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Urban mobility is constantly changing. Increased competition for precious urban space and rising demands on individual passenger transport are forcing a transformation towards greater sustainability and efficiency. Digital applications that enable optimised parking management can play an important role in this, as the example of PRS Parkraum Service shows.

Source: Study "The smart city market in Germany, 2021-2026"

The Challenge

Overcoming the limits of traditional car parking management

The traditional implementation of car parking management using attendants is increasingly reaching its limits due to the shortage of skilled labour. In addition, the customers of PRS Parkraum Service GmbH are increasingly demanding digital, data-based solutions – including support in reducing parking search traffic or optimising the use of parking spaces in commercial and residential areas. Digitalisation is the inevitable answer to all these challenges. In addition, it creates more transparency and thus answers questions about the actual utilisation of a parking facility or the more efficient use of parking spaces or e-charging stations, among other things.

In order to consistently exploit the benefits of data-driven parking management solutions for itself and its customers, the company uses various technologies, such as floor or ceiling sensors to detect the occupancy of individual parking spaces, or number plate recognition systems that register entry and exit in a multi-storey garage or car park. In addition, there are other components such as the management of information displays or the analysis of the recorded data by building owners or users, operators of EV charging infrastructure or other interested parties. When looking for a partner to provide connectivity for the technical solutions described above, PRS Parkraum Service GmbH opted for Vodafone Business.

The Company

Service provider with a comprehensive offering

PRS Parkraum Service GmbH, based in Wickede/Ruhr, specialises in parking management solutions. Founded in 1996, the company is active throughout Germany and offers solutions for parking space management, such as checking parking times, parking space management through the use of parking machines, digital parking permits, individual space registration, parking space control on private and public properties as well as support in the development of parking space concepts as part of municipal traffic planning. PRS Parkraum Service GmbH acts as a comprehensive service provider that not only monitors and enforces parking regulations and authorisations, but also handles the collection of all relevant contractual penalties. The company is guided by the conviction that fair treatment ensures the greatest possible customer satisfaction.

The Solution 

Transparent, sustainable, customer-friendly

For the technical realisation of parking space monitoring, PRS is working together with Smart City System Parking Solutions (SCS). This company emerged as a start-up from the Vodafone innovation support programme UPLIFT. SCS is the technical supplier for the sensors and the systems used for evaluation, while PRS concentrates on parking space management. Which recording systems are used depends on the specific task: if the focus is on the use of each individual car park, ceiling or floor sensors are used to record the occupancy status of the car park. The information from these local sensors is usually collected by a gateway, which then sends the combined data to the backend system via the Vodafone mobile network. There the system analyses whether and in which parking spaces, for example, vehicles are exceeding the maximum permitted parking time. This ensures compliance with the conditions of use specified by the car park operators and hence the clients of PRS.

By processing the data in the backend, PRS employees can, among other things, track parking time violations and efficiently visit the required locations in order to carry out appropriate checks. In cases where the focus lies on the utilisation of an entire car park or site, camera-based number plate recognition systems are used. These send the image data of the vehicles entering and leaving the car park to the backend via the Vodafone mobile network. Detailed settings can also be defined for the resulting time registration, such as the time period within which an exit and re-entry is counted as continuous parking.

The sensor data collected on site can be clearly visualised on the Smart City System dashboard. Other analyses, such as capacity utilisation or the recording of traffic flows based on the aggregated data, can also be clearly displayed here.

Stand-alone sensors can also be used for special tasks such as monitoring disabled parking bays or charging points. These have an eSIM and transmit the data via narrowband IoT or LTE-M in the Vodafone network. The recorded data is made available on a dashboard both for PRS employees and – depending on the focus of the solution – for their clients. Connection to smartphone apps or reservation systems is also possible.

"We are extremely satisfied with our collaboration with Vodafone Business," reports Ralph Kopschek, project manager for digital car parking parking management at PRS Parkraum Service GmbH. "Reliable connectivity is an important cornerstone of our solutions and business models. Our relationship is always based on trust, and all issues can be addressed quickly."

In addition to monitoring parking times, the solutions offer numerous other advantages and potential applications – for example, they can support local authorities in urban development, control traffic flows and enable innovative parking concepts. This also contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions and thus promotes environmental sustainability.

