Overview of Smart Parking: Types, Sensors Technologies and Energy Efficiency Strategies

As we realize today, especially in metropolitan cities, locating a proper parking space for a car is the biggest hassle. The time wasted searching for a parking space amplifies the already existing problems of congestion and leads to consumption of an unnecessary amount of fuel. This problem can be solved by using advanced communication technology known as smart parking systems. These systems use sophisticated sensing techniques to inform drivers, in real terms, of the availability of parking spaces. This paper presents a comprehensive study of various smart parking elements with a focus on the sensing side of smart parking systems that helps in detecting the presence of vehicles in various parking situations, it also clearly defines the classification of parking spots by differentiating between open-air and enclosed facilities, and highlight methods to reduce sensor energy consumption in order to ensure the smart parking infrastructure operates sustainably and effectively.