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SINGAPORE: Residents and visitors to the recently completed Northshore Residences I and II in Punggol will be the first to test out a next-generation parking system starting Monday (Jan 4), the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said in a press release.
The smart parking system, Parking @ HDB, is configured to deliver a “seamless and more convenient parking experience,” HDB said.
Northshore Residences I and II are the first two intelligence-enabled housing compounds in Punggol Northshore, where smart technologies are being incorporated for a “more livable, efficient, sustainable and safe living environment”.
To begin with, the test will take place in a parking lot, PL80, at Northshore Residences I and II, comprising 1,000 parking spaces.
Parking @ HDB is part of this new initiative and incorporates several features aimed at enhancing the parking experience for residents and visitors.
These will include eliminating the need for gantry barriers at parking lot entrances and exits for a smooth flow of traffic, as vehicle license plates will be recorded by cameras.
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PAYMENT THROUGH THE PARKING @ HDB APP
There will also be more options available for short-term parking.
Motorists can download the Parking @ HDB app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to be able to pay their parking fees using credit or debit cards via the mobile app.
“The smart parking system detects your vehicle when you enter the parking lot and automatically triggers the parking session through the app,” said HDB, adding that parking charges will be automatically deducted when exiting the parking lot.
Motorists won’t need to manually activate the app or insert their cash cards into the in-vehicle unit (IU) and worry about insufficient funds.
Those who do not have the Parking @ HDB app will need to continue to pay their parking fees through their cash cards on their UI.
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Lot availability is indicated by indicator lights on the roof, allowing motorists to locate available lots quickly. (Photo: Housing and Development Board)
EFFICIENT PARKING
To make it easier to locate available lots, color-coded roof LEDs are installed above each parking lot in the parking lot.
“Green means that there are lots available for short-term parking, while amber means that the lots are reserved for seasonal parking,” said HDB.
“The LED will turn off for busy batches.”
Motorists doing short-term parking will receive real-time in-app notifications at the beginning and end of their parking sessions, as well as charges incurred.
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ILLEGAL PARKING
Smart cameras are also installed in the parking lot to detect motorists parking illegally.
Those who park in an unauthorized lot will receive an automatic alert in their Parking @ HDB app informing them to change their vehicles, otherwise they will be subject to a fine.
Those who do not have the application will not be able to receive these notifications. Instead, the system will alert HDB to manage the application from the backend.
“This will allow for a 24-hour automatic enforcement to ensure more orderly parking that benefits both drivers and residents,” said HDB.
Motorists will be informed at the beginning and end of their parking session and parking charges. (Photo: Housing and Development Board)
FLEXIBLE LOT ALLOCATION
Based on the collected parking usage data, the smart parking system will also allocate parking lots to meet different demands in real time.
For example, when the demand for short-term parking is high during the day and the seasonal parking lots are not fully occupied, the number of lots available for short-term parking will adjust accordingly.
“Rather, the number of available short-term parking lots will be reduced at night to ensure enough seasonal parking lots when residents return home,” said HDB.
“This will allow for efficient and dynamic parking allocation to meet the needs of motorists throughout the day.”
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INTELLIGENT PARKING TEST
The first four features to be tested in the trial will include seamless entry and exit to the parking lot, in-app notifications about the start and end of parking sessions and incurred parking charges, payment of parking fees through credit or debit card registered in the Parking @ HDB application and light indicators on the ceiling that indicate the availability of the lot.
Other features will be phased in, HDB said.
Drivers who download and use the Parking @ HDB app will enjoy free parking during their first three parking sessions at PL80, HDB said.
The test will be rolled out to other car parks in the Northshore district, along with the completion of the Build-To-Order floors.
Based on feedback and test results, HDB will explore the feasibility of implementing the system beyond Punggol Northshore, HDB added.
