ACTIVITIES
TECHNOLOGICAL WINDOWS
 
36

PARKING METER


“Could I get some change for my parking meter, please?”

Good news! Now you don’t have to run to the corner store and buy yet another package of gum just to get change to feed that hungry meter!

Techno EVOLUTION

In 2001, the City of Montréal was looking
to replace its parking meters. The basic
model hadn’t changed much since parking
meters were invented in Oklahoma in 1935.
But the City was interested in FLEXIBLE,
INDEPENDENT WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

that could be adapted to different kinds of
cashless payment.


Photo: Michel Brunelle


Photo: Michel Brunelle

Techno EXPLANATION

For you, the user, everything is a snap.

  1. Immediately after parking, note the number assigned to your spot, indicated on the sign.
  2. Enter the number on the keypad at the first parking payment station you come to. The payment station will immediately tell you how long you can park in that spot. Then pay with cash or your credit card. The station will print out a receipt.
  3. Off you go, with no need to return to your car and display your parking receipt.

You’re having lots of fun, when suddenly you realize that your time is up! You can’t get back to the meter in time. No need to panic. The payment stations are
all linked by a WIRELESS SYSTEM so you can make your payment from any station (so long as you remember your parking spot number).





How 8D technology works

  1. “Pay and go” payment station
  2. 8D ECO system
  3. Sign
  4. Parking locator: tells parking patrols who has paid for their parking
  5. The payment station is solar powered
  6. Wireless gateway
  7. Operating centre
  8. Computer with parking management interfaces
  9. Bank

Illustration : Vincent Gagnon


Techno APPLICATION

8D Technologies, a Montréal firm, has developed and installed
a system in Montréal that speaks the same language as some cellular
phones.

A version of this technological solution, based on a wireless network similar to the kind used by portable computers, has attracted the attention of several major North American cities. The day isn’t far off when you’ll be able to pay for your parking directly from your cell phone or laptop computer!


Thanks!

The 8D ECO system is on loan from 8D TECHNOLOGIES INC.
The parking locator is on loan from GROUPE TECHNA INC.
The sign is on loan from STATIONNEMENT MONTRÉAL
The parking payment station is on loan from CALE SYSTEMS INC.



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