Do I need a sensor on every parking space?

Not necessarily. Counting at entries and exits is enough to show car-park totals. Space-level sensors are useful when drivers need to be guided to individual spaces, for example in large indoor car parks or for special spaces.

Can parking availability appear in navigation apps?

Yes, if the data is published through an open interface and, where applicable, the National Access Point. Navigation services and apps can then reuse it.

Can parking guidance be combined with EV charging?

Yes. Charging points can be included in the availability data and in load management, for example using the OCPI protocol, so that drivers see where a free charging space is.

Parking guidance systems explained

Three levels of parking guidance

City level: variable signs at the edge and in the centre show the number of free spaces per car park.
Car-park level: counting at entries and exits, and per floor or zone, guides drivers inside the car park.
Space level: a sensor per space with a coloured indicator shows exactly which spaces are free.

Detection technologies

Counting loops or cameras at entries and exits for car-park totals.
Ultrasonic or optical sensors above each space in indoor car parks.
Magnetometer or radar ground sensors for on-street and outdoor spaces, often connected over LoRaWAN or other low-power networks.
Camera-based detection, which can monitor several spaces with one device and also read number plates where permitted.

Data and integration

The value of parking guidance grows when the data is shared. Real-time availability can be published through open interfaces — for example in DATEX II, the European standard that also covers parking information — and through National Access Points, so that apps and navigation services can reuse it. Integration with ANPR access control, payment systems and EV charging points turns separate systems into one service.

What to consider in a project

The required level of detail: car-park totals, zones or individual spaces.
Power and communication for sensors, especially on street.
Accuracy and maintenance of the counting, so that displayed numbers stay reliable.
Ownership of the data and the interfaces to city and third-party services.

Benefits for cities and operators

Less traffic searching for a space in the city centre, and the emissions and nuisance that come with it.
Better use of existing car parks, including underused ones at the edge of the centre.
Insight into occupancy over time, as input for pricing, permits and planning of new capacity.
A better experience for visitors, who know before they arrive where they can park.

How Urbiflow helps

We design and integrate parking guidance from sensors to signs and data platforms, connect it with ANPR, payment and charging systems, publish availability data through open interfaces and maintain the installation with agreed service levels.

Relevant for: Parking & mobility operators Cities & municipalities

Parking guidance systems