The big picture
As part of a 12-week pilot program, Generation Park is testing a new IoT-based parking solution as part of McCord Development's smart cities initiative to optimize city functions and improve user experience through nonintrusive technology and data analysis.
The details
The pilot program consists of 30 smart bollards located throughout Generation Park's mixed-use lifestyle center, Redemption Park. The smart bollards transmit real-time parking occupancy data to be analyzed and are equipped with:
- Solar power
- LTE connectivity
- License plate-reading cameras
What they're saying
"We are thrilled to introduce one of the first parking pilot programs in the country," said Ashwin Chandran, director of technology innovation at McCord Development. "At McCord, we strive to measure and understand behavior in order to enhance the human experience and make efficient business decisions. We hope to use this data to improve the overall performance of our operations across all our assets."
What you need to know
As opposed to conventional parking solutions, officials noted this pilot parking program is an appless initiative. Instead, first-time parkers pay via text or QR code where they enter their license plate number and payment information.
Because of the embedded license plate cameras, returning visitors can then park and walk away without having to resubmit any information every subsequent visit.
Officials reiterated there are still several options for free parking at Redemption Square, including:
- A nearby parking garage
- Open parking on Redemption Square Road
- Metered spaces on Assay Street, which offer free parking for one hour
