Smart Parking System Based on Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons with Particle Filtering

Urban centers and dense populations are expanding, hence, there is a growing demand for novel applications to aid in planning and optimization. In this work, a smart parking system that operates both indoor and outdoor is introduced. The system is based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and uses particle filtering to improve its accuracy. Through simple BLE connectivity with smartphones, an intuitive parking system is designed and deployed. The proposed system pairs each spot with a unique BLE beacon, providing users with guidance to free parking spaces and a secure and automated payment scheme based on real-time usage of the parking space. Three sets of experiments were conducted to examine different aspects of the system. A particle filter is implemented in order to increase the system performance and improve the credence of the results. Through extensive experimentation in both indoor and outdoor parking spaces, the system was able to correctly predict which spot the user has parked in, as well as estimate the distance of the user from the beacon

Intelligent Transportation in Acadia National Park

This project determined the feasibility of implementing an intelligent transportation system (ITS) in Acadia National Park. The features of an ITS were researched and discussed. The components of Acadia’s previous ITS were evaluated. New ITS technologies for Acadia were investigated. Three sensor types were identified to count cars: magnetometers, induction loops, and cameras. Three traveler information systems were identified: dynamic message signs, websites, and mobile applications. The logistics of implementing these systems were assessed, and a cost analysis performed. The team recommended magnetometer sensors with a dynamic message sign to monitor the Sand Beach parking lot and a centralized travel website. The system can be expanded to other popular locations in the future

Técnicas de localização fina de veículos por rádio-frequência

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e de TelecomunicaçõesThis document describes a vehicular localization system aimed for outdoor parking. This system offers advantages for the users (people who drive the vehicle) as well as for the people whose function is the parking management and control. Nowadays there is almost one vehicle per driving person, being this transport one of the most used. One big problem of this choice of individual transport is the parking of the car outdoor. Parking lot search time and fuel waste or even inefficient payment systems can now be part of the past. The vehicular localization system presented here tries to propose a solution for these problems, which affect everyone, sometime. The localization method combines a radio-frequency burst with distance measurement using ultrasounds, and then trilateration to calculate the exact point. From the user view, it can be as simple as clicking on a personal remote control at the time of start and stop parking, paying the parking time pre/after it through a convenient method. For the parking manager, this system brings the benefit of controlling the parking occupation in real time, through a single computer, as well as many others advantages. In what concerns technology, the remote control consists in an embedded system composed by a microcontroller and an 802.15.4 standard transceiver, which communicates with the infrastructure elements. Furthermore it contains an ultrasound module to help in the parking lot localization where the vehicle is. Leveraging the technological evolution, it can be created applications for many devices, as smart phones or tablets, to map free spots, control the parking period and vehicle security during user absence or even offer payment facilities, increasing user’s comfort and saving him/her time and money.Este documento descreve um sistema de localização veícular destinado a parqueamento exterior. Este sistema oferece vantagens tanto para os utilizadores (pessoas que dirigem os veículos) como também para as pessoas que têm como função a gestão e o controlo do estacionamento. Hoje em dia existe quase um veículo por pessoa condutora, fazendo deste um dos transportes mais utilizados. Um grande problema nesta escolha surge no momento de estacionar no exterior, onde existem diferentes formas de o fazer, no entanto nenhuma delas verdadeiramente eficientes. Tempo a procurar um lugar vago aliado ao combustível gasto nesse acto ou mesmo sistemas de pagamento rudimentares podem agora ser parte do passado. O sistema de localização veícular apresentado aqui surge como uma possível solução para estes problemas. O método de localização é feito através de um disparo de rádio-frequência combinado com medições de distâncias com ultrasons, aplicando porteriormente a técnica de trilateração. Pela visão do utilizador, pode ser tão simples como clicar num comando pessoal no início e fim de estacionamento, pagando antes ou depois o tempo utilizado por um método conveniente. Para quem gere o parque de estacionamento, este sistema traz o grande benefício de controlar todos os lugares em tempo real através de um único computador, assim como muitas outras vantagens. Em termos tecnológicos, o comando pessoal consiste num sistema embutido composto por um microcontrolador e um transceptor de comunicações segundo a norma 802.15.4, o qual comunica com os elementos da infraestrutura. Além do mais contém ainda um módulo de ultrasons para ajudar a localizar o lugar de estacionamento onde está o veículo. Aproveitando a evolução tecnológica podem ser criadas aplicações para muitos dispositivos, como smartphones ou tablets, para mapear lugares livres, controlar o estacionamento e a segurança do veículo durante este ou mesmo oferecer facilidades de pagamento, aumentando a comodidade e poupando tempo e dinheiro ao utilizador

A Practical Review to Support the Implementation of Smart Solutions within Neighbourhood Building Stock

