Technology Assessment for LoRaWAN-Based Time-Limited Smart Parking: A Case Study

As cities evolve, the need for systems that aid in their management becomes more necessary. Regarding traffic, and specifically the issues generated by vehicle parking, various smart parking system solutions have emerged in recent years. Although there is considerable available literature, most of it focuses on specific parts of the solution, such as providing a system architecture, analyzing types of sensors, or studying different communication methods. However, there is no proposed guide to follow for tackling the design and deployment of a comprehensive smart parking system. To address this gap, a possible workflow is proposed to guide the design and implementation of such systems. The article describes the step-by-step guide, as well as how it has been applied in the specific case of designing a limited-time paid parking system for the Girona City Council. The system aims to monitor the occupancy of various parking spaces in a zone and visibly indicate (using an LED) whether the vehicle parked in a space is within the allowed time limit or has exceeded it. It is worth noting that the city of Girona already has a LoRaWAN network, so the system development was carried out leveraging its existence. The application of the guide to the specific case is accompanied by examples of real sensors used, field measurements conducted to study user behavior, as well as radio coverage simulations and sensor network simulations that allow analysis of the effect of using message acknowledgments (ACK) or ADR. Although the use of the proposed guide is shown in a specific case, it can be easily extrapolated to other application cases.