Cardiff plans citywide deployment of smart parking sensors

Europe’s first citywide deployment of bay sensor technology has been announced in Cardiff.

Cardiff City Council has teamed up with Smart Parking Ltd to install over 3,000 infrared vehicle detection sensors in on-street and off-street locations. The deployment also includes variable message signage placed throughout the city, directing motorists to available parking, as well as a smartphone app that offers real-time parking availability and guidance.

Drivers can access SmartApp to view an accurate live map of available parking spaces nearby or at a location they plan to travel to.

The announcement follows a successful pilot in 2015 which covered 275 bays across the city.

Councillor Ramesh Patel, cabinet member for planning, transport and sustainability, commented: “The City Council’s primary focus is to encourage public transport, cycling and walking and encouraging people to leave their cars at home. We do understand that sometimes travelling by car is necessary, either because public transport routes are not available or viable. This technology will ensure that people travelling by private car are able to find their car parking space quickly and easily. This will have a number of benefits, notably helping in our aim to reduce congestion and improve air quality levels in the city centre.”

As part of the contract with Smart Parking, Cardiff City Council will use the back office processing and analysis platform, SmartRep, giving better intelligence on parking activity in its parking facilities.

Paul Gillespie, chief executive of Smart Parking, said: “The launch of Smart Parking technology in Cardiff highlights the growing importance of smart city technology to not only manage parking but to also equip city operators who perform smart city IoT planning with accurate data and insight in order to radically change the way cities operate.”

He added: “This exciting citywide deployment, between the City of Cardiff Council and Smart Parking, will help the Council to address the strategic and operational aspects of parking operations. This will help the Council to achieve its goal of ensuring the City is clean and sustainable by making sure that parking behaviour does not negatively impact on the city and the people who live, work and visit it.”

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