The construction industry has witnessed an increase in the use of digital tools and smart solutions, particularly in the realm of building energy automation. While realising the potential benefits of smart cities, a broader scope of smart initiatives is required to support the transition from smart buildings towards smart neighbourhoods, which are considered critical urban development units. To support the interplay of smart solutions between buildings and neighbourhoods, this study aimed to collect and review all the smart solutions presented in existing scientific articles, the technical literature, and realised European projects. These solutions were classified into two main sections, buildings and neighbourhoods, which were investigated through five domains: building-energy-related uses, renewable energy sources, water, waste, and open space management. The quantitative outcomes demonstrated the potential benefits of implementing smart solutions in areas ranging from buildings to neighbourhoods. Moreover, this research concluded that the true enhancement of energy conservation goes beyond the building’s energy components and can be genuinely achieved by integrating intelligent neighbourhood elements owing to their strong interdependencies. Future research should assess the effectiveness of these solutions in resource conservation

Smart Urban Solutions for Low-Income Neighborhoods in Dubai: Hor Al Anz Area as a Case Study

The project’s main objective is to study and assess the current situation and future setup of implementing smart solutions technologies, and the main challenges facing the growth in Dubai in general and the Hor Al Anz neighborhood in Dubai in particular. The expected results and outcomes of this study are illustrated in this research report. The project report consists of 5 parts. Part 1 covers the implemented initiatives and presents the problem statement and the historical background of the case study area by showing why did I select the Hor Al Anz neighborhood in Dubai (Figure 1 below). The purpose of the study is to understand and highlight the challenges that are facing people and identify the problems to try to find smart solutions for the neighborhoods and indicate the project definition and goals to be achieved by using strategic approaches and smart, sustainable targets. Part 2 provides an overview of the literature review and what other similar work has been done in the same areas even in the UAE or in other countries. Part 3 presents the methodology which contains the description of all the phases informing the research. Part 4 presents the Project Analysis which contains (General tours, Secondary data, Similar Solutions, Decision Making, and Expected Results/ project Deliverables). Part 5 presents the conclusion and a set of recommendations based on the review of all the above points for effective ways intended to go about solving the problem and the data analytics tools which will be used to offer people’s needs and expectations

Congestion Management in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park has seen an overwhelming increase in visitors throughout the past few years. Due to wildfires in Glacier, the team spent the first half of the term in Acadia National Park, where the project was tailored to their similar congestion situation, while still working towards the goals for Glacier. The objectives focused on alleviating congestion by providing park visitors with the information necessary to reduce congestion themselves. In each location, the team determined the current state of congestion management tools and infrastructure, then investigated and compared solutions that best fit each park. The team’s recommended solution combines a newly developed webcam network and an easily accessible traffic and congestion page within the NPS website for respective parks

Bridges of the BeltLine

As currently realized, the Atlanta BeltLine weaves under, over, and through a multitude of overpasses, footbridges, and tunnels. As in any city, this significant feature is simultaneously an asset and a potential hazard. These types of structures are "vulnerable critical facilities" that should be included in emergency risk assessments and mitigation planning (FEMA, 2013). As such, the Bridges of the BeltLine project was proposed as a mixed-methods study to understand how people's movement along the BeltLine can inform emergency management mitigation, planning, and response. Understanding pedestrian flow in cities has been underfunded and understudied but is nonetheless critical to city infrastructure monitoring and improvement projects. This study focused on developing inexpensive, low-power consumption sensors capable of detecting human presence while preserving privacy, as well as a survey designed to collect data that the sensors cannot. The survey data were intended to describe BeltLine users, querying on demographics, reasons, frequency, duration of use, and mode of travel to and on the BeltLine. After conferring with the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) leadership, it became apparent that ABI's primary interest is in understanding which communities are being served by the BeltLine and whether it has changed commuting and travel behaviors or created new demand. As a result, the project's original focus on emergency management was expanded to explore which communities are being served and for what kind of use. As such, the project's revised objective was two-fold: to facilitate understanding of (a) whether the BeltLine is serving the adjacent communities and purpose of use and (b) to inform emergency mitigation, planning, and response.This research was made possible by a grant from Georgia Tech's Executive Vice President of Research, Small Bets Seed Grants program, with supplemental funding from the Center for the Development and Application of Internet of Things Technologies (CDAIT)

