Case Study: From Gridlock to Smooth Ride: The Success Story of Singapore’s Smart Parking App and Messenger Bot
Spotizen is a smart parking solution that can provide real-time information on parking availability, reduce search time for drivers, and increase the efficiency of parking management.
Problems addressed :
- The City of Singapore faced numerous challenges with its traditional parking system, such as traffic congestion, wastage of time, and increased air pollution.
- Increased population and vehicle ownership have led to a rise in the number of vehicles on the roads, leading to congestion and traffic jams.
- Finding a parking spot in Singapore can be time-consuming and frustrating, leading to increased traffic on the roads as drivers search for a spot.
- Lack of information on parking availability leads to uncertainty and frustration for drivers who may not know where to find a spot.
- Traditional parking systems rely on manual data collection, leading to inaccuracies and inefficiencies in parking management.
- There is a need to reduce the amount of time and fuel wasted by drivers looking for parking spots, which can have a negative impact on the environment.
Solution Features:
To address the problems, Sakha developed a smart parking solution that leverages Open Data. The solution involved building a mobile application and Facebook Messenger Bot, which uses Machine Learning algorithms to predict the availability of parking slots at the current time and possible future demand through analysis of historical & actual parking patterns.
- Real-time availability of parking slots in the city
- Parking slot reservation through the app and messenger bot
- Integration with government open data to display availability of parking slots
- Machine Learning algorithms to predict parking slot availability and future demand
- Navigation assistance to the nearest available parking slot
- Coupon parking discounts for registered users
- Integrated payment gateway for cashless payment of parking fees
- Ability to view and manage parking history and payment details
- Personalized notifications on parking availability and coupon discounts
- Multi-language support for tourists and non-English speaking residents
Advantages:
- Saves time: The app and messenger bot help drivers quickly locate available parking spots, saving them time and reducing the time spent searching for a spot.
- Reduces traffic congestion: By helping drivers find available parking spots more efficiently, the smart parking solution can help reduce traffic congestion on city streets.
- Improves air quality: With less time spent driving around in search of parking, the smart parking solution can help reduce vehicle emissions, improving air quality in the city.
- Increases revenue: By providing a better parking experience, the smart parking solution can encourage more people to use paid parking facilities, increasing revenue for the city.
- Provides convenience: The app and messenger bot provide a convenient way for drivers to find parking spots and make payments, eliminating the need to carry cash or deal with parking meters.
- Improves safety: By reducing the time spent driving around in search of parking, the smart parking solution can help reduce the risk of accidents caused by distracted driving or aggressive behavior.
- Enhances user experience: With features such as navigation assistance and coupon parking discounts, the smart parking solution provides a more personalized and enjoyable parking experience for users.
- Data insights: By using machine learning algorithms to analyze parking patterns, the smart parking solution can provide valuable insights to city officials on how to better manage parking infrastructure and resources.
Conclusion:
The City of Singapore faced numerous challenges with its traditional parking system, such as traffic congestion, wastage of time, and increased air pollution. Moreover, finding a parking space in Singapore’s central areas is a significant challenge, and drivers frequently need to circle the block multiple times, wasting valuable time and fuel. These issues resulted in the need for a smart parking solution that could help drivers find a vacant parking spot quickly and efficiently. Sakha developed Android & iOS mobile apps as well as a Facebook Messenger Bot to address the challenges for the City of Singapore, leveraging data science.
