1、 Construction background

With the rapid development of Xingshan County's economy and significant improvement in residents' living standards, the number of urban motor vehicles has shown a rapid growth trend. This growth trend poses challenges to urban transportation and parking management. Before the construction of the smart parking system, the parking situation in the urban area of Xingshan County was chaotic and disorderly. There is a severe shortage of parking spaces, especially in densely populated areas such as commercial centers, hospitals, schools, and government institutions, where the phenomenon of "one hard to find" is extremely common.

A large number of vehicles are forced to illegally park on the roadside, which not only affects the overall image of the city, but also leads to increasingly severe traffic congestion and an increased risk of traffic accidents. In addition, traditional parking management methods mainly rely on manual charging and registration, which is inefficient and prone to charging loopholes. Moreover, car owners spend a lot of time and energy searching for parking spaces, paying fees, and other links, resulting in a poor parking experience. In order to effectively solve these problems, improve the level of urban traffic management and residents' quality of life, Xingshan County has decided to introduce advanced technological means and build a smart city parking management platform.

　　2、 Project construction content

（1） User Requirement Description

1. Car owner needs: to be able to quickly and accurately find available parking spaces, understand the location of the parking lot, remaining parking spaces, charging standards, and other information in advance, achieve convenient payment methods, reduce parking waiting time, and improve the parking experience.

2. Requirements for parking lot managers: To achieve intelligent management of parking lots, real-time monitoring of parking space usage, improve parking space turnover, reduce operating costs, including reducing manual management costs, reducing the risk of charging loopholes, etc., while also being able to remotely monitor and manage parking lot equipment.

3. Requirements for urban managers: Integrate urban parking resources, achieve unified monitoring and management of parking information throughout the city, provide decision-making basis for urban transportation planning and management through data analysis, alleviate urban traffic congestion, and improve overall urban operational efficiency.

（2） Overall Architecture

The Blue Card AIoT smart city parking platform adopts an advanced layered architecture design, mainly including the perception layer, transmission layer, data layer, application layer, and user layer.

1. Perception layer: Through the new generation of IoT data collection and control terminals, such as geomagnetic sensors, high and low position video cameras, parking space locks, and other devices, real-time data such as parking space occupancy status and vehicle entry and exit information is collected. These devices can accurately perceive whether the parking space is occupied and transmit relevant information to the upper level system in a timely manner.

2. Transport layer: Using wireless communication technologies such as 4G/5G, NB IoT, etc., the data collected by the perception layer is stably and quickly transmitted to the data center. At the same time, it is also responsible for transmitting instructions issued by the application layer to the perception layer devices, achieving bidirectional communication.

3. Data layer: stores, processes, and analyzes data transmitted from the transport layer. We have established a powerful database for storing various types of data such as parking space information, vehicle information, and billing records. Through big data analysis technology, data is mined and analyzed to provide decision support for the application layer.

4. Application layer: Provides rich application functions, including parking management, toll management, parking guidance, data statistical analysis, decision support, etc. These functional modules collaborate with each other to achieve intelligent management of the smart parking system.

5. User layer: including car owner users and manager users. Car owners can obtain parking related information and services through mobile apps or WeChat mini programs; Managers manage the parking lot comprehensively through the management backend.

（3） Main Function Description

1. Parking space detection and information collection function

Function description: Utilizing parking space detection technologies such as geomagnetic sensors and high-low position video cameras, it can accurately perceive the occupancy status of parking spaces. These devices will collect parking space occupancy information and send it to the data center for storage and processing in a timely manner through wireless transmission. For example, geomagnetic sensors determine whether a parking space is occupied by sensing changes in the vehicle's magnetic field, while high and low position video cameras use image recognition technology to not only determine the occupancy of the parking space, but also recognize information such as the vehicle's license plate number.

Function: To provide accurate data foundation for subsequent functions such as parking guidance and parking fees, enabling the system to grasp the real-time usage of parking spaces and improve the management efficiency of parking resources.

