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Utilizing RFID for smart parking applications

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FACTA UNIVERSITATIS
Series: Mechanical Engineering Vol. 7, No 1, 2009, pp. 101 - 118

UTILIZING RFID FOR SMART PARKING APPLICATIONS

UDC 65.011.56

Zeydin Pala1, Nihat Inanc2

1
Mus Alparslan University, Vocational School Department of Technical Programs,
Industrial Electronics Program 49100 Muş,Turkey
E-mail: [email protected]
2
Mus Alparslan University, Rector Istasyon Street, 49100 Muş, Turkey

Abstract. In this study, a solution has been provided for the problems encountered in
parking-lot management systems via RFID technology. RFID readers, RFID labels,
computers, barriers and software are used as for the main components of the RFID
technology. The software has been handled for the management, controlling, transaction
reporting and operation tasks for parking lots located on various parts of the city.
Check-ins and check-outs of the parking-lots will be under control with RFID readers,
labels and barriers. It will be possible to see unmanned, secure, automated parking-
lots functioning with RFID technology in the future. Check-ins and check-outs will be
handled in a fast manner without having to stop the cars so that traffic jam problem
will be avoided during these processes. Drivers will not have to stop at the circulation
points and parking tickets will be out of usage during check-ins and check-outs.
Vehicle owners will not have to make any payments at each check-out thus a faster
traffic flow will be possible. Since there will not be any waiting during check-ins and
check-outs the formation of emission gas as a result of such waiting will be avoided.
Key Words: RFID, Automation, Parking-Lot, Parking-lot Management

1. INTRODUCTION
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID is a technology that helps to identify the animate
or the inanimate through radio waves (Chen 2005). RFID is one of the most fundamental
technologies enabling wireless data transmission (Dowla 2004). However, RFID is not a
single, simple technology. It consists of tags, readers, computer networks, and systems
including middleware, databases, and so forth.
There has been a considerable amount of reduction in transaction costs and decrease
in stock shortage with the use of RFID technology in automation. Most of the RFID net-
works include a wide range of automation technologies. These technologies are RFID
readers, RFID writers, RFID barcode scanners, RFID smart sensors and RFID controllers.

Received April 18, 2009

102 Z. PALA, N. INANC

The use of RFID technology is expanding rapidly in numerous applications such as

logistics, supply chain management, transportation, healthcare and aviation. Due to the variety
of the current applications, typical RFID systems use application specific hardware and
proprietary protocols (Tung and Jones 2008).
The integration of business systems with factory floor automation is a challenge with
many aspects to consider. However, one bright spot is clearly visible: RFID information
technology, which helps bridge the gap.
RFID is enabling companies to see further into the supply chain than ever before, pro-
viding more accurate real-time information and improvements in process efficiency.

1.1 The history of RFID

RFID is called a new technology, but it is actually older than barcodes. The first use of
RFID technology goes back to World War II for airplane identification. In 1994, all rail cars
in the United States used RFID for identification. Although it has been known for a long
time, it has not been widely used in industry (Landt 2005). Because it was expensive and
there was no standardization among the manufacturing companies, it took it a long time to
be widely utilized.

1.2 Benefits of using RFID

RFID allows the wireless storage and automatic retrieval of data. It provides a signifi-
cant improvement over not only conventional identification, tracking, and stocking of
objects, but over the barcode system as well. RFID is expected to help boost supply chain
efficiency, improve security, cut down on theft and counterfeiting, increase asset visibil-
ity, enhance inventory control, automate stock replenishment, etc (Landt 2005).
By the use of RFID technology, manually achieved workloads will be decreased con-
siderably (Penttila et al. 2006). RFID technology is universal, useful and efficient (Zhang
et al. 2005). RFID technology increases company efficiency and provides advantages on
both company and client-wise (Higgins and Cairney 2006). RFID technology is much more
secure (if cryptographic modules are involved) compared to other networks (Xiao et al.
2006). RFID labels play an important role as an inventory tracking technology (Goodrum
et al. 2006).
RFID is becoming an important identification technology in applications such as in-
ventory management, security access, personnel identification, factory automation, auto-
motive toll debiting, and vehicle identification to name just a few (Ostojic et al. 2007).

