, wired PGS is costly to install and maintain, has accuracy issues, is inflexible with limited facility installation locations, typically indoors only, and is not compatible with specific environmental conditions and settings. Nwave’s wireless alternative is game-changing for facilities that need a less expensive, flexible, and highly accurate PGS.
Optimal selection between Counting vs. Per-Space vs. Hybrid solution will primarily be driven by you facility’s current average utilization, suitability for a lane counting solution and a share of high-value spaces for targeted monitoring.
Complex designs and high implementation costs were limiting factors for most facilities until now. Cost, flexibility, and speed of implementation are among the most significant factors driving wireless PGS adoption.
Wiring was the accepted industry standard; for decades, few alternatives have existed. But, wired PGS is costly to install and maintain, has accuracy issues, is inflexible with limited facility installation locations, typically indoors only, and is not compatible with specific environmental conditions and settings. Nwave’s wireless alternative is game-changing for facilities that need a less expensive, flexible, and highly accurate PGS.
Nwave Wireless Parking Guidance Solution Advantages
A simple example of how Nwave’s Wireless Parking Guidance Systems works
- Nwave wireless sensors operating in per-space mode capture occupancy in real-time with 99.9% accuracy and can optimize utilization in near-capacity garages by filling every open spot. Nwave sensors, deployed in ingress and egress lanes in vehicle counter mode provide 99%+ accurate total vehicle count, and can be combined with per-space sensors in select high-value spaces to deliver cost-effective “hybrid” solutions.
- Nwave Directional Digital Messaging Signs (DMS) provide effective traffic flow management for any built facilities. Nwave RGB LED DMS matrix displays can be programmed to display any combination of text information, shapes and images. Wireless display controllers (via WiFi, 4G, LoRaWAN) simplify installation, reduce installation cost and increase operational reliability.
- Nwave’s Mobile User App shows parking availability helping drivers to pre-plan their trip and navigate drivers to selected locations while providing real-time parking guidance updates during the trip. Parking guidance mobile App functionality can be delivered via APIs integration into your existing App or via Nwave white-labeled Navigation App.
- Nwave’s Analytics Dashboard gives you actionable analytics based on historical trends, heat maps and real-time data. Nwave’s extended APIs deliver a live, 360° view of parking peak hours, volume, turnover, duration of stay, capacity, and more in real-time – that can be easily integrated into your existing parking management platform or accessed via Nwave Analytics Dashboard.
Nwave’s wireless PGS significantly simplifies the planning and installation process, making all PGS types easy to scale, modify and grow with a facility.
Wireless adhesive-installed sensors can be re-positioned as necessary to optimize locations for sensor counters and add or remove sensors in designated spaces. As the projects evolve, wireless Nwave PGS simplifies adapting to new conditions and can easily re-program, add new or move existing DMSs and add or remove wireless sensors.
Choosing a PGS solution comes down to choosing two main domains:
- Type of Vehicle Detecting/Sensing solution
- Type of In-Facility Wayfinding solution
The selection of the vehicle detecting/sensing solution largely defines the selection of the wayfinding solution. If you gather only ingress/egress total vehicle count data for the entire facility, you cannot do any level or directional wayfinding inside of the facility, simply because you do not have the data.
In addition to the available data granularity, the layout of the facility and the budget/costs considerations will, typically, be primary drivers for selecting the optimal type and number of the hardware elements for a specific infacility wayfinding solution. As discussed earlier, we believe that a combination of entrance, level and directional DMSs provide the best value-vs-costs approach for a majority of built facilities.
Nwave can complement your existing PGS solution architecture or deliver a complete solution.
Nwave’s wireless alternative is game-changing for facilities that need a less expensive, flexible, and highly accurate PGS.
Wired PGS is costly to install and maintain, has accuracy issues, is inflexible with limited facility installation locations, typically indoors only, and is not compatible with specific environmental conditions and settings.
Nwave’s Wireless PGS Overview:
- Universal PGS platform for all facility types including covered, rooftops, outdoor
- Up to 10x cost reduction vs. wired systems
- Per-space availability and total vehicle counting modes
- Robust, long-range wireless coverage with 2x-3x redundancy – even in built environments
- Modular design minimizes pre-planning, easily adapts to changes, and scales with your project
- Efficient and cost-effective visual guidance of traffic flows via DMS displays
- Clean view, no “visual clutter”, reduced AFF clearance challenges
- Extended APIs for easy integration into mobile apps and dashboards
- The Nwave wireless sensor has a replaceable battery with a 10-year life for zero to very little maintenance.
Nwave Wireless PGS can improve system reliability:
- Electric and data cable or connection failures on wired PGS systems can be difficult to locate and resolve.
- Power or data connection failure of a single row of wired sensors can lead to a loss of the total system’s accuracy.
- Unlike fully wired and semi-wireless systems that still rely on electricity to power their sensors/cameras, Nwave PGS platform ensures that any local electric failure does not impact the functionality and accuracy of the overall system.
