Recently, with the sharp increase in the number of motor vehicles, urban traffic congestion has become a common problem worldwide. Illegal parking is one of the main causes of urban congestion. To solve this problem, the city of Heidelberg in Germany has recently deployed an AI parking detective system called "Cityscanner" on the streets. The introduction of this system marks a revolutionary upgrade in parking enforcement, offering new solutions for urban management through advanced artificial intelligence and sensor technologies.
"Cityscanner" was developed by the German company DCX Innovationis. It is installed on specially designed small vehicles and is equipped with core modules such as high-definition cameras, lidar, and millimeter-wave radar. First, the high-definition camera on the roof can capture images at 25 frames per second, using AI algorithms for license plate recognition (LPR), which has an accuracy rate of 99.7%, capable of identifying EU standard license plates and special characters.
Additionally, the lidar sensor can detect vehicle positions with an accuracy of 0.5 meters, determining whether a vehicle is occupying bike lanes, fire lanes, or other restricted areas, and detecting whether the vehicle's body exceeds the boundaries of the parking space. At the same time, the millimeter-wave radar helps monitor vehicle dynamics in real-time, distinguishing between temporary stops and long-term parking, thus reducing misjudgments.
The system is also connected in real-time to the municipal parking database to verify whether the vehicle has a resident parking permit, a time-limited parking voucher, or special access rights (such as disabled parking spaces). In addition, it is integrated with mainstream digital parking apps like Easypark and Parkster, automatically verifying electronic parking tickets generated through these apps, achieving "seamless enforcement."
"Cityscanner" can inspect 1,500 parked vehicles per hour, with an efficiency seven times that of manual patrols, covering an area equivalent to what traditional officers would cover in a week. Additionally, the vehicle's highly visible design (such as a bright yellow body and warning lights) creates a psychological deterrent, resulting in a 23% reduction in illegal parking in pilot areas. The implementation of this system is expected to generate 1.2 million euros in fine revenue annually for the city of Heidelberg, with investment payback within 3-5 years.
Key Points:
🚗 Can check 1,500 illegally parked vehicles per hour, seven times more efficient than manual patrols.
🔍 The system is connected in real-time to the municipal parking database to verify parking permits and electronic tickets.
💰 Expected annual revenue from fines of 1.2 million euros, with investment payback within 3-5 years.