1.3 Components of RFID technology

RFID technology is roughly composed of RFID tag and RFID tag reader. An RFID
tag is composed of chip, power source and antenna. RFID reader/writer and application
software can be added to them. The IC chip in the tag is used for data storage and logical
operations, whereas the coiled antenna is used for communication between readers (Philips
Semiconductor Technology). The tag is divided into active tag and passive tag according
to the supply of electronic power. RFID reader or transceiver is a device that sends RF
signal to the tag and receives the information from the tag, and then sends this information
to the back office application. The reader may read data from the tag and write data to the
tag. In general, reader is composed of a RF module, a control unit and a coupling element
 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 103

to interrogate electronic tag via RF communication. The RFID reader device can commu-
nicate with multiple RFID tags simultaneously via radio frequency waves (Liu et all 2008).

1.4 RFID tag types

RFID tags can be divided into two, depending on their power source: Active tags, pas-
sive tags. Although they both fall under the "RFID" moniker and are often discussed in-
terchangeably, Active RFID and Passive RFID are fundamentally different technologies.
While both use radio frequency energy to communicate between a tag and a reader, the
method of powering the tags is different. Active RFID uses an internal power source
(Mccarth and Curran 2007) within the tag to continuously power the tag and its RF com-
munication circuitry, whereas Passive RFID relies on RF energy transferred from the
reader to the tag to power the tag (Want 2005). While this distinction may seem minor on
the surface, its impact on the functionality of the system is significant. Passive RFID ei-
ther reflects energy from the reader or absorbs and temporarily stores a very small amount
of energy from the reader's signal to generate its own quick response. In either case, Pas-
sive RFID operation requires very strong signals from the reader, and the signal strength
returned from the tag is constrained to very low levels by the limited energy. On the other
hand, Active RFID allows very low-level signals to be received by the tag (because the
reader does not need to power the tag), and the tag can generate high-level signals back to
the reader, driven from its internal power source. Additionally, the Active RFID tag is con-
tinuously powered, whether in the reader field or not. These differences impact communica-
tion range, multi-tag collection capability, ability to add sensors and data logging, and
many other functional parameters.

1.5 How does RFID system work?

Fig. 1 RFID work scheme

104 Z. PALA, N. INANC

RFID reader, one of the core components of RFID technology, sends signal around.
Active tag senda its own identification signal around, whereas passive tag, getting the
signal, uses it as power source and modulates incoming signal, after which resends it back
to reader. Reader, after getting the modulated signal, demodulates it and transfers the data
it extracts to the application program (Fig. 1). After this step, it is application program's
responsibility to process tag data (Yan et all 2008).

1.6 RFID applications in the market

The market for RFID technology is growing rapidly, with significant opportunities to add
value (Miles 2008).
There are many applications which depend on RFID technology in the market, especially
in retail and health sector. One of these applications is developed in Taiwan to be used for
patient registration and management in hospitals (Wang et all 2006). In this application,
an RFID band, which is a bracelet like stripe, is given to the user to be used during the
hospital processes.
In this stripe, according to the application infrastructure, there exists only RFID unique
identifier, or sometimes owner's personal information. Retail applications of RFID are
mainly used in shopping center automation. Radio frequency is a technology that super-
markets are already using in a number of places throughout the store. There are supermar-
kets where consumers walk into a store, select products whose packages are embedded with
small radio frequency UPC codes, and exit the store without ever going through a check-
out line or signing on the dotted line. By using RFID tags instead of those paper based or
barcode labels, not only user satisfaction in fast total price calculation of objects bought
without having each piece in shop-car read by infrared sensor reader or barcode reader, also
reconciliation and dayclosing operations become easier. Besides, this infrastructure is also
used for user tendency in shopping and had an effect on decreasing the thieveness
(Chandramouli et all 2005). RFID based document management systems are another as-
pect of applications that depend on this technology. In those applications, a tag is glued on a
document after matching and keeping the record of what document has what tag in an
electronic format. In another way, tag is glued on the document after each tag encoded
with the related data on paper based document. Whenever necessary, either reading the
unique identity, or directly reading the related data, searched document can be found easily.
Nowadays, this technology is also being used for separation of original and non-original
products in markets. Each product, after being produced or just before sent to the market,
is attached an RFID tag (Weinstein 2005). By using information in this tag, product prop-
erties or originality can be searched quickly (Bal 2007).
RFID has become very popular in many areas such as purchasing and distribution lo-
gistics, automation, manufacturing companies and even the wine industry where it is used
as an anti-fraud system (Curty et all 2007).

