Skip to main content

Siemens launches radar-based parking space detection pilot

As part of the City2.e 2.0 research project, Siemens is demonstrating a faster way to find kerbside parking in the Bundesallee in Berlin in cooperation with the Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment in Berlin (SenStadtUm), the VMZ Berlin Betreibergesellschaft mbH, the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM), and the Robotics Innovation Center of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Street lamps on a 200 metre long section of road betwee
September 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
As part of the City2.e 2.0 research project, 189 Siemens is demonstrating a faster way to find kerbside parking in the Bundesallee in Berlin in cooperation with the Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment in Berlin (SenStadtUm), the 6409 VMZ Berlin Betreibergesellschaft mbH, the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM), and the Robotics Innovation Center of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI).

Street lamps on a 200 metre long section of road between Walther-Schreiber-Platz and Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz in Berlin Friedenau have been equipped with radar sensors that continuously monitor urban parking areas and report free parking spaces and the number of occupied e-parking spots to parking space management software. The network of sensors scans from above an area of up to 30 metres, the equivalent of five to eight parking spaces.

The data collected by the system can either be used by the traffic information centre for its own information services or forwarded through a data interface, such as to app operators, so that drivers can always find free parking spaces simply by using their smartphone, a navigation device or the parking guidance signs.

Key to the project is the software application developed by the Robotics Innovation Center uses intelligent learning methods. Data from parking space sensors helps the system to recognise typical parking space situations. This learning feature enables the system to predict in advance where and when the best opportunities exist for finding a free parking space. The system is also coupled with a multimodal route planner; if no parking spaces are available, the route planner provides real-time information on possible options for switching to public transportation services.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). By doing so, the Federal Ministry is pursuing one essential goal: the reduction of the carbon dioxide, pollutant and noise emissions due to road traffic.

The test results will be available in 2016 and should prove that by reducing parking

search traffic the system is suitable for cutting CO2 emissions.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Better websites build smarter transport participation
    March 17, 2017
    Transport initiatives are gaining traction through well-designed websites. Four European smart transport-oriented websites have gained honours in the 2016 .eu Web Awards, an online competition inaugurated in 2014 to recognise the most impressive sites within the .eu internet domain in terms of their design and content. The four were among 15 finalists across all five categories of the scheme, giving the transport sector a high profile for its proactive use of sites as communications tools for driving major
  • Driver aids make inroads on improving safety
    November 12, 2015
    In-vehicle anti-collision systems continue to evolve and could eliminate some incidents altogether. John Kendall rounds up the current developments. A few weeks ago, I watched a driver reverse a car from a parking bay at right angles to the road, straight into a car driving along the road. The accident happened at walking pace, no-one was hurt and both cars had body panels that regain their shape after a low speed shunt.
  • Jenoptik uses sensor fusion to avoid monitoring confusion
    January 26, 2018
    Jenoptik’s Uwe Urban looks at the advantages of ‘sensor fusion’ for the ITS sector. When considering the ideal sensing and monitoring system to enable the ITS sector to deliver improvements in mobility and road safety, for general policing security and border protection, we have to think beyond radar-base systems or laser scanners. What is needed today are solutions for detecting and tracking vehicles while recording evidence to deacide if any action is necessary. There is no sole sensor capable of
  • Nordic ticket to ride
    December 4, 2024
    Why is making a multimodal travel plan between Nordic nations so difficult? No wonder planes and cars are so popular, says Søren Sørensen – but a new project means things may be about to change