Smart parking is one of the most common smart city deployments. In-ground or surface-mounted sensors detect a vehicle with magnetometers, radar or infrared and report occupancy over NB-IoT or LoRaWAN; alternatively, cameras count vehicles in a lot. The data feeds signage, navigation apps and enforcement systems, and gives planners real occupancy data instead of surveys.
The value is less traffic from drivers circling for a space and better use of existing capacity. The constraints are per-space cost, since every bay needs a sensor that lasts years in asphalt, and accuracy in difficult conditions such as snow or motorcycles. Camera-based approaches are cheaper per space but raise privacy questions. The Smart cities guide compares sensor options and business models.
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