From Pixels to Parking

A Smarter Approach to Parking Enforcement in Brussels

Finding a parking spot in Brussels can be a real challenge. And for Parking Brussels, the organization responsible for managing on-street parking, it’s not just about finding a spot – it’s about ensuring fairness, efficiency, and accurate enforcement. With millions of parking events each year, they knew there had to be a smarter way to manage things. This is where the power of new technology came in, with a little help from Tensr and Google.

The Customer

Parking Brussels is responsible for managing all on-street public parking in the city. Their role includes ensuring that parking spaces are available and used correctly, and that any violations are handled appropriately. This is a big job that involves a huge amount of data and a constant need to improve accuracy

The Problem:
More Data, More Complexity

Parking Brussels uses “scanning vehicles”, vehicles equipped with cameras that capture images of parked cars. This data is then reviewed to ensure parking regulations are respected. The agency sought to empower its human reviewers with more insightful information to help them assess each situation accurately and efficiently. The goal was to provide tools that could help reviewers better interpret complex scenarios, such as nuanced license plate details, vehicles engaged in permitted activities like loading/unloading, or the presence of valid disabled parking permits

The Goal:
Partnership and Purpose-Built AI

Parking Brussels knew it wanted to explore AI but needed help understanding its potential and how to apply it to their specific challenges. Because of our expertise in building practical, results-driven solutions and our strong partnership with Google we were the perfect partner for this challenge.

 

Four key use cases

Our collaboration focused on how AI could enhance the ability of human reviewers to interpret complex parking scenarios, specifically in four key areas:

1

Enhanced detail extraction for vehicle identification

Improving the clarity and accuracy of crucial vehicle identifiers, like license plates.

2

Contextual Scene Analysis

Detecting relevant activities or objects in the immediate vicinity of a parked vehicle, providing reviewers with a more complete picture of the parking situation.

3

Vehicle Interior Assessment Support

Assisting reviewers by providing information about the potential presence of occupants within a vehicle.

4

Detection of Official Authorizations

Improving the system’s ability to identify official permits or placards displayed on or within vehicles.

The project leveraged various Google technologies, including Gemini for its capacity for detail recognition on partially obscured images, Vertex AI AutoML to train custom models, and the Vision API to detect broader aspects of the images.

The Solution:
Tangible Benefits and a Clear Path Forward

The solution demonstrated significant potential for improving the accuracy and efficiency of the review process. The AI-assisted approach showed an improved ability to present clear license plate information, aiding reviewers in their assessments. The project reaffirmed that the technology is designed to support, not replace, human oversight.

The success of the project validated how the use of AI could directly lead to:

  • Improved citizen experience:
    By equipping reviewers with more comprehensive information, the system aims to support more accurate fine assessments, leading to less hassle for drivers regarding potentially incorrect tickets and fewer administrative follow-ups for Parking Brussels.
  • Fairer revenue collection:
    Enhanced accuracy helps ensure parking regulations are applied correctly and revenue is collected fairly.
  • More efficient operations:
    The project indicated potential for significant time savings and operational efficiencies, allowing staff to focus on more complex cases and streamlines the overall enforcement support process.

A Look Ahead

The Parking Brussels project is a great example of how AI can be used to solve real-world problems and deliver tangible benefits. It’s not about replacing humans – it’s about equipping them with better tools and insights. As AI continues to advance, we expect to see even more innovative applications that make infrastructure smarter, more efficient, and more citizen-friendly.

Ready to unlock the power of visual data for your organization? We specialize in crafting tailored solutions that solve real business challenges and drive meaningful results. Our solutions are designed with data privacy as a top priority, ensuring your sensitive data remains secure and fully compliant with regulations. We would like to thank GC Innovate for facilitating this great collaboration.