216 | PARKING
Big ideas Big data is already helping drivers and road authorities to find and plan parking spaces more efficiently, but the revolution is only just beginning. How much further can it take the transportation world? Words | Dan Hubert, AppyParking, UK
Below and right: AppyParking’s software can tell drivers not only where there are free parking spaces, but also how much they will cost Far right: Dan Hubert, founder and CEO of AppyParking
Technology in transport has been advancing rapidly in the last few years, with the race to autonomous vehicles dominating the headlines. But many have ignored the smaller, less flashy technology that is making it all possible. While autonomous driving has been taking center stage, transport companies have been quietly investing in big data, installing sensors and trackers to collect information that can provide better insights into the future of our roads. This can range from an app collecting data on parking spaces to a dashboard-based traffic-light countdown, linked to a road authority database. Regardless of the method, the benefits of this data are huge. Big data analytics can be applied in all sorts of contexts, including to social media and real-time traffic information, and recent advancements in analytical techniques have allowed us to extract insight from data sets with previously unattainable levels of sophistication, speed and accuracy. This insight and advancement means valuable information gleaned from big data can now be applied a wide range of industries beyond the computer and science labs, with a global study by IMB revealing that companies that have implemented big data projects were around 15% more likely to report a significant advantage from information and analytics than those relying on traditional business analytics alone.
Big data in transportation One benefit of big data is capacity optimization, which enables traffic and parking systems to effectively forecast demand. By analyzing data, algorithms can draw out patterns and correlations from current and historical data. This is something being studied by UK-based smart parking company
Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2018
AppyParking. It is currently collecting data, via sensors in cities throughout the UK, that allows it to see if spaces are available. Over time, it hopes to share this insight with road authorities to help them plan where future parking spaces should be built. Being able to see which areas are in highest demand, planners will gain a better understanding of their cityscape, which will be essential during planning stages. As more data is mined, the accuracy of the forecasting and planning models will improve.
Smart asset management Capturing and analyzing transportation data will also help authorities and transport