2. Parking management function

Function description: It covers vehicle entry and exit management, parking record management, etc. When a vehicle enters the parking lot, the system automatically recognizes the license plate number through license plate recognition technology, records the entry time of the vehicle, and assigns parking spaces to the vehicle; When the vehicle leaves, the system recognizes the license plate again, calculates the parking time and cost, and completes the charging operation. At the same time, the system can also store and query the parking records of vehicles, making it convenient for managers and car owners to view them at any time.

Function: It realizes the automation management of parking lots, reduces manual intervention, improves management efficiency, reduces management costs, and also provides convenient parking services for car owners.

3. Fee management function

· Function description: It supports a variety of charging methods, such as WeChat payment, Alipay payment, UnionPay payment, etc., and also has personalized payment functions, such as monthly and yearly subscription users' preferential charging methods, etc. The system can automatically calculate parking fees based on factors such as parking duration and vehicle type, and generate a detailed billing list. For overdue vehicles, the system can provide reminders and restrict their exit.

Function: It meets the payment needs of different car owners, improves the convenience and accuracy of charging, effectively avoids charging loopholes, and ensures the economic benefits of parking lots.

4. Parking guidance function

Function description: Real time parking information is provided to car owners through the guidance screen set up in the parking lot and the parking space query function on the mobile app. The induction screen can display the remaining parking spaces in different areas of the parking lot, guiding car owners to quickly find available parking spaces; Car owners can view real-time remaining parking spaces, charging standards, and other information of the destination parking lot on the mobile app, and guide them to the parking lot through navigation functions.

Function: Reduce the time for car owners to find parking spaces, improve parking efficiency, reduce ineffective driving of vehicles on the road, and thus alleviate traffic congestion.

5. Data statistical analysis and decision-making functions

Function description: The system can monitor parking information throughout the city and display dynamic and static information of all parking lots on the map, including parking lot location, total number of parking spaces, occupied parking spaces, remaining parking spaces, etc. At the same time, statistical and analytical analysis will be conducted on the benefits and order management of each parking lot, such as parking turnover rate, fee amount statistics, and distribution of vehicle parking time. Through these data analyses, provide decision-making basis for urban parking planning and management, such as adjusting parking fee standards reasonably and optimizing parking layout.

Function: To help urban managers comprehensively understand the parking situation in the city, make scientific and reasonable decisions, improve the utilization efficiency of urban parking resources, and enhance the level of urban traffic management.

6. Terminal management function

Function description: Implement information collection, dynamic personnel management, software updates, information distribution, etc. for various terminal devices such as geomagnetic sensors, video cameras, handheld toll collectors, etc. Capable of real-time monitoring of the operating status of terminal devices, providing timely alarms and maintenance prompts when equipment malfunctions, ensuring the stable operation of the system.

Function: It ensures the normal operation of terminal devices, improves the reliability and stability of the system, and provides strong support for the efficient operation of smart parking systems.

　　3、 Advantages and Characteristics

（1） Technological innovation

1. Advanced IoT technology application: Adopting a new generation of IoT data acquisition and control terminals, real-time and accurate collection and transmission of parking information have been achieved. Compared with traditional parking management methods, it greatly improves the accuracy and timeliness of data collection, reduces manual intervention, and lowers the error rate. For example, the combination of geomagnetic sensors and video cameras can obtain more comprehensive information about parking spaces and vehicles.

2. Big data analysis and application: By analyzing massive parking data, potential value information can be excavated. By analyzing data such as parking turnover rate and vehicle parking time, optimization suggestions can be provided for the operation and management of parking lots, while also providing data support for urban transportation planning. This decision-making approach based on big data makes urban parking management more scientific and reasonable.

3. Intelligent license plate recognition technology: Using advanced image recognition algorithms, it can quickly and accurately recognize license plate numbers, and maintain high recognition accuracy even under complex lighting conditions. The application of this technology has achieved automated management of vehicle entry and exit from parking lots, improved traffic efficiency, and reduced vehicle waiting time in queues.

