The ParkMobile Insights program helps cities manage parking better using data for more livable urban spaces, writes Johannes Mark, Head of Global Parking Insights, EasyPark Group.
As cities worldwide continue evolving and expanding, understanding and managing urban infrastructure has become more crucial. In an era where data is king, municipalities need precise and actionable insights to make informed decisions about city planning, mobility, and sustainability.
The ParkMobile Insights program, is revolutionizing how cities view and manage their parking infrastructure, turning previously untapped data into a strategic asset for creating more livable urban environments.
The parking problem: a crisis of mismanagement
A surprising paradox often plagues urban areas in the United States—while the country has over two billion parking spots, around 85% sit empty at any given time. This imbalance in supply and demand isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it has far-reaching implications, from increased congestion and higher housing costs to underutilized urban space. For decades, cities have struggled to manage these resources effectively, relying on outdated, manual data collection methods that limit their ability to create dynamic, responsive urban planning strategies.
Data drivenInsights addresses this gap by providing cities with a comprehensive view of their parking ecosystem. Using modern technologies like LiDAR technology, maps of a city’s parking landscape, allow municipalities to understand their existing infrastructure and parking occupancy and make better-informed decisions. This leads to more efficient use of space and helps alleviate the economic burden of excessive parking requirements in new developments.
By harnessing the power of data, cities can move beyond reactive measures and implement proactive policies that foster more imaginative growth.
Leveraging LiDAR for smarter city planning
One of the most accurate and innovative approach is LiDAR technology. Traditionally employed in autonomous vehicles and advanced mapping systems, LiDAR technology is helping cities collect precise and continuous data on parking occupancy, availability, and usage patterns. Unlike conventional methods, which often involve deploying personnel to collect data periodically, LiDAR-equipped scanners offer transparency of parking dynamics across entire cities. This allows city planners to make informed policy decisions, continuously monitor and adjust their strategies to meet the evolving needs of their communities.
For example, cities like Copenhagen, Denmark, have begun repurposing on-street parking spaces to make room for greener, more pedestrian-friendly areas. By understanding parking supply and demand at a granular level, municipalities can implement changes that reduce congestion and promote sustainable transportation options such as cycling and walking. This approach ultimately creates more vibrant, livable urban centers where the focus shifts from cars to community life.
The city of Amsterdam, Netherlands, also illustrates the transformative power of data-driven urban planning through its collaboration with EasyPark, ParkMobile’s parent company. With 150,000 paid on-street parking spaces and an average parking rate of €6.34 per hour, the city’s demand for parking often exceeds its supply, especially in high-traffic areas like the canal belt.
Utilizing data insights, Amsterdam has tailored its mobility policies to create a more harmonious balance between parking supply and demand. This initiative has led to strategically reducing parking spaces in the city centre and shifting focus toward park-and-ride (P+R) facilities on the outskirts, like those in Amsterdam-Noord, which serve as gateways to the city.
The city’s emphasis on improving traffic flow and accessibility has also enhanced road safety and air quality. By offering precise data on parking patterns, such as the 754-minute average parking duration on Fizeaustraat in the city’s Watergraafsmeer neighbourhood, EasyPark helps local shop owners and city planners understand the effects of paid parking on visitor flow, enabling more informed decisions for sustainable urban development.
Data-driven policies for a balanced urban landscape
One of the most significant challenges cities face today is the reliance on blanket regulations—such as minimum parking requirements—often based on outdated or incomplete data. According to urban planning experts, these policies can add millions of dollars to the cost of affordable housing construction. In his book Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, author Henry Grabar suggests those costs average around $36,000 per unit. The financial burden of these requirements is often passed on to residents, making housing less affordable and exacerbating inequality.
Data-driven Insights enables cities to replace these one-size-fits-all regulations with data-backed strategies that align more closely with actual demand. For instance, dynamic pricing models can regulate parking fees based on occupancy data, encouraging more efficient use of available spaces. This approach creates a more efficient management system for cities and helps reduce traffic congestion by minimizing the time drivers spend searching for parking.
In areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where congestion pricing and dynamic parking rates have already shown promising results, integrating ParkMobile’s data-driven insights could further refine these models. By tailoring parking policies to specific neighborhoods and peak times, cities can create more equitable and responsive systems that better serve their residents and businesses.
Enhancing sustainability and urban livability
Beyond just solving the parking puzzle, data-driven approach plays a critical role in enhancing the sustainability of urban environments and enables cities to reduce the environmental impact of traffic congestion by optimizing parking resources. Less time spent circling for a parking spot means fewer emissions, lower fuel consumption, and a reduced carbon footprint for urban areas.
Moreover, cities can use the revenue generated from improved parking compliance to invest in green infrastructure projects, such as EV charging stations, bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly zones, and public parks.
For instance, Heidelberg, Germany, has leveraged data from its parking concept to reduce congestion and improve the quality of life in the city. Heidelberg has created a more balanced and sustainable urban environment by introducing paid parking in large areas of the city to regulate parking occupancy and promote alternative transportation methods. Data drive software solutions provide similar opportunities for cities worldwide, enabling them to reimagine their public spaces and prioritize residents’ quality of life.
Beyond parking: the broader implications of data-driven urban planning
The use of data to inform policymaking is not limited to parking alone; it can potentially transform entire urban landscapes. Cities that adopt a data-driven approach can integrate these insights into broader urban planning initiatives, addressing issues like land use, public transportation efficiency, and smart grid development. By utilizing parking data, municipalities can react to current challenges and anticipate future trends and shifts in urban mobility.
For example, understanding peak parking demand times can help cities design better public transit schedules that align with residents’ needs, reducing reliance on private vehicles. Plus, cities can use the data collected to inform infrastructure investments, guiding the development of multi-modal transportation networks that seamlessly connect buses, trains, bike-sharing services, and pedestrian pathways.
The road ahead: a smarter, more connected future
As cities attempt to get smarter, data will remain at the core of designing and optimizing urban spaces. ParkMobile Insights represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology to solve long-standing mobility and urban planning challenges. By turning data into actionable insights, ParkMobile is not just transforming how we manage parking—it’s reshaping the entire concept of urban mobility.
In the coming years, we expect more cities to adopt data-driven approaches to address their unique mobility needs. As ParkMobile continues to innovate and expand its capabilities, it will remain a key player in helping municipalities transition to a smarter, more connected future and make cities more livable.
With the correct data, cities can navigate the complexities of modern infrastructure and create more sustainable, vibrant communities that thrive in the face of change.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMM magazine.
Johannes Mark
Head of Global Parking Insights
EasyPark Group