Survey of smart parking systems

The large number of vehicles constantly seeking access to congested areas in cities means that finding a public parking place is often difficult and causes problems for drivers and citizens alike. In this context, strategies that guide vehicles from one point to another, looking for the most optimal path, are needed. Most contributions in the literature are routing strategies that take into account different criteria to select the optimal route required to find a parking space. This paper aims to identify the types of smart parking systems (SPS) that are available today, as well as investigate the kinds of vehicle detection techniques (VDT) they have and the algorithms or other methods they employ, in order to analyze where the development of these systems is at today. To do this, a survey of 274 publications from January 2012 to December 2019 was conducted. The survey considered four principal features: SPS types reported in the literature, the kinds of VDT used in these SPS, the algorithms or methods they implement, and the stage of development at which they are. Based on a search and extraction of results methodology, this work was able to effectively obtain the current state of the research area. In addition, the exhaustive study of the studies analyzed allowed for a discussion to be established concerning the main difficulties, as well as the gaps and open problems detected for the SPS. The results shown in this study may provide a base for future research on the subject.Fil: Diaz Ogás, Mathias Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Fabregat Gesa, Ramon. Universidad de Girona; EspañaFil: Aciar, Silvana Vanesa. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentin

SmartSantander: IoT experimentation over a smart city testbed

This paper describes the deployment and experimentation architecture of the Internet of Things experimentation facility being deployed at Santander city. The facility is implemented within the SmartSantander project, one of the projects of the Future Internet Research and Experimentation initiative of the European Commission and represents a unique in the world city-scale experimental research facility. Additionally, this facility supports typical applications and services of a smart city. Tangible results are expected to influence the definition and specification of Future Internet architecture design from viewpoints of Internet of Things and Internet of Services. The facility comprises a large number of Internet of Things devices deployed in several urban scenarios which will be federated into a single testbed. In this paper the deployment being carried out at the main location, namely Santander city, is described. Besides presenting the current deployment, in this article the main insights in terms of the architectural design of a large-scale IoT testbed are presented as well. Furthermore, solutions adopted for implementation of the different components addressing the required testbed functionalities are also sketched out. The IoT experimentation facility described in this paper is conceived to provide a suitable platform for large scale experimentation and evaluation of IoT concepts under real-life conditions.This work is funded by research project SmartSantander, under FP7-ICT-2009-5 of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community. Authors would like to acknowledge the collaboration with the rest of partners within the consortium leading to the results presented in this paper

Smart streetlights: a feasibility study

The world's cities are growing. The effects of population growth and urbanisation mean that more people are living in cities than ever before, a trend set to continue. This urbanisation poses problems for the future. With a growing population comes more strain on local resources, increased traffic and congestion, and environmental decline, including more pollution, loss of green spaces, and the formation of urban heat islands. Thankfully, many of these stressors can be alleviated with better management and procedures, particularly in the context of road infrastructure. For example, with better traffic data, signalling can be smoothed to reduce congestion, parking can be made easier, and streetlights can be dimmed in real time to match real-world road usage. However, obtaining this information on a citywide scale is prohibitively expensive due to the high costs of labour and materials associated with installing sensor hardware. This study investigated the viability of a streetlight-integrated sensor system to affordably obtain traffic and environmental information. This investigation was conducted in two stages: 1) the development of a hardware prototype, and 2) evaluation of an evolved prototype system. In Stage 1 of the study, the development of the prototype sensor system was conducted over three design iterations. These iterations involved, in iteration 1, the live deployment of the prototype system in an urban setting to select and evaluate sensors for environmental monitoring, and in iterations 2 and 3, deployments on roads with live and controlled traffic to develop and test sensors for remote traffic detection. In the final iteration, which involved controlled passes of over 600 vehicle, 600 pedestrian, and 400 cyclist passes, the developed system that comprised passive-infrared motion detectors, lidar, and thermal sensors, could detect and count traffic from a streetlight-integrated configuration with 99%, 84%, and 70% accuracy, respectively. With the finalised sensor system design, Stage 1 showed that traffic and environmental sensing from a streetlight-integrated configuration was feasible and effective using on-board processing with commercially available and inexpensive components. In Stage 2, financial and social assessments of the developed sensor system were conducted to evaluate its viability and value in a community. An evaluation tool for simulating streetlight installations was created to measure the effects of implementing the smart streetlight system. The evaluation showed that the on-demand traffic-adaptive dimming enabled by the smart streetlight system was able to reduce the electrical and maintenance costs of lighting installations. As a result, a 'smart' LED streetlight system was shown to outperform conventional always-on streetlight configurations in terms of financial value within a period of five to 12 years, depending on the installation's local traffic characteristics. A survey regarding the public acceptance of smart streetlight systems was also conducted and assessed the factors that influenced support of its applications. In particular, the Australia-wide survey investigated applications around road traffic improvement, streetlight dimming, and walkability, and quantified participants' support through willingness-to-pay assessments to enable each application. Community support of smart road applications was generally found to be positive and welcomed, especially in areas with a high dependence on personal road transport, and from participants adversely affected by spill light in their homes. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that our cities, and roads in particular, can and should be made smarter. The technology currently exists and is becoming more affordable to allow communities of all sizes to implement smart streetlight systems for the betterment of city services, resource management, and civilian health and wellbeing. The sooner that these technologies are embraced, the sooner they can be adapted to the specific needs of the community and environment for a more sustainable and innovative future