Objectives of the service
Accessible parking misuse and inefficiencies in enforcement create significant barriers for people with disabilities. The SPACES project addresses these challenges by integrating sensor-enabled monitoring, satellite imagery analysis, and a Bluetooth-enabled parking permit system.
The service provides real-time insights to local authorities, ensuring that accessible parking spaces are used correctly. Satellite imagery helps analyse parking trends and inform infrastructure planning, while the digital permit system enhances security and reduces fraud.
By combining these technologies, SPACES enables data-driven decision-making, improves accessibility compliance, and enhances urban mobility. Developed in collaboration with ESA, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and Expleo, the project delivers a scalable, inclusive solution for smarter, more accessible cities.
The SPACS project features key stakeholders, including representatives from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Access Earth, Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland, Enable Ireland and Minister Roderic O’Gorman from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, demonstrating the collaborative commitment to improving accessible parking.
Users and their needs
SPACES is designed for local authorities, urban planners, and people with disabilities, ensuring more accessible and enforceable parking solutions. The project targets Ireland and other European countries where parking accessibility compliance and enforcement remain challenges.
Primary Users & Their Needs:
People with Disabilities (End Users)
-
Reliable access to designated accessible parking spaces.
-
Protection from unauthorized use of these spaces.
-
A seamless, secure digital permit system.
Local Authorities & Enforcement Agencies
-
Real-time data on parking space availability and misuse.
-
More efficient, automated enforcement tools to reduce violations.
-
Data-driven insights to plan and optimize accessible parking infrastructure.
Urban Planners & City Administrators
-
Insights into long-term parking trends via satellite data.
-
Tools to ensure equitable distribution of accessible spaces.
Project Challenges:
-
Ensuring seamless integration of sensor, satellite, and permit data.
-
Encouraging adoption and compliance from enforcement agencies.
-
Addressing privacy and data security concerns with digital permits.
SPACES bridges these gaps by combining smart technology and space assets, creating an innovative, scalable solution for accessible urban mobility.
Service/ system concept
SPACES provides real-time accessibility insights through a combination of sensor-based monitoring, satellite imagery analysis, and a Bluetooth-enabled digital permit system. The platform delivers accurate, live updates on accessible parking space availability, misuse detection, and historical usage patterns.
How It Works:
The SPACES solution is composed of four core elements:
-
Unique algorithm that detects and classifies accessibility parking spaces into a user preference based “Suitability Score” using both satellite and aerial imagery.
-
Embedded sensors in parking spaces detect real-time availability.
-
Secure, digital permits ensure authorized use of accessible spaces.
-
A mobile and web application providing real-time space availability, navigation, and enforcement insights.
These components bridge the gap between users and operators, ensuring accessible parking is efficient, available, and properly enforced.
System Architecture (High-Level)
-
Data Collection: Sensors and satellite imagery capture parking locations.
-
Processing & Analysis: Sensors are installed to interact with Bluetooth enabled parking card. The data is processed using AI-driven analytics to detect patterns, optimize enforcement, and inform decision-making.
-
User Access: Local authorities access the dashboard to monitor spaces, receive alerts on misuse, and enhance urban accessibility planning.
Space Added Value
SPACES leverages satellite Earth observation (EO) and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) to enhance accessible parking monitoring and enforcement.
Space Assets Utilized:
Earth Observation (EO): High-resolution satellite imagery provides large-scale urban analysis, mapping accessible parking locations, detecting unauthorized use, and supporting long-term city planning.
GNSS Positioning: Ensures precise geolocation of accessible parking spaces and enables real-time monitoring by integrating with sensor networks and a Bluetooth-enabled permit system.
Added Value Over Existing Methods:
-
Satellite imagery allows authorities to analyze parking usage across entire cities without requiring costly, labor-intensive ground surveys.
-
Combining EO data with on-ground sensors provides accurate, real-time insights, improving enforcement efficiency compared to manual checks.
-
Historical EO data helps urban planners assess trends, optimize the distribution of accessible spaces, and predict future demand.
-
GNSS-enabled digital permits verify authorized use, reducing misuse more effectively than traditional static permits.
By integrating space technology with smart mobility solutions, SPACES delivers a cost-effective, scalable, and proactive approach to improving accessibility—far beyond what traditional enforcement and monitoring methods can achieve.
Current Status
Current Status of the SPACES Project
SPACES has successfully completed initial field tests integrating sensor-based monitoring, satellite imagery analysis, and a Bluetooth-enabled parking permit system. Trials were conducted in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, validating real-time data accuracy and system responsiveness.
Key achievements include:
-
Deployment of 37 in ground sensors in high-traffic accessible parking spaces in Dún Laoghaire.
-
Analysis of satellite imagery to assess locations and categorise based on user needs. Combining with the in-ground sensors to analyse parking trends and identify misuse hotspots.
-
Successful integration of GNSS-enabled digital permits with enforcement tools.
Current Work in Progress:
-
Expanding sensor deployment to additional urban locations.
-
Refining AI-driven analytics for predicted misuse detection.
-
Engaging with local authorities to optimize enforcement workflows.
Upcoming Activities:
-
Live public trials with end-users and multiple local authorities and private sector stakeholders to evaluate system usability.
-
Final integration testing before scaling deployment.
-
Stakeholder workshops to refine long-term accessibility strategies.
SPACES is progressing towards full implementation, with results informing broader smart city initiatives.