1.7 RFID applications in the industry

RFID is used for hundreds, if not thousands, of applications such as preventing theft of
automobiles and merchandise; collecting tolls without stopping; managing traffic; gaining
entrance to buildings; automating parking; controlling access of vehicles to gated communities,
corporate campuses and airports; dispensing goods; even providing ski lift access (Landt 2005).
 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 105

Different uses of the RFID technology were reported recent years in the manufacturing
industry (Budak et all 2007).
RFID technology can be applied in many different areas in the transportation domain–
–for example, electronic toll collection, electronic vehicle registration, automatic vehicle identi-
fication, fleet management, traffic management, and vehicle positioning. The technology can
also be used in car parking, access control, and electronic fare collection (Banks et all 2007).
IBM has transformed chip production at it's Fishkill plant with semiconductor manu-
facturing system that leverages real-time information to automatically control the fabrication
process, enabling employees to work more productively and be more responsive to custom-
ers' product status inquiries (IBM Fishkill semiconductor plant).
IBM has accomplished this using IBM Siview standard, a manufacturing execution sys-
tem that the company integrated with its own wireless e-business technology. Siview stan-
dard leverages information from IBM DB2 Universal Database to automatically control
each step of the fabrication process that need to be applied to every wafer containing
chips, and supports data analysis tools that provide production-related statistics.
In the manual coding system, the identification sheets were manually updated at every
stage in the production line. In the RFID-based system, however, updates are automati-
cally written on the tag as the vehicle advances on the production line without the risk of
operator error.
The application of RFID technology for tool tracking on construction job sites was dis-
cussed in (Goodrum et al 2006, Stankovski et al 2006).
The potential of RFID and mobile-computing technologies in improving the mainte-
nance of facilities at Frankfurt Airport was presented in (Legner and Thiesse 2006). An
interesting application of RFID technology in mines detection was reported in (Ruff and
Hession-Kunz 2001).

1.8 RFID in the automotive industry

Electronic tracking and identification technology, which is the predecessor of RFID,
has been in use in the automotive industry for around 20 years, but only to a limited extent.
The major applications lie in vehicle identification and protection (Borysowich, 2004).
One of the rapidly budding applications of the use of RFID technology in the automo-
tive industry is in vehicle immobilizers. Over the past few years, immobilizers have be-
come very common in new cars, and over 40 percent of the new cars manufactured in
North America come equipped with RFID-enabled immobilizers (RFID Update, 2006).
BMW and Vauxhall use RFID tags to enable accurate customization of customer or-
ders (Brewer and Landers 1997). A read/write smart tag is programmed in the customer
order. The tag is then attached to and travels with the car during production process. This
tracking ensures that the car is manufactured with the correct color, model, interior, and
any other option the customer specifies.
Ford Motor Company has successfully implemented an RFID-based Just-In-Time manu-
facturing model at its facility in Cuautitlan, Mexico (Johnson 2002).
The appeal of RFID technology in the automotive industry is the real time visibility
and security protection that it offers the automobile itself, as well as the benefits in the as-
sembly processes of automobiles. For example, General Motors, Volkswagen, and Johnson
Controls are already employing RFID tags and readers in their assembly operations, whereas
106 Z. PALA, N. INANC

