Parking Space Inventory Control: an Artificial Intelligence Approach

Every day a significant percentage of drivers in single-occupancy vehicles search for a parking space. Additionally, less experienced drivers or out-of-towners further contribute to the increase of traffic congestion. The type of the planned activity, time of a day, day of the week, current congestion of particular routes, knowledge of city streets, and potentially available parking places have significant influence on a chosen parking search strategy. During the past two decades, traffic authorities in many cities (Helsinki, Cologne, Mainz, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Aalborg, Hague) have started to inform and guide drivers to parking facilities with real-time variable message signs (directional arrows, names of the parking facilities, status, number of available parking spaces, etc.). Parking guidance systems help drivers to find vacant parking spaces when they are already on the network, and approaching their final destination. Drivers easily become familiar with the parking guidance systems, and majority of them use, trust and appreciate the help of the systems. Throughout this research the concepts of the parking reservation system and parking revenue management system are proposed. Such systems would help drivers to find a vacant parking space even before beginning their trip. The proposed “intelligent” parking space inventory control system that is based on the combination of simulation, optimization techniques, and fuzzy logic makes “on line” decisions as to whether to reject or accept a new request for parking. The proposed methodology could be applied for parking lots and parking garages in cities and at the big international airports.