Smart Parking at Municipality Association Assembly

The ParkDots parking system is based on the Internet of Things (IoT). Its main parts include a mobile application for drivers and a management application for parking lot operators, for example municipalities. The system uses wireless sensors to detect the occupancy of parking places.

Real-time information on parking place occupancy will enable its more efficient use, control and charging. Drivers will be able to book a vacant spot, navigate to it, and pay for parking comfortably through a mobile app. The system will allow the sharing of parking spaces during periods when they are not occupied by their owners.

In addition to shortening the time drivers are losing today looking for parking spaces, it also helps reduce emissions, increases the availability of parking spaces, and lowers the number of unused parking spaces. The system is able to partially replace the services of parking attendants and machines. The use of the mobile application could help to increase the payment discipline of drivers, which is now only in the range of 40 to 60 %.

“We believe that this technology is the answer to one of the most pressing problems that ail cities. Their populations grow, and so does the number of vehicles. The demand for parking capacities already exceeds the supply. Our parking system will allow for a more efficient use of parking spaces, increase driver comfort, and, at the same time, a municipality will get a better overview of the use, efficiency and profitability of parking within its territory” Martin Budaj, PosAm’s Product Manager explains.

Facts and figures about parking in Slovakia

A survey conducted by PosAm showed that up to 82 % of people would use a parking app to find a place and pay the parking fee. 74 % of parking space owners would share their slots when not in use. Today, three quarters of drivers use GPS navigation on a regular basis while driving to reach their destinations.

Synergy achieved by working within the Slovak Telekom group.

The ParkDots app is being developed by PosAm, a subsidiary of Slovak Telekom. Slovak Telekom provides the data connectivity and cloud computing resources necessary for the functioning of the whole system. This is the first joint project within the group focused on the rapidly developing area of IoT solutions.

The system is currently in pilot operation. A version designed for deployment under real-world conditions could be available in the coming months.

ParkDots complements PosAm’s solutions for local governments

The Slovak IT company PosAm already operates a number of backbone solutions for municipalities. The RIS.SAM budget information system for local governments is a central information system of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic whose main task is the collection of budgetary data of local government entities for the purposes of compilation and monitoring of the public administration budget. At the same time, it is a tool provided by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic to municipalities free of charge to improve their budget management.

PosAm is also a member of the supplier consortium for the Data Centre of Municipalities (DCOM), which digitises the services of local governments for citizens. It enables local government employees to use applications which provide for the functioning of municipalities and allow them to handle citizens’ requirements electronically.

Through its focus, ParkDots will get even closer to citizens. Thanks to the use of the latest technologies it will make their lives easier and simplify their parking, while offering new opportunities for the use of parking spaces. Municipalities will gain a powerful tool for the management of static traffic.