Parking Systems 101: different systems and the technology that makes them work
- IronSite Education
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 18
What to know about the different types of parking systems, their access control options, and payment options
Table of contents:
Introduction:
Technology has simplified a lot of things we do daily, and parking is no exception. It might not be something we think about often, but the technology needed to streamline parking at places like parking garages, airports, corporate campuses, etc. can be surprisingly advanced depending on the system.
This blog article explores different types of parking solutions and the technology that makes them work, from ticketing systems to access control solutions to varying payment options.
Different types of parking systems
When it comes to parking solution payment, there are a handful of different systems that can be used today. More traditional solutions, like ticketed parking, provide users with physical paper tickets upon entry and then require them to scan that ticket and pay when they leave. They’re compatible with most access control solutions and integrate with most payment systems.
Hybrid parking systems combine advanced ticketless technology with a reliable ticket-based backup. They can scan barcode paper tickets for traditional entry or scan license plates for automated entry, providing advanced access control with a proven fallback solution.
Free-flow parking is a more advanced parking systems take advantage of innovative technology to streamline vehicle entry and exit into parking areas. Free-flow parking is a modern solution that controls entry and exit without ticket machines, barriers, or paper tickets.
This system utilizes special cameras to scan and process the vehicle’s license plate information into the parking management system, and when the user is ready to leave, they simply enter their license plate information at the pay station on the way out and pay their fee. Some ticketless solutions even allow you to pay through a mobile app before you leave, offering a completely contactless and uninterrupted exit process.
The importance of Access Control
Perhaps the most important aspect of parking systems, access control solutions monitor and manage vehicles entering and exiting the parking area. They provide secure and swift entry to authorized users without the need for on-site personnel.
Access terminals enable secure and swift self-service access for any digital users, service providers, staff members, etc. without the need for on-site personnel. They combine multilingual touchscreen interfaces and integrated scanners to quickly validate vehicles, with SIP technology to directly communicate with control or support staff if assistance is needed. Modern access terminals are designed for quick setup and easy configuration and make the perfect solutions for staff entrances, side gates, and service points.
Lane devices are a type of access control solution that takes advantage of more cutting-edge technology. They combine sensor technology with modular components to streamline entry and exit in almost any use case. Lane devices have a compact design and modern housing with easy-to-service modules that promote low maintenance requirements and extended uptime.
Lane devices are cloud-enabled to offer live data processing, remote diagnostics, and automatic updates. Advanced analytics can also be established to share real-time usage data, predictive maintenance insights, and system health reports; information that can be used to streamline operations and enhance processes.
Access control systems are often integrated with other security solutions, such as barriers, to control the flow of traffic and keep unauthorized users out. Traffic arms are the most common type of barriers associated with parking, but high-security parking solutions also take advantage of barriers like wedge barriers, drop-arm barriers, rising beams, and more!
All the payment options
When it comes to parking system payment options, customers have a variety of different methods to choose from. Most modern parking systems offer 100% cashless and contactless solutions, accepting of all major credit and debit cards, compatibility with mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and support for optional QR code scanning for digital validation or ticketing.
More advanced payment systems offer integrated data and analytic capabilities as well, from live transaction reports to usage reports to maintenance notifications; all of which contain useful information that can be analyzed to improve processes and streamline operations.
If they’re cloud-based payment systems, they also offer payment processing, remote monitoring, system diagnostics, and automatic software updates to ensure systems are functioning correctly and operating at peak efficiency.
Conclusion:
Even for something as simple as parking, there’s a large amount of innovation and technology being utilized to keep things as convenient and fast as possible. While some systems are faster and incorporate more advanced technology, there are tried and true systems that you can rely on to quickly get customers in and out while offering minimal disruption. If you’re unsure of what system to implement on your next project, talking to an expert physical security integrator is always a great place to start.
IronSite is a national physical security provider with specialized expertise to deliver premium solutions at scale. Our extensive family of brands nationwide enables responsive and consistent service and support for all our clients wherever they may be.
Media Contact
Terin Pickett
IronSite
1595 E. 6th St; Suite 101
Corona, CA 92879
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