PARKING BUDDYGroup #1

Imran Esmail, Azin Kamali, Ian Kannady, Robert Myatt

Addressing the concerns of many despite the cares of few

Summary of Issue■ Current system only shows availability if

user is physically on site.■ Empty spot may be unpermitted for user.■ Spot availability is localized by current

lot position.■ No statistical availability.

Options to solve problem

■ A) Expand parking outwards.– Build/expand parking lots.

■ B) Expand parking upwards.– Build more parking garages.

■ C) Create a system to better utilize current infrastructure.

Objectives

■ User can inspect lot/spot availability regardless of location.■ Member created alerts based on lot preferences.■ RFID chips on parking passes for violations sent to UTD parking.

Key System Functions■ App based program■ User/members can inspect lot from anywhere■ Gives parking department the ability to monitor violations in real time.

Equipment/Technology

■ Reflectivity Scanners– 1 scanner per spot– 1 scanner on entrance(s)/exit(s) of each lot

■ RFID Scanners– 1 scanner per spot

■ RFID Chips– Each parking pass will have a RFID chip

■ APP■ Server

Reflectivity Scanner

■ Reflectivity scanner is placed at the front of each spot.■ When car pulls into spot, reflectivity scanner tells the system that car is

in spot.■ Reflectivity scanners are placed at the entrance/exit of each lot.

– When a car enters lot, it’s considered roaming till parked.■ System updates cars roaming/parked with each new detection of vehicle.

RFID Scanner

■ RFID scanners will be placed at the front end of each parking spot along with the reflectivity scanner.

■ RFID scanner will scan the car’s windshield to detect parking pass.

■ When RFID scanner detects lower grade pass, parking spot is flagged.

■ If RFID scanner doesn’t detect a RFID chip when vehicle is present, the spot is flagged.

RFID Chips

■ Parking passes will have RFID chips on them for the RFID Scanners to detect.

■ Each chip corresponds to a particular pass color.

■ If lower grade chip is in a spot, the spot is flagged with a violation.

Parking Buddy App

■ All students will automatically have a membership for the app via their UTD NET-ID and password.

■ Benefits of being a member include storage of member preferences and ability to receive alerts.

■ User (person who doesn’t log in) still is able to use app, but will have limited access to features.

APP Functions User Perspective

■ A user can click a lot to view lot details.

APP Functions Member PerspectiveMembers login to access the following features: ■ Members can set preferences.■ Members can view their preferred

lots. ■ Members can also set alerts to be

sent to them when their preferred lots hit a certain filled percent at certain time periods and days.

APP Functions Member

Preferences■ Members can set up their preferred lots and their preferred spot color(s).

■ This allows for faster and easier spot searching when a member opens the app.

APP Functions View Preferred Lots

APP Functions Member Alerts

■ A member can set alert preferences to receive notifications when their preferred lots meet certain criteria.

■ Alert notifications will give the member(s) ability to better judge which lots to go after first.

Server■ Server handles all calculations for when cars interact with any of the

scanners.– Calculation of % filled per lot.– Number of unfilled spots per color per lot.– Total roaming of unparked cars per lot

■ Violation packets are compiled and distributed to UTD Parking by the server.– If a car is parked in the wrong parking grade, spot is flagged.– If RFID scanner can’t detect RFID chip, spot is flagged.– Per specified time interval, violation packet is sent to UTD parking for

appropriate response.■ Storage of all member preferences.■ UTD and lot maps are stored on the server.

Violation packets

■ Violation packets consist of lot maps with flagged spots. ■ Each packet contains only the violations that have occurred since the

last packet was transmitted.■ This allows attendants to go directly to the location of a violation

without having to check an entire lot.

Marketability of the Product

■ There are currently three ways we have realized to market Parking Buddy– The system can be sold installed with reflectivity scanners only.

This would be ideal for locations such as shopping malls.– The system can be sold installed with the optional RFID scanners

for locations that use parking stickers such as UTD.– The system can be leased and installed at locations for statistical

analysis. This would be primarily intended to assist in decision making regarding lot arrangement and lot construction location.

In Conclusion…

■ The installation of the Parking Buddy system at UTD would not only result in the ability of parkers to find an available spot quickly and easily, but can also…– Reduce the number of cars roaming in the parking lots.– Heavily deter violations.– Reduce the cost of employing parking attendants.– Increase the likelihood of parking patrons buying a pass.