- In case of a local electric power failure, battery-powered sensors, backed up by 2-3x redundant long-range wireless base station coverage, ensure that all parking availability data continues to flow to the cloud, ensuring continuous operation and accuracy of the Mobile App, operational Digital Signage and Analytics Dashboard.
Nwave can complement your existing PGS solution architecture or deliver a complete solution
PGS solutions can be grouped based on the method of vehicle identification. This choice drives all the main features and characteristics of a particular PGS including its accuracy, cost, level of user experience, and more.
Nwave is a highly configurable, flexible, robust and easy-to-install evolution from expensive and restrictive wired systems
Nwave battery-powered wireless sensors, wirelessly controlled DMS displays, Mobile User App, and Analytics Dashboard work together to deliver a cost-effective PGS solution indoors and outdoors.
Nwave Wireless Parking Guidance Solution Advantages
A simple example of how Nwave’s Wireless Parking Guidance Systems works
- Nwave wireless sensors operating in per-space mode capture occupancy in real-time with 99.9% accuracy and can optimize utilization in near-capacity garages by filling every open spot. Nwave sensors, deployed in ingress and egress lanes in vehicle counter mode provide 99%+ accurate total vehicle count, and can be combined with per-space sensors in select high-value spaces to deliver cost-effective “hybrid” solutions.
- Nwave Directional Digital Messaging Signs (DMS) provide effective traffic flow management for any built facilities. Nwave RGB LED DMS matrix displays can be programmed to display any combination of text information, shapes and images. Wireless display controllers (via WiFi, 4G, LoRaWAN) simplify installation, reduce installation cost and increase operational reliability.
- Nwave’s Mobile User App shows parking availability helping drivers to pre-plan their trip and navigate drivers to selected locations while providing real-time parking guidance updates during the trip. Parking guidance mobile App functionality can be delivered via APIs integration into your existing App or via Nwave white-labeled Navigation App.
- Nwave’s Analytics Dashboard gives you actionable analytics based on historical trends, heat maps and real-time data. Nwave’s extended APIs deliver a live, 360° view of parking peak hours, volume, turnover, duration of stay, capacity, and more in real-time – that can be easily integrated into your existing parking management platform or accessed via Nwave Analytics Dashboard.
Nwave’s wireless PGS significantly simplifies the planning and installation process, making all PGS types easy to scale, modify and grow with a facility.
Wireless adhesive-installed sensors can be re-positioned as necessary to optimize locations for sensor counters and add or remove sensors in designated spaces. As the projects evolve, wireless Nwave PGS simplifies adapting to new conditions and can easily re-program, add new or move existing DMSs and add or remove wireless sensors.
Choosing a PGS solution comes down to choosing two main domains:
- Type of Vehicle Detecting/Sensing solution
- Type of In-Facility Wayfinding solution
The selection of the vehicle detecting/sensing solution largely defines the selection of the wayfinding solution. If you gather only ingress/egress total vehicle count data for the entire facility, you cannot do any level or directional wayfinding inside of the facility, simply because you do not have the data.
In addition to the available data granularity, the layout of the facility and the budget/costs considerations will, typically, be primary drivers for selecting the optimal type and number of the hardware elements for a specific infacility wayfinding solution. As discussed earlier, we believe that a combination of entrance, level and directional DMSs provide the best value-vs-costs approach for a majority of built facilities.
Nwave can complement your existing PGS solution architecture or deliver a complete solution.
Nwave’s wireless alternative is game-changing for facilities that need a less expensive, flexible, and highly accurate PGS.
Wired PGS is costly to install and maintain, has accuracy issues, is inflexible with limited facility installation locations, typically indoors only, and is not compatible with specific environmental conditions and settings.
Nwave’s Wireless PGS Overview:
- Universal PGS platform for all facility types including covered, rooftops, outdoor
- Up to 10x cost reduction vs. wired systems
- Per-space availability and total vehicle counting modes
- Robust, long-range wireless coverage with 2x-3x redundancy – even in built environments
- Modular design minimizes pre-planning, easily adapts to changes, and scales with your project
- Efficient and cost-effective visual guidance of traffic flows via DMS displays
- Clean view, no “visual clutter”, reduced AFF clearance challenges
- Extended APIs for easy integration into mobile apps and dashboards
- The Nwave wireless sensor has a replaceable battery with a 10-year life for zero to very little maintenance.
Nwave Wireless PGS can improve system reliability:
- Electric and data cable or connection failures on wired PGS systems can be difficult to locate and resolve.
- Power or data connection failure of a single row of wired sensors can lead to a loss of the total system’s accuracy.
- Unlike fully wired and semi-wireless systems that still rely on electricity to power their sensors/cameras, Nwave PGS platform ensures that any local electric failure does not impact the functionality and accuracy of the overall system.
- In case of a local electric power failure, battery-powered sensors, backed up by 2-3x redundant long-range wireless base station coverage, ensure that all parking availability data continues to flow to the cloud, ensuring continuous operation and accuracy of the Mobile App, operational Digital Signage and Analytics Dashboard.