What is the Internet of Things?

The philosophy behind the Internet of Things is to create a network of interconnected machines and devices that are always connected to each other and the cloud via the internet. They are free to connect, interact and exchange data to provide us with better solutions. Think of things like controlling your Fridge’s temperature or how much ice you want to make via your smartphone. This is all possible due to the Internet of Things. By connecting everyday devices to the internet, which were traditionally non-internet devices, we can extra more utility and optimize. Simple applications like using IoT devices to control the lights inside your home can help you reduce energy wastage. By bringing these non-internet devices to the internet domain, we can better take charge of our life. The Internet of things also gives us data and analytics about our daily lives. We can use this data for unique insights on how we interact with everyday objects and how we could be doing better. 

How does it work?

Well, it is pretty simple. IoT simply refers to physical objects with embedded sensors that are connected to each other and the cloud via the internet. Different sensors are integrated into everyday devices, and they are connected to the internet via either Wi-Fi or cellular data. Sensors collect data and then send this data over to the cloud to process. Sometimes there are layers to this, you may have multiple devices that first send data to a local computing machine to sort the data before it is sent to the cloud. This is called Fog computing. Other times raw data is being sent to the cloud to be processed, this is called Edge computing. No matter how data is collected or used, IoT devices connect everything to the network. these devices are better and smarter.

How can IoT and ai be used to redefine parking?

Parking is a growing problem in thriving urban communities. People can go around a single block for 30 minutes without any luck at finding an open spot. Even if someone does find a spot, it is by mere chance. Just imagine the amount of fuel burnt and carbon that is emitted for no good reason other than to just find a place to park your vehicle. There is simply a disconnect between people looking to park and available parking spaces. Internet of Things can change this by acting as an intermediary between drivers and available parking spaces. By using real-time data from parking meters connected to the internet, users can be informed about available parking spots in their area. So instead of relying on chance, users rely on technology to park. AI can be utilized to predict when more parking spots will become available and when a change in price may occur.

What are the benefits of using IoT for parking?

By using IoT technologies and real-time vehicle tracking we can reduce the search time for drivers looking to park. By using a simple application, users can look AT  A map to check available parking spots. This indirectly helps reduce congestion in high-traffic urban areas, where people are just driving around looking to park. An IoT-enabled parking environment can also allow users to reserve a parking spot in advance. This can put users' minds at ease since they will know exactly where to go to park their vehicles. Here at Pronto Park we are already working on this vision. We plan to use IoT to reimagine the parking infrastructure. By using an intuitive mobile application, Pronto Park can direct drivers towards open parking spots. Not only is this convenient for the driver, but it also allows easier parking enforcement.

Concluding Remarks

IoT aims to reimagine parking as we know it. By using an IoT infrastructure to dynamically track parking spots and vehicles, drivers can be properly informed about the parking situation around them in real-time. Cities won’t also need huge armies of traffic officers to enforce parking since an IoT-based environment can track parking infractions in real-time. By using IoT to power the next generation of parking, we can reduce carbon emissions, make it easier to find parking and allow a consistent revenue stream from parking services. Parking is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States alone, it is about time that we brought it to the 21^st century.