The smartPARK project designed by team DMV is an innovative and intelligent parking garage monitoring system that enhances the way drivers find a parking spot in an efficient and cost effective manner. IP Cameras powered by photovoltaic panels, are used as sensors that stream parking garage images to a remote server. The server analyzes the data, which will be provided to the user via web/mobile interface.

The initiative behind smartPARK is to give the user the ability to find a parking spot within minutes of arriving at their destination, allowing the user to view statistics and parking probabilities as well as monitoring their vehicle all from the user interface. There are over one hundred and fifty million people in the United States who own smartphones, and our plan is to let all of them have access to the wealth of information gathered with the smartPARK system. Some parking lots or garages will also have the option of an LCD screen with either a keypad or touchscreen display where drivers can view parking lot details and even reserve a parking lot location.

SmartPARK will be a user-friendly mobile application, which provides drivers with information regarding their destination’s parking facilities. For the first phase of the application the user will be able to view statistics regarding their parking location, average distance from their classroom destination and open/taken parking locations on an integrated map. The proceeding phases will upgrade the existing graphical user interface and add the ability to monitor parking location from mobile application through a live stream.

SmartPark will use a series of cameras with wide-angle lenses, strategically located to provide clear visibility of the individual parking spots in several designated lots. Each individual parking spot will contain a rectangular light colored square, which represent its availability. The sensor, a camera, will provide a live feed to a remote server running an application to determine the space’s availability. With that data smartPARK will keep track of parking space availability and forward that information to the end user’s mobile device for display and further analysis.