Swarco Traffic implements VMS parking guidance system at major retail centre

Swarco Traffic has installed a new parking guidance system at one of Northern Ireland’s premier shopping centres, Abbey Centre, Belfast. A combination of seven variable message signs (VMS) and seven car parking count sensors were commissioned and installed as part of the contract. The technologies combine to alert visitors to where spaces are available, helping to reduce congestion and improve convenience. Abbey Centre attracts some 115,000 visitors every week, and provides 1,265 free car parking spaces. Th
May 26, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
129 Swarco Traffic has installed a new parking guidance system at one of Northern Ireland’s premier shopping centres, Abbey Centre, Belfast.


A combination of seven variable message signs (VMS) and seven car parking count sensors were commissioned and installed as part of the contract. The technologies combine to alert visitors to where spaces are available, helping to reduce congestion and improve convenience. Abbey Centre attracts some 115,000 visitors every week, and provides 1,265 free car parking spaces.

The signs and sensors were strategically installed both outside and inside the car park to direct drivers appropriately. The sensors also automatically report to the relevant VMS on how many spaces are available at each of the centre’s car parks.

Additionally, Swarco implemented its PGS Management software that communicates directly to the centre’s management via GPRS. Key strategic information is made available to inform the client’s decision making, and ensuring they are aware of the centre’s peak times, so that the messages displayed can be amended accordingly.

Air Quality & Weather Systems Parking & Access Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Elektra VMS family
    February 6, 2012
    Siemens has launched a brand-new Variable Message Sign family (VMS) - the Elektra. According to the company's systems marketing manager, Mark Bodger, Elektra provides customers with a totally new solution for VMS implementations: "Elektra signs bring a number of key benefits to all styles of installation, whether car park, driver information or for other applications.
    Read More
  • Westminster detects disabled parking bay abuse
    March 16, 2016
    Westminster trials scheme to detect non-qualifying motorists using disabled parking bays. The provision of disabled parking bays has become commonplace - but so has the abuse of these bays by able-bodied motorists. Now, London’s Westminster City Council is running a trial of technology that detects when a vehicle is illegally parked in a disabled bay.
    Read More
  • Keeping a close watch on ‘too-dangerous-to-drive’ highway
    June 21, 2016
    Like many others, the authorities in Argentina implemented ITS to improve road safety – but this case was a little different to most as Mauro Nogarin explains. The 70km of highway that separate Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires from the city of La Plata had long been considered too dangerous for anyone to make the trip with a private car. Figures on criminal attacks and vandalism with stones, nails, logs, spark plugs or any other element that can damage a car’s tyres and cause them to stop in order rob th
    Read More
  • C-ITS road safety pilot programme launches in Ireland
    February 9, 2024
    Transport Infrastructure Ireland is calling for 1,500 drivers to take part in trial
    Read More

Highlighted Content