2020 Airport Business Project of the Year: Portland International Airport's Parking Guidance System

• Location: Portland International Airport (PDX)
• Project: Parking guidance system
• Cost: $2.2 million
• Completion: April
• Key Participants: Park Assist, High Point Construction Services, 20/20 Parking Consultants         

In 2019, Park Assist began installing its M4 camera-based Parking Guidance System (PGS) at Portland International Airport (PDX). The M4 PGS is an advanced, durable and intelligent camera-based sensor system. The smart-sensing system, equipped with License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, delivers rich data and occupancy tracking that enhances garage management by enabling greater efficiencies, creating new revenue opportunities and elevating the parker’s experience. 

Steve Koester, parking systems manager-airport operations for PDX, said one of the new features available with Park Assist’s camera-based parking guidance system allows customers and parking staff to quickly locate their vehicle. The new parking guidance system also has less infrastructure than the previous system as the sensors are located in the drive lane with cameras focused on the parking stalls.

“One sensor can view four parking spaces,” he said. “The previous system had a sensor over each individual parking spaces requiring more cable trays, equipment and maintenance.”

PDX was one of the first airports in North America to implement a PGS. Their original system consisted of ultra-sonic sensors, now at the end of their life. As technology has evolved, Park Assist’s M4 PGS provides PDX with more comprehensive technology.

Michael Huggins, senior manager, landside operations for the Port of Portland said they installed a single-space parking guidance system (APGS) in the airport’s short-term garage more than 10 years ago and they have been well received by customers at PDX.

“As with most aging technology, the system components were becoming scarce and advancements in system capabilities made replacement an attractive option,” he said. “It’s imperative that PDX continue to offer a reliable parking guidance system as part of our customer service initiative and to continue to exceed the expectations of the airport users.”

The M4 smart-sensor system monitors up to four spaces at a time, reducing the number of sensors needed, simplifying maintenance and decreasing clutter. The M4 system provides next-generation guidance with sensors that can change to virtually any color to indicate specific parking opportunities, as well as advanced wayfinding and system control features. This software-based PGS is built with an expanded capacity to support future upgrades.  

"PDX staff wanted a parking guidance system that could offer more than just identify whether a parking space was available to maximize the management of the parking spaces and to offer customers the highest level of customer service and conveniences,” Huggins said.  “The new system offers several beneficial improvements to help staff better manage lost tickets and lost cars with the real time license plate recognition and inventory system.”  

Park Assist installed approximately 900 M4 sensors to manage the 3,300 spaces in the short-term garage. The PGS is independent of PDX’s network and IT infrastructure, minimizing initial and ongoing coordination required for system maintenance. 

“Installing a guidance system in a garage that is, at times, near capacity creates a number of challenges in coordinating closing drive lanes and installing the cable trays and sensors without having to close sections of the garage to do so,” Koester  said. “The construction team worked closely with the airport’s landside operations team to ensure the new system could be installed with minimal impact to the day-to-day operations and maintain a safe environment for both customers parking in the garage and the construction team installing the sensors.”

The M4’s housing is designed to be attractive and functional with a resilient exterior frame, preventing ingress of water and dirt. As PDX faced water intrusion in their prior PGS, Park Assist designed a customized shower cap solution to add an extra protective layer. 

By managing parking inventory and availability with real-time data, the M4 system guides customers through the garage, clearly showing where to park. The combination of Park Assist’s advanced wayfinding signage and bright signaling smart-sensors reduces the customer’s time-to-park anywhere from 36 percent to 63 percent

The system provides PDX management with superior data to improve operations by helping management understand parking activity and behaviors. Park Assist’s system provides a variety of reports that contain vital information for garage efficiency. The PGS also provides an overnight inventory count system ensuring garage occupancy is monitored and maximized.

PDX’s installation is also equipped to integrate with several API add-ons that improve security and customer satisfaction. These add-ons include: Park Surveillance, premium and reserved parking, and Find Your Car. 

“PDX has made parking guidance an important feature in providing the best possible customer experience when parking in the Short Term or Long Term garages,” Koester  said. “Features such as Park Assist’s Find My Car module and vehicle inventory capabilities that are available with this camera-based parking guidance system has given PDX the ability to provide the highest level of customer service.”

The Find Your Car feature, which allows parkers to easily locate their vehicle upon returning to the garage. This feature uses Park Assist’s LPR technology to pinpoint the exact location of each parker’s vehicle and directs them to the car upon returning to the garage. PDX’s plan includes adding the other features in the future.

Huggins said it’s important that PDX provides the highest level of customer service to the traveling public. One measure in achieving this goal is to ensure customers can find a parking space quickly and a single-space parking guidance system has been one of the cornerstones in achieving this goal.

“The new Park Assist camera-based APGS allows PDX staff to maximize the use of available parking spaces and offer customers new convenience features such as a ‘find-my-car’ app to help customers find their vehicle in the 3,300 space parking garage,” he said. “A parking guidance system also helps PDX to minimize it’s carbon footprint on the environment by helping customers find an available parking space without having to drive up and down each drive aisle, or idling while waiting for another vehicle to pull out of a parking space.”