TNT Logistics had deployed RFID technology to optimize the process of just-in-time
parts sequencing to its automobile-manufacturing customers. Because of these emerging
benefits offered by RFID, it has almost revolutionized the industry (Banks et all 2007).
TNT Logistics, the largest provider of third-party logistics services to the automotive
industry, has launched an initiative to deploy RFID technology as part of its logistics so-
lution offered to automotive manufacturers at the end of 2005 (Banks et all 2007). The ini-
tiative started at the Material Sequencing Center operated by TNT Logistics for Ford Motor
Company to support their assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan (Kiritsis, 2006).
Manufacturers are ambitious to find ways to boost the process security and data qual-
ity of material flow systems, optimize material planning, reduce error rates, employ labor
efficiently, and accelerate transport processes. Siemens RFID solutions play a crucial role
in addressing and eliminating these issues in the automotive industry (www.siemens.com).

1.9 Implementation of RFID technology in control center of a parking lot

During the last four decades numerous parking search models have been developed (Ker
and Foster 1991, Saltzman 1997, Shoup 1999, Thompson and Richardson 1998, Arnott
and Rowse 1999, Waterson et all 2001). Since parking plays an important role in the traffic
system one of the problem concerning this area is parking revenue.
RFID technology is an automated vehicle identification system that is useful and re-
quires no personnel. Vehicles are identified and parking-lot fees are collected automati-
cally via this system (Pala and Inanc 2007). RFID system enables vehicles to check-in and
check-out under fast, secure and convenient conditions. Most of the gate controlling sys-
tems includes barriers. The timing of the gates and additional sensors enables a one by one
parking-lot circulation thus preventing multi check-ins or check-outs at a time (Glover and
Bhatt 2006). RFID readers control check-in and check-out barriers. RFID is a technology
that collects parking fees without having to stop vehicles (Anonymous 2005).
Since RFID technology is contactless identification technology a suggestion was given
to use this technology in parking systems. Advantages of RFID technology in comparison to
other technologies are:
ƒ No need for physical contact between data carrier and the communication device
ƒ Tags can be used repeatedly.
ƒ Robust tags can withstand extreme conditions and temperature.
ƒ Low maintenance costs.
ƒ Tags available in a range of types, sizes and materials.
ƒ Non-line-of-sight communication makes it possible to read and write tags in dirty
conditions.
ƒ RFID tags may be read by the RFID system at one time.
• Extremely low error rate.
It is the sole purpose of this study to utilize such an important technology with an ap-
plication. In this study, via RFID technology, some solutions are provided for the prob-
lems encountered in parking lot management systems to the present and some important
results have been gathered. In this study, the main components of RFID technology which
are RFID readers, RFID labels, a barrier to control the gate and software have been utilized.
The software aimed to handle the management, controlling, transaction reporting and opera-
tion tasks for parking lots located on various parts of the city.
 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 107

As for the hardware requirements, by the utilization of RFID readers, barriers and labels,
parking-lot check-in and check-out controls have been achieved. In that way, as an alter-
native to personnel-controlled traditional parking-lot operations, an unmanned, automated
vehicle control and identification system has been developed.
Necessary precautions have been taken programmatically just in case of a parking-lot's
running out of parking space problem during the process of this application. That way ve-
hicles that are about to check-in will not be let in, thus, there will not be any time-loss to
look for parking space.
Another problem is the application's disconnection to the central database during its
operation. This is basically the result of the internet infrastructure breakdown. To avoid such
a problem, necessary precautions were taken to run the database on both a local and a re-
mote server simultaneously.

2. GENERAL STRUCTURE AND DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM

In this study, controlling of three parking-lot check-ins and check-outs has been achieved
by using a central database system. The parking-lots are located on various parts of the city
(Fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Application scheme