4. Integrated parking and charging technology: an innovative technology that combines parking and charging functions, aimed at providing electric vehicle users with a more convenient and efficient charging experience. Blue Card's self-developed parking and charging management equipment, with an intelligent management system that arranges parking spaces and charging resources based on the charging needs of vehicles and the actual situation of the parking lot. For example, for vehicles that require long-term charging, the system will prioritize allocation to slow charging parking spaces; For vehicles in urgent need of charging, they will be arranged in fast charging parking spaces. At the same time, the system can dynamically adjust charging prices based on the busy level of the parking lot, guiding users to use charging facilities reasonably. After charging is completed, users can pay for the charging fee through mobile applications, bank cards, or other electronic payment methods. The intelligent management system will automatically record the charging amount and cost information, and conduct settlement. In addition, the system can also be integrated with the parking lot's charging system to achieve unified settlement of parking and charging fees.

（2） Business model innovation

1. Integrated comprehensive management mode: It integrates various parking resources such as on road parking spaces and off road parking lots, achieving an integrated management mode of "one parking lot for the whole county". This model breaks the previous decentralized situation of parking management, improves the efficiency of overall utilization of parking resources, facilitates parking choices for car owners, and also facilitates unified supervision by urban managers.

2. Diversified charging model: In addition to the traditional time-based charging method, personalized charging models such as monthly and yearly subscriptions have also been introduced, as well as convenient payment methods such as contactless payment and pay after departure. The diversified charging model meets the needs of different users, enhances their parking experience, and also improves the operational efficiency of the parking lot.

3. Open data interface: An open data interface has been established, providing the possibility for integration with other urban management systems such as traffic management systems and urban brains in the future. Through data sharing and interaction, broader urban management collaboration can be achieved, enhancing the overall intelligent management level of the city.

　　4、 Application effectiveness

（1） Social effectiveness

1. Relieve traffic congestion: Through the parking guidance function of the smart parking platform, vehicles are guided to quickly find parking spaces, reducing the ineffective driving time of vehicles searching for parking spaces on the road and reducing the degree of road congestion.

2. Enhancing the city's image: Standardizing the parking order of the city, reducing the phenomenon of vehicles being parked haphazardly, making the city's roads cleaner and more orderly, improving the overall image and quality of the city, and providing a better urban environment for residents and tourists.

3. Improve residents' satisfaction: Convenient parking services, such as quick finding of parking spaces and multiple payment methods, greatly enhance residents' parking experience and increase their satisfaction with urban management.

（2） Economic performance

1. Improve the operational efficiency of parking lots: The intelligent management of parking lots reduces manual management costs and increases parking turnover. For example, after connecting to the smart parking system, the parking turnover rate of a certain parking lot has significantly increased, and the amount of fees charged has effectively increased.

2. Promoting the development of related industries: The construction of smart parking projects has driven the development of related industries such as IoT device manufacturing, software development, and system integration, injecting new impetus into local economic growth.

（3） User usage situation

Since the launch of the smart parking system in Xingshan County, it has been widely recognized and praised by car owners and parking lot managers. Car owners generally provide feedback that parking spaces can be easily and quickly found through mobile devices, and parking fees are also more convenient, greatly saving parking time. The parking lot manager stated that the use of smart parking systems makes parking lot management easier and more efficient, reducing labor costs and fee disputes.

　　5、 Promotion prospects

Against the backdrop of increasingly prominent urban traffic congestion and parking difficulties, the technology, products, and solutions adopted by the Hubei Xingshan Smart City Parking Management Platform have a wide range of universal demands. The application of cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and big data in the field of parking management is an effective way to solve urban parking problems, applicable to cities and counties across the country.

Its integrated comprehensive management model, diversified business model, and open data interface can be integrated with urban management systems in different regions, providing successful experience for the construction of smart parking systems in other areas. With the continuous acceleration of urbanization and the increasing demand for urban quality of life, the smart parking market has broad prospects. This project case is expected to be promoted and applied nationwide, solving parking problems for more cities, improving urban traffic management level and residents' quality of life.