The Advantages

Car park management with networked sensors

Floor or ceiling sensors detect whether a parking space is occupied. This information is aggregated by a gateway and transmitted from there to the backend of PRS Parkraum Service GmbH via the Vodafone mobile network. A dashboard gives employees and, if necessary, their clients an overview of the current situation at all times and, if necessary, they can initiate measures such as sending an inspector to the site. In addition, the data collected almost in real time forms the basis for further evaluations, for example for efficiency analyses or for the development of parking concepts.

Ralph Kopschek is the project manager responsible for digital car parking management at PRS Parkraum Service GmbH – from sensors to licence plate scanners. We spoke with him about the benefits of digital solutions for car parking management and the collaboration with Vodafone.

What are the advantages of digital car park management?

Ralph Kopschek: The shortage of skilled labour places clear limits on the traditional inspection of compliance with parking rules by on-site inspectors. Digitalisation is therefore a basic prerequisite for continuing to operate and expand our business in the future. A very welcome side effect of networked solutions is the increased transparency – and therefore the opportunity to offer our customers more insight into space usage and efficiency. This applies to corporate customers such as food retailers, hospitals, exhibition centres, airports or leisure parks as well as private car parks and multi-storey garages, tenant or employee car parks and, last but not least, municipal clients.

With PRS, SCS and Vodafone, three partners are involved in the overall solution. What advantages does this bring?

Ralph Kopschek: SCS takes on the role of technical system supplier. We obtain the necessary sensors, detection systems and gateways from them, as well as the backend and the smartphone app. This means we can rely on these systems being harmonised end-to-end and functioning smoothly. Vodafone contributes its extensive experience in providing connectivity. We control the car park management ourselves and ensure that the rules defined by the operators are enforced with the help of our employees.

When are digital car park management solutions cost-effective?

Ralph Kopschek: The costs of conventional solutions should always be taken into account when considering this. For example, a conventional barrier system costs around 30,000 euros, plus ongoing maintenance costs – not to mention the repair costs in the event of damage caused by vehicles.

Do they also bring advantages in terms of sustainability?

Ralph Kopschek: Absolutely. This is clearly the case if we succeed in reducing traffic searching for a parking space. Parking space is a scarce and therefore precious commodity, especially in urban environments. That is why our solutions also contribute to greater fairness and transparency.

What developments do you foresee for the future?

Ralph Kopschek: I think that innovative parking concepts for neighbourhoods in particular will play an increasingly important role - smart parking will become an important component of urban development and similar issues.

René Büttner is Customer Success Manager at Smart City System. In collaboration with the customers and clients of SCS, he defines the best technical solution for each task in digital car park management. Here he explains how to digitise a parking space and the benefits this has for local authorities.

What role does Smart City System play in the digital car park management offered by PRS?

René Büttner: SCS sees itself as a full-service provider for digital parking. To this end, we offer our customers and project partners, such as PRS, easy-to-install sensor technology and software that was developed in Germany. Our vision is to realise innovative mobility solutions and parking concepts based on real-time data. With this in mind, we supply PRS with tried-and-tested solutions from sensors to backends and smartphone apps.

What does the process of digitising a parking space look like?

René Büttner: The first step is to analyse the intended use case – for example parking space control, parking space management or municipal traffic flow control – and what the structural requirements on site are. On this basis, we decide which data is required and how it should be processed and analysed. Based on these key points, the sensor system to be used, the required data flows and the overall design of the solution can then be determined.

What criteria determine which technology is actually used?

René Büttner: The optimum technical solution depends on the specific task. Individual sensors provide information about the occupancy of a single car park, for example in supermarkets or company car parks. If the usage time of an entire facility, such as a multi-storey car park or parking area, is to be monitored and, if necessary, billed, number plate recognition systems make sense.

How can digital car park management help local authorities?

René Büttner: Digital car park guidance systems show where parking spaces are still available. This reduces traffic searching for parking spaces, can direct traffic flows and also makes the search for a parking space less stressful and more time-saving for each individual driver. That is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

What other uses does the collected data have?

René Büttner: For example, it also allows long-term analyses to be carried out in order to efficiently manage the use of parking space by looking at historical parking data – and, if necessary, it also helps with the planning of new parking facilities. The expansion of charging infrastructure for e-mobility or intermodality in local public transport also benefit from transparent data.