108 Z. PALA, N. INANC

The primary motive of choosing parking lots located on various locations is to show that
this project has a city-wide working scale. The only physical connection with one lot to
another is the intranet. Phone lines have been utilized for internet connection with four
DSL modems to connect three parking lots and a central office.
The server containing database management system with current databases has been
assigned static IPs at the central office. The same static IP assignment has been done to other
three parking lots with DSL modems.
The server software which is Windows based and developed by dot net framework 2.0,
has been installed on each computer at the parking lots.
The objective of the client software is to monitor and control RFID readers and barri-
ers automatically. The vehicle data processed by RFID readers is transferred to the central
server. Thus the server and client computers are in a synchronized state at all times.
While using hardware for the central management of the parking lots, software to control
the hardware has been used as well. RFID readers, RFID antennas, RFID labels, Hubs (RJ45 to
serial converters), cars, automatic barriers with RJ45 serial port connection, DSL modems,
Cat5e Ethernet cables and laptop computers have been utilized for hardware requirements.
To store and manage the vehicle tracking data, a database management system has
been used as software requirements. A visual programming language (Microsoft C# 2005)
has been used for operating the parking-lots and to reach the collected data.

Table 1 RFID reader technical specifications (Siemens 2007)

Frequency range (adjustable) 865 … 868 MHz
Transmit power (adjustable in steps 0.1 W to 2 W ERP
of 100 mW)
Tag read range (with 2x2 antennas, 10 m(max.)
mounted opposite each other)
Tag read range (with 2 antennas, mounted 5 m(max.)
side by side)
Number of antennas(configurable) 2 to 4
Impedance(nominal) 50 Ω
Standards EPC Gen 1, EPC Gen 2, ISO-18000-6B,
Mixed Mode Operation
Number of tags read per second 50 read actions/s
Data transmission rate for reading (EPC Gen 2) 160 Kbyte/s at 3 m
Interfaces 1 port:RS232
1 port :RS422
1 port: Ethernet RJ45
Digital in/out:3x24 V DC, each 0.5 A
Communications protocol RS232, RS422, 802.3af Power over Ethernet
Antenna Type Circular polarized
Temperature range -25 … +75 0C
Dimensions L x B x H (in mm) 320 x 145 x 102
 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 109

The utilized barrier gates were being controlled by using serial port. They opening/
closing time were 4-10 seconds. Barrier opening and closing time lengths could be adjusted
by the software provided. Barriers were 2 m in length. They also included red and green
light sockets. When the barrier was open green light was on while the red on meant it was
closed.
The utilized RFID reader is a Siemens branded board operating with RJ45 Ethernet port
at 865-868 MHZ. By using the above mentioned RFID reader, RFID labels were managed
to be read from approximately 4 m distance (Table 1). In this study 6 Siemens Simatic
RF660R readers were used.
The read data was a 96-bit identification data. The utilized RFID labels are considerably
small with rectangle shapes. That way they could easily be plastered on the windshields of
each cars (Table 2). RFID labels have been plastered on the right bottom side of the wind-
shields of the vehicles from inside. In that way, the labels can be preserved from external
damages and be kept in reading range.
The RFID labels on the vehicles approaching to the parking lot entrances with moderate
speed have been read successfully and barriers opened for the authorized passages.
For each parking lot double RFID readers are used and for each reader, double Siemens
RFID antennas were used. The antennas were connected to the reader side by side facing
the passage road. The distance between antennas and the reader was 2m.

Table 2 RFID label technical specifications (Siemens 2007)

Frequency range (adjustable) 865 … 868 MHz
EPC Code 96 bits
Protocol As per ISO 18000-6B
Typical read/write distance 0…4m
Type of mounting Adhesive on one side (self-adhesive labels)
Antenna size 20 x 88 mm
Antenna material Copper
Operating temperature -20 … +70 0C
Dimensions 101 x 152 mm (4" x 6")
Material Paper

The computers used in this application were connected by the internet. A database titled as
RFIDDATA was used to store data coming from the parking-lots in the city. In the database,
as the main table, "VehicleInformation" and as a sub table "VehicleCirculationInfo"
tables were created. The general information about a vehicle is stored on the main table
and its circulation information is kept on the sub table. The main table consists of the
fields such as vehicleID, number, type, and model. To monitor a vehicle's inner city
parking-lot movements, its check-in and check-out attempts, the dates, the time, the
parking-lot information and total parking fee, "VehicleCirculationInfo" table was used.
These two tables were prepared by a database management system and administered
via the software developed.
The application software has been developed to use a new database each year in order
to prevent database halts caused by possible massive registration data.
110 Z. PALA, N. INANC

