Energy Efficient Smart Parking System for Academic Institutions

With a rise in student enrollment at academic institutions, there is an increasing need to improve and expand campus infrastructure, including dormitories, parking facilities, and other vital amenities. During peak times, such as campus move-in days, finding a parking spot can be a lengthy ordeal, involving searches across multiple lots. Many of these parking areas are frequently full and located at dead ends, making it difficult for drivers to maneuver when no spots are available, thus wasting time, energy, and fuel. Current parking occupancy detection systems face challenges such as high initial costs, as well as environmental and privacy concerns. To address these issues, we developed a proof-of-concept system known as the Vehicle Occupancy System (VOS). This solution is weather-resistant, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly, integrating seamlessly with a mobile application to provide real-time updates on parking availability for academic institutions. The system offers reliable monitoring of vehicle presence while being more cost-effective and energy-efficient than existing market solutions.