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Parking by PSIM

Parking management has become much more sophisticated today as cameras incorporate more sophisticated intelligence and are easily integrated with IoT sensors. More than just parking, however, software to support surveillance systems can offer a range of functionality to assist in additional services to keep traffic calm and allow everyone to go about their business as efficiently as possible.

Smart Security Solutions asked Carlos De Almeida, Business Development Manager for AxxonSoft Southern Africa & SADC for some insights into what this platform provider is doing to optimise parking and traffic efficiency.

Smart Security: How important are surveillance technologies in parking management today? Do the benefits apply to companies managing parking areas or to the drivers themselves?

De Almeida: Surveillance technologies play a crucial role in parking management, especially in areas with limited parking space such as city hubs in South Africa. The benefits of surveillance technologies apply to both companies managing parking areas and drivers. Here’s how they are important in the South African context:

Improved security: South Africa, like many other places, faces security challenges, including theft and vandalism. Surveillance technologies, such as CCTV cameras and video monitoring systems, help deter criminal activities and provide evidence in case of incidents. This is particularly important in areas with limited parking space, where vehicles are more susceptible to theft and damage. Enhanced security measures instil confidence in both parking management companies and drivers, making parking areas safer.

Efficient space management: Limited parking space in South African city hubs requires efficient space management. Surveillance technologies, such as occupancy sensors and real-time monitoring systems, enable parking operators to gather data on parking usage patterns. This data helps optimise space allocation, identify underutilised areas, and implement strategies to maximise parking availability. By effectively managing parking space, both parking companies and drivers benefit from reduced congestion and increased parking efficiency.

Traffic flow optimisation: In busy city hubs, traffic congestion is a common problem. Surveillance technologies aid in traffic flow optimisation by providing insights into parking occupancy and usage patterns. This information enables parking management companies to implement intelligent systems, such as dynamic signage or mobile applications, to guide drivers to available parking spaces. By streamlining traffic flow and reducing the time spent searching for parking, drivers experience less congestion and frustration.

Enhanced customer experience: Limited parking space can cause inconvenience for drivers, leading to frustration and a negative experience. Surveillance technologies help improve the customer experience by providing real-time information on parking availability. Drivers can access this information through mobile apps or digital signage, allowing them to plan their parking in advance and save time. Improved convenience and reduced parking search time contribute to a more positive experience for drivers.

Revenue generation: Efficient parking management facilitated by surveillance technologies can lead to increased revenue for parking companies. By optimising space utilisation, implementing smart payment systems, and ensuring a safe environment, companies can attract more customers and maximise their revenue potential. The revenue generated can be reinvested in improving parking facilities and services, benefiting both the companies and the drivers.

In summary, surveillance technologies are crucial in parking management in South Africa, especially in areas with limited parking space. They enhance security, optimise space utilisation, streamline traffic flow, improve customer experience, and contribute to revenue generation. Both parking management companies and drivers reap the benefits, creating a more efficient and convenient parking environment in South African city hubs.

Smart Security: What parking management options does your company offer as part of a surveillance solution? Do you supply additional technologies (hardware or software) to assist with parking management (IoT sensors, communications and so on)?

De Almeida: Our software offers the detection of parking violations, gate access management, parking occupancy and different kind of reports regarding parking as part of the surveillance solution. AxxonSoft does not supply any additional hardware or software other than our offering, however we are in continuous collaboration with the world’s leading software and hardware vendors.

To maximise the economic efficiency, reliability, and serviceability of security systems for our clients, we integrate the latest developments in computer vision and video analytics, IoT cameras and devices, edge and cloud computing, artificial intelligence and neural network acceleration, smart codecs and data storage.

Smart Security:</i> Do you include LPR/ANPR as part of your parking solutions to permit more accurate control from the gate to the parking area?

De Almeida: Yes, we do have LPR/ANPR via software and/or via edge analytics. We also have recognition against the list for boom opening and two/three ways of authorisation (such as LPR + card scan or LPR + face recognition). Booms/door opening/closing is done via output switch and/or API integrations.

Smart Security: What other analytics/AI applications are included in your system and what do they offer?

De Almeida: AxxonSoft offers several other analytics that can be added to the solution, ranging from your standard analytics such as people counting, loitering and suspect behaviour, to things like predictive analytics. In AxxonSoft, our Auto PSIM module lets you collect traffic data that can be used in automated traffic control systems (ATCS). Traffic videos are collected by surveillance cameras and sent to Axxon Traffic Control servers. The software analyses the video data and computes traffic flow parameters to calculate the following standard traffic characteristics:

• Average speed (km/hour).

• Traffic volume (number of vehicles per hour).

• Traffic density (vehicle/km).

• Lane occupancy (percentage).

• Vehicle length (m) – for vehicle classification.

• Length of the queue at an intersection.

• Automatic detection of road rule violations (speed limit violation, forbidden stopping, forbidden overtaking, cars driving in opposite direction and more).

Data is then sent to the operations centre (data processing centre) where it can be mapped and saved to a database for future analysis. Data necessary for adaptive traffic control is sent to the traffic light control subsystem of the automated traffic control system. The ATCS provides for automated control of traffic lights. Traffic is regulated by traffic lights managed by smart traffic controllers, which are in turn operated by the central server of the ATCS via data links.

The automated traffic control system server feeds smart traffic controllers with traffic coordination plans according to various criteria: time of year, time of day, day of the week, and current traffic conditions index received from Auto PSIM system. The operating modes of smart traffic controllers are also managed by the automated traffic control system server performing centralised management. The ATCS server can also execute local flexible regulation algorithms for locally configured durations of traffic light phases for each individual intersection based on data received from Auto PSIM.

Smart Security: Do you offer mobile integration to make it easier for managers and/or drivers?

De Almeida: Yes, we do have multiple mobile apps that can help with that. For example, we can execute a macro through the mobile to open the boom gate if, let’s say, there is a police car.

For more information, contact AxxonSoft Southern Africa & SADC, +27 10 442 4284, southern.africa@axxonsoft.co.za , www.axxonsoft.com

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