RFID reader was connected to the computer's RS-232 port by the Hubs (RJ45 to serial
converters) to provide communication between the developed software and RFID reader.
Another RJ45 Ethernet connection was established for the barrier as well. For each of the
parking-lots, one computer, two barriers, four antennas, one DSL modems, one hubs and
two RFID readers were utilized.
Each computer, through the RFID application, by utilizing intranet substructure has
been connected to a computer running the central database. Insert and update privileges
have been assigned for each parking lot computer that has successfully connected to the
central database. Also though the network provided, data transfers among computers were
also made possible.
Now, using RJ45 to serial converters, RFID readers and gate control mechanisms can
be remotely monitored and controlled via Ethernet. The graphic depicts standard network-
enabled RFID parking applications (Fig. 2). This network-enabled configuration opens up
many possibilities for RFID-based access control systems. For example, a prepaid
account can be linked to the car's RFID tag. The RFID reader authorizes the car for entry,
logs entry time, and transmits that data back to the server, then the gate mechanism is
activated and the car enters. A similar exit point is configured, and when the car leaves
the RFID reader logs exit time, releases the gate mechanism, and transmits the exit data
back to the server. The customer's account is then debited for the time (s)he spent in the
parking lot. The advantages of this type of system include not only easy access for the
customer, but the elimination of staffing at entry and exit points.

2.1 Communications protocols

Protocols are the definition and grammar of the language used by interrogators and
tags to communicate with each other. The interrogator and tag must use the same protocol
to communicate. The interrogator may have multi-protocol capability, but uses only one
protocol at a time (Brown et all 2007). The protocols define air interface – that is, how a
tag and interrogator communicate using electro-magnetic waves. This includes frequency
of operation, emission power level, data rate, signal modulation, encoding of data bits,
data structure, command structure, and anti-collision algorithm. In this study ISO 18000-
6B protocol was used by the tag and interrogator pair. ISO 18000 was first published in
2004 and has been in direct conflict with the EPC Gen2 specifications developed in
parallel (Roussors 2008).

2.2 How does the system work?

The system starts working as soon as RFID labels are acquired from RFID centers.
Label selling centers are located on certain areas of the city which vehicle owners could
easily reach. Upon the purchase of RFID labels, a lot of information concerning the
vehicle is recorded to VehicleInformation table of RFIDDATA database. In that way,
every one of RFID-enabled vehicles will easily be identified and their check-ins and
check-outs to the determined parking lots will be monitored. In this project the RFID
labels were distributed by the central server office.
When an RFID-labeled vehicle attempts to check-in to a parking-lot, the system
queries if the vehicle is registered to the database or not. If it is a registered vehicle and it
has not checked out of an unauthorized RFID-enabled parking-lot, the system will allow
 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 111

its entrance. Upon the entrance, the vehicles identification information, entrance date and
time and current parking-lot title are recorded in the VehicleCirculationInfo table of the
database. The check-in information carries great importance since it will be compared to
the check-out information of the vehicle. If a vehicle has made an unauthorized check-out
of a parking-lot, the vehicle will not be able to check-in to any of the RFID-enabled
parking-lots. The only solution for the vehicle to check-in is for the owner to pay the fine
to the fine office. Upon receiving the approval, the barrier lifts up and initiates the check-in
process (Fig. 3).

