City administrators and parking operators increasingly turn to smart parking solutions leveraging video, AI and IoT technologies. This article looks at Taiwan company Hi Sharp’s smart parking solutions and how they address various parking challenges.
Amid urbanization and increased car ownership, parking has become a headache for municipalities across the globe. In this regard, city administrators and parking operators turn to smart parking solutions leveraging video, AI and IoT technologies. This article looks at Taiwan company Hi Sharp’s smart parking solutions and how they address various parking challenges.
Hi Sharp is a Taiwan company with over 30 years of history. Over the years the company has developed strong expertise in video security. Their video solutions are used in various applications, including smart parking.
“We're video experts, plain and simple. From capturing images to displaying them and storing them securely, we're passionate about all things video. So, when we saw the parking chaos plaguing cities, we knew our AI-powered video technology could make a real difference,” said CF Lu, CTO of Hi Sharp.
Parking challenges and Hi Sharp solutions
Indeed, for those of us who drive, parking is a challenge we face everyday. Looking for parking can be painful as well as environmentally harmful – the more time it takes to find parking, the more greenhouse gases are emitted into the air. Upon leaving the carpark, paying at the automatic payment system can also be a headache; the driver may need to walk a long way to the APS, some of which don’t accept cash or large-value bills. The security of the carpark may also be a concern.
Hi Sharp smart parking solutions can address these difficulties. “Parking woes are universal: the endless search for a spot, confusing payment systems, and security concerns. Our solutions tackle these head-on,” Lu said, adding their smart parking solutions can do the following:
- Real-time spot detection: their AI-powered cameras instantly identify available spaces, guiding drivers directly to them via mobile app or digital signage;
- Smart space optimization: parking lot capacity can be maximized by dynamically allocating spaces, ensuring efficient use of every spot;
- Enhanced security: Hi Sharp cameras keep a watchful eye on parking areas, deterring crime and providing peace of mind;
- Seamless payment: License plate recognition enables automatic billing and payment, eliminating the need for tickets or cash.
According to Lu, their smart parking solutions stand out with their various highlights and features, including cutting-edge AI, camera integration flexibility, the use of a combination of edge and cloud computing and the company’s strong capability in customization.
“Our mature AI algorithms, honed over years of experience, ensure accurate vehicle and license plate recognition, even in challenging conditions like rain or low light. We can integrate with existing cameras or deploy our own range of high-quality cameras, adapting to any parking environment,” Lu said.
Lu adds: “We utilize a combination of edge and cloud computing to process data efficiently and provide real-time insights. Our solutions can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different cities, countries, or businesses.”
Asia: ‘Ripe’ for smart parking innovation
According to Lu, they currently target Taiwan and Asia but are eying other markets across the globe. “While we serve the Taiwan market, we're initially focusing on Asia,” Lu said. “However, we also see significant potential in Europe and North America, where sustainability initiatives and smart city projects are creating a favorable environment for our technology.”
Commenting on the Asia market, Lu said it is “ripe” for smart parking innovation. “Rapidly growing cities and a surge in vehicle ownership are creating a perfect storm of parking challenges. Governments are actively promoting smart city initiatives, and drivers are increasingly demanding convenient and efficient parking solutions. We believe smart parking is poised for explosive growth in Asia, and Hi Sharp is excited to be at the forefront of this transformation,” the CTO said.