A Cost-Effective Approach for Evaluating On-Street Parking Utilization using Simple Cameras

This study proposes an algorithm to integrate bay-based parking occupancy, captured using an image processing system, with information from a common conventional parking payment management system. The algorithm enables the use of simple and inexpensive cameras to collect parking utilization to complement conventional payment transaction data. Details about the design, implementation, testing, and validation of the algorithm are provided. Validation was performed using data collected through an accurate observational survey, including plate numbers of all vehicles parked in the areas of analysis. Results from a case study using the proposed algorithm provided an accuracy of 76% in terms of correct data integration. Logistic regression analysis was used to improve parameters used by the proposed algorithm. To illustrate the value of the algorithm, the integrated data were used to evaluate parking payment behavior. Various performance measures can be proposed and estimated using the integrated data. The integrated data can be used to address questions of high importance for more efficient and effective management of parking facilities.