Hamburg Case Study

The Challenge

• Expanding parking accessibility for a large, dense population of nearly 1.8 million residents.
• High installation and maintenance costs associated with widespread sensor deployment.
• Need for a scalable parking solution covering over 11,000 parking spaces citywide.

The Solution

• Parknav’s AI-powered real-time parking solution, leveraging data and minimal sensor placement.
• High-precision parking availability insights with optimized sensor placement in strategic locations.
• Enhanced city planning through real-time street-level parking data.

The Success

• 95%+ accuracy in predicting parking availability across Hamburg.
• 97% reduction in equipment and maintenance costs compared to traditional solutions.
• Improved traffic flow and reduced environmental impact by minimizing circling traffic.

Hamburg, Germany, the country’s second-largest city, is a bustling metropolis with a population of nearly 1.8 million. Navigating the city’s extensive urban layout can be challenging, especially as traffic volumes grow. Recognizing the need for an intelligent transportation strategy, Hamburg developed the ITS Strategy for Hamburg as part of hosting the 2021 ITS World Congress. The strategy aimed to improve traffic safety, reduce congestion-related environmental impacts, and introduce cutting-edge technology to enhance the city’s infrastructure. A key part of this initiative was optimizing parking management to support sustainable urban mobility and improve traffic flow. In pursuit of a scalable, cost-effective solution, Hamburg sought out Parknav for its innovative, data-driven approach to real-time parking management.

As a major urban center, Hamburg faced unique challenges in managing its parking resources. The sheer scale of the city’s parking infrastructure—over 11,000 spaces—posed significant logistical and financial hurdles. Traditional solutions that required installing a sensor on each parking spot were cost-prohibitive, with estimated costs exceeding €1,650,000 and annual maintenance expenses of €132,000. Hamburg needed a comprehensive parking solution that was not only precise but also financially sustainable. Key challenges included:

• Creating a Scalable Solution
  Hamburg needed a parking management system that could cover the city efficiently without the expense and complexity of placing sensors on every parking space.
• Reducing Environmental Impact
  Circling traffic from drivers searching for parking was contributing to pollution and congestion. Hamburg wanted a solution that could minimize these effects by providing accurate, accessible parking information.
• Optimizing Sensor Placement
  Given the prohibitive costs of full sensor coverage, Hamburg sought a solution that could achieve high accuracy with minimal sensor usage.

The implementation of Parknav’s solution has led to substantial improvements in Hamburg’s parking management, delivering accuracy and cost-efficiency while enhancing traffic flow and reducing environmental impact:

1. High-Precision Parking Availability with Minimal Sensor Placement
   Parknav’s hybrid approach provided Hamburg with 95%+ accuracy in real-time parking availability, achieved with only a fraction of the sensors typically required. The strategically placed sensors allowed Hamburg to maximize precision without incurring the high costs and maintenance associated with traditional sensor-heavy solutions.
2. Significant Cost Savings
   By reducing the equipment and maintenance needs by 97% compared to other parking solutions, Parknav’s system saved Hamburg substantial operational costs. The city could achieve an effective, sustainable parking solution without the financial burden of maintaining a sensor for each parking space.
3. Enhanced Traffic Flow and Reduced Environmental Impact
   Real-time parking data helped reduce circling traffic, contributing to smoother traffic flow and lowering vehicle emissions. By minimizing the time drivers spent searching for parking, Hamburg was able to decrease congestion and reduce the environmental footprint of its transportation network.
4. Scalable, Data-Driven Urban Planning
   Parknav’s real-time insights into parking availability and traffic patterns empower Hamburg’s city planners to make data-driven decisions. This information supports long-term planning initiatives and helps the city adapt quickly to changing traffic conditions, further enhancing the efficiency of Hamburg’s transportation strategy.