Case studies

Winning Together – ASUS IoT and EPS Global Combine Hardware and Software Solutions to Transform Smart Parking in Urban Environments

An electronic device on the left side of the image, with text written “Tinker Edge R”, and on the right side is a parking lot scene with several cars parked in blue-outlined parking slots.

“By using ASUS IoT's cutting-edge hardware, we can offer a comprehensive parking management system that's not only efficient but also adaptable to any city's existing and future needs.”

– Zoltán Gyarmati, Chief Executive Officer, EPS Global

Car parking is a problem in many towns and cities across the globe. There are insufficient spaces, no clear indication of when empty spots become available, and different ways to pay each time. No wonder drivers spend so much time trundling around urban environments trying to find a suitable place to leave their vehicles. Indeed, in New York City, the average driver spends around 107 hours per year looking for parking spots, wasting an estimated $2,243 of time, fuel, and emissions. Meanwhile, parking operators often encounter disjointed technology adoption and high operation costs, which means they lose money. The surge in vehicles on the roads, coupled with government initiatives like smart cities, is driving the development of improved traffic and parking management solutions. However, there is a need for more connected and intelligent parking systems with integrated software, hardware, and sub-systems that deliver a better all-around experience. EPS Global is meeting these requirements. The Budapest-based company has developed an all-in-one smart parking management system that directs drivers to the nearest available parking spot, whether on-street, off-street, or pre-booked. To augment this software-based solution, EPS Global has partnered with ASUS IoT for reliable and efficient hardware to deliver a product that seamlessly integrates with existing city infrastructure and can adapt to various legal and business environments - allowing for a flexible and scalable intelligent parking solution. The partnership is revolutionizing parking in urban environments for operators and drivers alike. "Our CityZen smart parking system has been proven in diverse places like China and the European Union. It integrates fully with existing infrastructures and can be customized for any local market constraints," says Zoltán Gyarmati, EPS Global's chief executive officer. "Now, through our technology partnership with ASUS, we can combine our software with first-class hardware products that can fulfil the very high demands of our data in real-time."

How ASUS Hardware and EPS Software Works Seamlessly Together

So, how does the smart parking management system operate, and what tangible advantages does it offer to drivers and parking providers alike? In a typical scenario, every component within a parking facility is interconnected via the Internet. The system employs multiple sensors and cameras to collect real-time data on parking space availability, monitoring whether spaces are occupied and when they become available. Data from all components is gathered, processed, and securely stored, either on a cloud-based virtual server or an on-site physical server.

The collected data is crucial to managing parking operations and is delivered as actionable insight to users through a mobile application. This app helps drivers by directing them to the nearest empty spot, even allowing them to book a space in advance. Moreover, the system's data analytics can help cities and parking operators enhance their profitability by optimizing space usage and improving the overall parking experience.

Such functionality is made possible by the technology partnership between EPS and ASUS, which delivers an integrated all-in-one solution. EPS provides the software platform that can integrate with various parking-related equipment to offer a unified management system. Meanwhile, ASUS brings reliable hardware that offers on-site computing power, which is vital for real-time processing in intelligent parking systems. The hardware includes:

Tinker Edge R single-board computers
Automatic license plate recognition systems
Industrial motherboards
Other devices that facilitate on-site data processing and ensure fast and reliable intelligent parking operations

The hardware performs multiple different roles across the system. The Tinker Edge R, for example, can serve as a gateway device, managing the data flow between the parking system's sensors and the central server, processing and filtering data locally, and reducing latency and bandwidth requirements. It can also be used as part of LED boards to display parking availability and directions. And it can integrate with payment and information terminals, enabling secure online transactions for parking fees and providing users with details about the parking facility, such as maps, space availability, and pricing.

The Tinker Edge R represents the latest next-generation single-board computer from ASUS, having been specially designed for AI applications. It uses Rockchip NPU, a machine-learning accelerator that speeds up processing efficiency, lowers power demands, and makes building connected devices and intelligent applications easier. This makes it the ideal device for AIoT environments, which require compute and processing at the edge.

Then, there's the ALPR Edge AI platform, which ASUS also supplies. This system automatically identifies and authenticates vehicles as they enter and exit the car park, making the parking process quicker and less stressful for the driver while improving security. The ALPR system is flexible enough to work with various camera hardware from different vendors, ensuring that it can be adapted to various setups and requirements worldwide.

The combination of EPS Global's software and ASUS hardware provides a compelling smart parking management solution. The system can process data in real time, providing immediate insights and management capabilities, and it has been designed to be scalable so that it is suitable for cities of different sizes. It is also highly user-friendly, meaning drivers enjoy a convenient parking experience through a mobile application with easy-to-understand guidance to the nearest available space and quick-touch payment options. No more wasting time, fuel and emissions searching for a spare space or fumbling for cash to insert into on-site machines.

Zoltán Gyarmati says the technology partnership is already reaping the rewards. "By using ASUS IoT's cutting-edge hardware, we can offer a comprehensive parking management system that's not only efficient but also adaptable to any city's existing and future needs."

The Widespread Adoption of Global Smart Parking Solutions

The adoption of the CityZen system is spreading fast. It is already in operation in various countries including China, Hungary, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Romania, proving its adaptability and global reach. In Yangzhong City in Jiangsu Province, China, for instance, EPS Global oversees a 20-year Build-Operate-Transfer contract to develop and operate a smart parking system with a scope of 10,000 parking spaces.

Indeed, every time the system has been deployed, it has delivered efficient parking management, enabling cities to manage parking resources more effectively, cutting congestion, and improving traffic flow. Cities using the solution have reported significant improvements in traffic conditions and positive community responses. Drivers find the intelligent parking system both time-saving and remarkably user-friendly, leading to a more pleasant urban experience.

There is also a positive environmental benefit. The parking system reduces pollution caused by drivers endlessly circling streets looking for spaces, therefore enhancing the attractiveness of city centres, potentially increasing pedestrians and benefiting local businesses.

Together, ASUS and EPS have created an intelligent parking solution that is efficient, reliable, and ready to meet future demands. Both companies have played to their own individual technical strengths, working collaboratively to deliver a best-in-class solution. Looking ahead, the parking market is poised for significant transformation with the advent of automated vehicles, demonstrating the transformative power of AIoT solutions. In these smart city environments, driverless cars would always know the location of their nearest vacant parking spot, reducing road congestion.

Zoltan Gyarmati says the CityZen system represents the future of smart parking and that he is delighted to be working with a company with the size and scope of ASUS. "We're proud that our solutions are significantly improving urban traffic flow and parking management. The collaboration with ASUS IoT creates a user-friendly system that drivers genuinely appreciate, contributing to a more pleasant urban experience and environmental benefits."

ASUS has also been pleased by the evolution of technology partnerships. "Our collaboration with EPS Global has been a journey of innovation and co-creation," says Silvia Kuo, Director of Business Development at ASUS. "EPS is a highly innovative company and we have undoubtedly found the right partner to bring this flexible and reliable parking approach to global markets.

"Together, we've developed an end-to-end solution that showcases the power of combining ASUS's reliable hardware with EPS's dynamic software. We're excited about future developments and the positive impact of our joint solution on smart city initiatives worldwide."