Fig.3 Parking-lot check-in process

When a vehicle drives into the exit area of the parking-lot to check-out, its identifica-
tion information is queried on the database. If the vehicle is registered to the system and it
has not made an unauthorized entry to the parking-lot the check-out process is initiated.
The vehicle's check-out date and time is taken into consideration. The check-out date and
time total are subtracted from check-in date and time total. The calculated time is con-
verted into minutes thus the elapsed time in the parking-lot is determined. Upon the
check-out, the check-in information of a vehicle is found and updated with check-out in-
formation. The check-out information means check-out date, time, the elapsed parking
time, and the total fee.
112 Z. PALA, N. INANC

Moreover, the total fee of the elapsed parking time is updated with the previous
related info on the database. If the vehicle has made an unauthorized entry to the parking
lot the system does not allow its check-out. In that case, a fine should be paid to check-out
again. The check-out process is initiated by lifting off the barrier (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 Parking-lot check-out process

2.3 Payment system

Receiving money and paying the parking fees will be done though internet. At the end
of each month, the total fees for each of the parking-lot member drivers will be calculated.
Then these fees could be drawn from their bank accounts and transferred to the parking-
lots' accounts automatically, issuing an invoice for each transaction (Fig. 5).
For payment processes, the tables titled as vehicleDepts, vehiclePayments and
parkOwners have been used in the database. On vehicleDepts table, a vehicle's date-based
payment data for various parking lots, on vehiclePayments table, a vehicle's monthly
payment data, and on parkOwners table, monthly payment and credit data is kept.
 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 113

All the payment and billing information can easily be monitored from internet as well.
In that way, all the parking lots in a city will be operating on a fixed parking fee. This will
more likely please vehicle owners.

Fig. 5 Payment system

2.4 Testing process for the RFID-controlled parking lot

Two vehicles were used for the testing process. An RFID label was plastered on the
windshields of each cars. Testing process began right after saving identification informa-
tion of the cars to the system.
During the testing stage of the parking lot system the following criteria were taken into
consideration:
A single vehicle's check-in and check-out processes were completed. Identification of
the vehicle during check-ins and check-outs was successfully achieved at the distance of 2
to 4 m from the barrier. Then the barrier was automatically activated for the passage of
the car in or out of the parking lot.
Simultaneous check-in and check-outs were successfully performed. The system could
control two barriers at the same time.
One of the vehicles made an unauthorized entry to the parking lot. Upon its check-out
stage, the barrier did not open. Only after the vehicle's fine has been paid up then the gate
was open for the check-out.
One of the vehicles made an authorized entry to the parking lot but its check-out was
unauthorized. Since the car's check-out process failed, and it was considered to be still
parked on the parking lot, other parking-lot systems did not allow the check-in for the
vehicle but only after the due fine payment.
Upon a regular check-in procedure, when the barrier was still open, another vehicle
following right after it did also made a successful authorized check-in. The barrier contin-
ued working smoothly.
114 Z. PALA, N. INANC

3. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS

In this application, a vehicle's identification information is searched on the central
database first, if a vehicle does not have any previous records registered to the database,
the initial entry level information of a vehicle is stored in the database. If a vehicle has a
previous record stored on the system, there will not be any secondary information entries
thus duplicate entries will be avoided.

3.1 Discussion
Under normal circumstances, if a vehicle checks-in to a parking-lot without RFID
notification, that vehicle will not be able to check-out afterwards. In that way,
unauthorized entries will be avoided.
If a checked-in vehicle does not get checked-out, it will not be able to check-in to any
of the parking lots in the city. Only the administrator of the central database could bring a
solution to this problem.
Vehicle owners can access to the database to find out about their parking-lot fees
anytime anywhere. By using the web interface designed, it will be possible to monitor a
vehicle's total fee at once or in detailed listing (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6 Accessing vehicle information panel through the web interface.

 Utilizing RFID for Smart Parking Applications 115

Identification information of the registered vehicles within the coverage area of an

RFID reader will constantly be read. If in this process, a vehicle's information is recorded
into the database there will be duplicate entries and this will cause problems within the
system. To avoid this problem, reading task is done when the vehicles gets out of the
range of the RFID reader.
If two vehicles enter a parking-lot side by side, being within the range of the RFID
reader, the system will not read their identification information and process it. To avoid
such problems, parking-lot entrances should be designed to enable passage for one
vehicle at a time.
Spot lights directly connected to the RFID reader located at the entrances of parking-
lots to notify drivers about the availability of parking space in the lot will provide great
convenience. For instance, if the parking-lot is full, spot lights flash red and otherwise
they flash green. The color of the flash lights changes in accordance with the capacity
status of the parking lots. In that way, there will not be any waste of time looking for park
space. Also, it will not be an obstacle for the vehicles trying to check-out.
Internet disconnection during the processes will shut down the connection to the
central database as well. In such cases, a local database system will be enabled. Once the
internet connection is restored, the system will switch back to the remote database again.
Once the internet connection is restored, the modifications made on the local database
will be transferred to the central database.

