The lots at TCNJ are always quite busy. Students, faculty and visitors are constantly having troubles with finding parking spots, especially at certain rush hours of the day or during days where big campus events are taking place. Multiple cars entering a full parking lot and searching for one empty spot increases the likelihood of a fender bender, and ultimately, increases the consumption of gas and time. A solution to this problem is to let users know whether a lot has available parking before entering to reduce traffic flow and gas emission. This can be accomplished by using PIR and ultrasonic sensors to monitor traffic flow and determine remaining parking spots. An ultrasonic sensor detects the presence of an object, while the PIR sensor determines thermal signatures of a car. Therefore the amount of spots available recorded by this IoT device will be wirelessly transmitted to a user friendly website where the users can select a specific lot to see if it has slots available. Our project values sustainability which is why our IoT device will be powered by a solar panel responsible for charging a lead acid battery.
