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SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and ST Engineering said on Monday (September 14) that they launched Singapore’s first smart barrier-free parking to facilitate parking on university campuses.
Developed by the electronics division of ST Engineering, the Smart Car Park System uses automatic license plate recognition, data analytics and mobile payment technologies to provide barrier-free, ticket-free entry and exit from parking lots.
The system will reduce costs for car park operators and provide information on the use of their car parks, NTU and ST Engineering said in a press release.
The system is operational in three car parks on NTU’s main Jurong campus and will be progressively rolled out in all 59 car parks on the university campuses, including Novena and one-north. When completed in late 2021, it will cover more than 4,000 parking spaces.
The Smart Car Park System will be implemented in all NTU car parks by the end of 2021. (Photo: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
Motorists using the car parks must first register through the GoParkin mobile app and provide their details and credit or debit card information. Upon entering the parking lot, your registered license plate will be recognized, and the parking fee will be calculated upon departure and billed to your account.
The system also collects parking data and provides real-time information on parking occupancy through the GoParkin app.
Motorists will be directed to the closest available parking spots with parking fees, saving time searching for available lots. They can also request and pay for seasonal parking using the app.
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PARKING PAYMENTS MADE REMOTELY
The cloud-based platform provides NTU with an overview of parking occupancy records and an asset management module to help identify preventative maintenance, avoid costly downtime, and extend equipment value.
Using automatic license plate recognition technology is also more cost effective compared to conventional electronic parking system, which uses in-vehicle unit and CashCard to process parking fee payments, NTU and ST Engineering said.
As the app allows motorists to make their parking fee payments remotely, it eliminates the need for physical pay stations and barriers in parking lots.
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In addition to developing the system, ST Engineering’s electronics division will also provide managed services for all NTU car parks.
ST Engineering Electronics President Ravinder Singh said the system manages parking in a more efficient and sustainable way by reducing pollution and traffic congestion.
“Beyond these, knowledge about the use of parking garages can potentially generate new value-added services for motorists and transform business models for parking operators,” he said.
NTU President Professor Subra Suresh said the parking system is an example of an innovation that improves everyday life through technology.
“This is in line with the vision of NTU Smart Campus whereby we harness the power of technology in a sustainable way to improve the quality of life for members of our community,” he added.