3.2 Results
Thanks to the system's easy installation and operation, automated data gathering and
reporting will be possible. With a centralized management system, both the unity and
security of the gathered data will be possible.
By a centralized database system, remote access and administration of the system will
also be possible. Over the internet, administrators will be able to view identification and
debt information of any vehicle and monitor the efficiency and functionality of RFID-
enabled parking-lots. Thus, vehicle accumulations on various places will be avoided and
new precautions will be taken according to the demands.
Via such a system, personnel costs will be cut off. As in the case of ATM machines,
realization of unmanned, completely automated parking-lots will be possible in the future.
Without having to stop vehicles, check-ins and check-outs will be possible. In that
way, there will not be any traffic jam problems. As in the traditional parking lot systems,
drivers will not have to take and process parking tickets during check-ins and check-outs.
Moreover, there will not be any ticket-jamming problems either.
Vehicle owners will not have to make payments upon every check-out. This will
provide a smooth traffic flow within the parking-lot thus preventing the emission gas
formation.
With this system an automated income reporting and a centralized vehicle monitoring
will be possible. A pre-determined price-range will both relieve the city traffic and
provide security for vehicles.
Instead of parking vehicles on streets and putting them into risk, drivers will be able to
leave their vehicles to these parking-lots with contentment.
116 Z. PALA, N. INANC

4. CONCLUSION
In this project, it is proven that by utilizing RFID readers and RFID labels with a
centralized database system, all the parking-lots in a city could be operated in an economical
and fast way.
This prototype will provide for automation of the operation and controlling ability for
all of the parking-lots in a city by using standardized devices.
Compared with traditional barcode identification technology, RFID possesses
characteristics; such as reading multiple tags once, reading/writing many times, and so on.
Implementation of the RFID technology, in an existing parking lot access control
system, has given benefits to all interest parts (the Parking Operator, parking place users
and parking collectors).
People using parking place are spending much less time waiting in line to buy the
tickets for the on-street parking and much less time waiting at the entry and exit barriers
of a parking lot or garage.

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 118 Z. PALA, N. INANC

UPOTREBA RFID-A ZA PRIMENE SMART PARKINGA

Zeydin Pala, Nihat Inanc
U ovoj studiji je dato rešenje za probleme sa kojima se srećemo u sistemima upravljanja
parkiralištima putem RFID tehnologije. RFID čitači, RFID oznake, kompjuteri, barijere i softveri
se koriste kao glavne komponente RFID tehnologije. Softverom se rukovodi u cilju upravljanja,
kontrole, izveštavanja o transakcijama i operacionim zadacima za parking prostore locirane u
različitim delovima grada. Prijavljivanje i odjavljivanje sa parkirališta se nalazi pod kontrolom
RFID čitača, oznaka i barijera. Tako će biti moguće obezbediti da parkiralište u budućnosti
funkcioniše sa RFID tehnologijom, bez osoblja ali sigurno i automatizovano. Prijavljivanja i
odjavljivanja će biti ubrzana bez potrebe da se kola zaustavljaju pa će se i time izbeći saobraćajne
gužve tokom ovih procesa. Vozači neće morati da se zaustavljaju na kružnim tačkama a neće biti
potrebe ni za izdavanjem kartica tokom prijavljivanja i odjavljivanja. Vlasnici vozila neće morati
da plaćaju na punktu za odjavljivanje tako da će saobraćak biti brži. Pošto neće biti čekanja tokom
prijavljivanja i odjavljivanja biće izbegnuto emitovanje gasova do koga dolazi tokom čekanja.
Ključne reči: RFID, Automatizacija, Parkiralište, Upravljanje parkiralištem

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