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A sensor that locates empty parking spaces

Tired of driving around in circles looking for a free parking space? A team of researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Telecommunications Technological Center of Catalonia (CTTC) and the company WorldSensing has designed a sensor system capable of locating empty spaces and informing the user.

STAFF | AUGUST 17th, 2010

The system called XALOC, whose initials in Catalan stand for sensor networks for the management of public car parks and location, is based on a network of wireless sensors placed on the street pavement, right in the center of areas dedicated for parking. The sensors detect if a parking place is occupied or not and transmit this information through the Internet to a central server. The server processes the data and sends it to panels located on the street showing the availability status of the area in real time.

The sensor platform also locates users looking for parking, offering them personalized service. Once the vehicle is located, the browser communicates with the central XALOC server to let the user know the number of free parking spaces in the area and their location.

This positioning and location technology is cutting edge and offers great advantages over conventional GPS-based searchers by offering more precise locations in urban environments, a lower response time and better service coverage.

The XALOC system can improve traffic management in urban environments limiting what experts call "agitation traffic," i.e. the transit of vehicles aimlessly looking for a place to park.

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