A pilot test has begun in the German city of Heidelberg that could transform city parking enforcement. Traditional inspectors have been replaced by a special vehicle with artificial intelligence called the Cityscanner. This new enforcement system, developed by DCX Innovationis from Regensburg, has demonstrated a staggering 600% increase in efficiency compared to traditional methods.
How "Cityscanner" Works
The Cityscanner system is a small vehicle equipped with roof-mounted cameras and LiDAR (laser radar). It is said to be able to check around 1,500 parked cars per hour for violations.
Cameras and AI: The cameras take pictures at 25 frames per second, with AI reading license plates, checking whether cars are in valid parking spaces, and comparing the data with popular digital parking apps like Easypark or Parkster.
LiDAR for accuracy: The mounted LiDAR is used to detect cars that are parked in prohibited places, such as in restricted traffic zones or on bike lanes.
Verification: To ensure maximum accuracy, Cityscanner drives the route twice within a few minutes before issuing a potential fine.
Human intervention: Despite the high degree of automation, a human still checks the collected data, as AI cannot distinguish between things like disability permits.
Developers have already have also implemented the system outside of Germany, with around twenty vehicles in use in Poland, France and the Netherlands.
Challenges: Price and Privacy
Despite its impressive performance, Cityscanner faces two main challenges:
Price: Installing the device costs around 130,000 euros, not including software licensing.
Privacy: The issue of data privacy is always a sensitive one. DCX Innovationis claims that the images taken by Cityscanner do not include faces or license plates, and only the police have access to the full data from the device.
However, Cityscanner represents the future of smart city control, although its high price may delay its wider deployment.