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WMATA Real-Time Parking
Information Feasibility Study
Chapter 4
REAL-TIME PARKING TECHNOLOGY
This chapter addresses the functional requirements needed for a real-time
parking information system. It identifies the goals and objectives of the system
as determined through interviews with WMATA and Virginia Department of
Transportation staff. This is followed by a review of available technology.
A real-time parking information system is comprised of a variety of elements that
generate raw data, process the data into useable information, and transmit the
information to users. Each of these elements can be addressed with a number of
different technology options. The system vision includes seamless communication of
available parking information from the detection of parking occupancy to public
notification. To analyze technologies considered for system deployment effectively, they
must be evaluated with respect to the needs of the system. To accomplish this, the
goals and objectives of the system must first be determined. This document reviews the
goals and objectives and identifies the functional requirements needed to achieve them.
Different technologies are reviewed to understand their potential for meeting the
functional requirements.
Goals, Objectives and Functional Requirements
Goals are defined as high level statements of a result that, when accomplished, will
achieve all or part of the vision. Objectives are defined as a set of statements that
include specific measurable accomplishments directly related to the opportunity, need,
or problem addressed by a goal. Once goals and objectives are established, functional
requirements are determined in order to provide implementable and verifiable
requirements that define how to meet the objectives. It should be noted that functional
requirements define how the system should function and do not specify the technology
used to meet the requirements.
Goals and objectives were established for this project based on the desires of WMATA
and VDOT using information from interviews conducted in May 2008. The goals and
objectives address matters such as operation of parking facilities, customer satisfaction,
parking payment processing, and information sharing between agencies.
The long-term goals, objectives, and functional requirements for this project are shown
in Table 4-1.
Chapter 3 provided information on smart parking technologies. This chapter provides a
more detailed discussion of the types of technologies used in different locations and
which technologies are used to produce and convey different types of information. The
findings detailed in this chapter will then be used to identify which technologies will meet
the specific WMATA needs.
The technologies are described in terms of the three basic system components: vehicle
detection, data communication, and traveler information communication.
Page 4-1 June 2009