Ever lose your car in a parking lot? This parking guidance system not only tells you where to park, it can find your car

by Brianna Crandall — April 21, 2017 — INDECT USA, a provider of sensor-based parking guidance systems, just announced that its UPSOLUT parking guidance systems were selected for installation at River Oaks District, a high-end retail destination in Houston. The parking sensors will monitor more than 1,300 spaces in the shopping center’s five-level garage.

River Oaks District, which is operated by OliverMcMillan, is a storied Houston retail landmark that dates back to 1930. It is a widely recognized mixed-use development that combines 650,000 square feet of luxury retail, fine-dining restaurants, street-side cafes and entertainment, along with upscale residential units.

Hassan Sulehri, of OliverMcMillan, noted:

River Oaks District has built a reputation of being committed to delivering the best shopping experience possible. We believed it was important to extend that experience for guests as soon as they pull into the parking facility.

The UPSOLUT parking sensor is an advanced multi-function ceiling sensor. Each UPSOLUT unit can monitor up to six parking spaces, utilizing state-of- the-art vehicle detection technology. The system at River Oaks District has been customized to include license plate recognition and car locator functionality. The system also includes a “Find Your Car Kiosk” located at the top of the garage’s main entry escalator. Here, shoppers can input their license plate number to locate their car if they forget where they parked.

LED signs and lights for parking guidance

LED signs located at the end of each driving aisle also indicate how many and what types of spaces are available in each aisle, and color-coded, high-visibility LED lights indicate where parking is available. Photo courtesy of INDECT

The INDECT sensors are mounted above parking spaces and feature a color-coded system of lights to indicate where parking is available, and what type of parking is permitted in an individual space. Different colors indicate each space’s status: green for available, red for occupied, and blue for HP.

Because they are mounted on the parking structure’s ceiling, the high visibility LED lights located on each sensor can easily be seen across parking aisles from several hundred yards away. LED signs located at the end of each driving aisle also indicate how many spaces, and what types of spaces, are available in each parking aisle.

Parking guidance kiosk

Forgot where you parked your car? Go to the INDECT “Car Locator” kiosk, type in your license plate number, and it will give you directions from where you are standing.

Dale Fowler, director of INDECT USA, stated:

River Oaks District offers an unmatched shopping and dining experience in Houston. This parking guidance program is a natural extension of that commitment to excellence. By guiding shoppers directly to open spaces, and then directing them back to their cars when they are done shopping, this technology eliminates the parking frustrations that are so common at retail centers across the United States.

By removing the need for drivers to circle driving aisles looking for an open space, the INDECT parking guidance suite improves the parking experience for shoppers. It also enhances safety by helping drivers locate open spaces quickly and minimizing the risk of collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians. The sensors also collect data about lengths of stay, occupancy, and usage, which can be used by shopping center management to further improve the parking experience.

Other advantages of the parking guidance system include:

  • INDECT’s ultrasonic and camera-based sensors are IP-65+ rated to be protected from both dust and water.
  • Since INDECT is software driven, users save time, energy and resources maintaining the parking system from a computer or smart device.
  • With the Web-based parking administration software, “contract” spaces can be turned into general parking spaces after hours and on weekends.
  • The camera-based sensors not only monitor cars, they can monitor people as well, adding a layer of security.
  • License plate recognition enables easy recognition of customers who have outstayed their one-hour parking space.

INDECT says its systems are installed around the world in a wide variety of facilities, such as airports, hotels, entertainment venues, malls, city garages, and colleges and universities.

The sensor system was installed by Parking Guidance Systems for River Oaks District. Find more about the advantages of the INDECT OBSOLUT parking guidance systems on the company’s Web site.