Sensor Networks In San Francisco Finds Parking Spots

MrSeb writes "You've heard of smart cars, and now, rolling out in San Francisco, is a smart parking system that promises to eliminate the arduous process of finding a parking spot. SFpark is a network of magnetic sensors that have been installed under 8,200 street parking spaces, along with additional information from parking garages and parking meters. These sensors are all linked together in a mesh network, and ultimately link back to a central command center. Drivers can access this parking data via the SFpark website or smartphone app, and see in real-time where parking spaces are available. At any one time, a third of cars on the road in urban areas are looking for parking spots, consuming more fuel, creating more pollution, and causing more accidents. With SFpark, you can see at a glance where there's a parking spot — but in the future, you'll be able to hit a button and have your smartphone direct you to the nearest parking spot."

Comments

The steps

[Caerdwyn]

1. Use smartphone app to locate parking
2. Use smartphone to navigate to open spot
3. Park
4. Receive multi-Franklin ticket from waiting police officer for using smartphone while driving
5. Protest ticket in court that the city is encouraging people to use smartphones while driving
6. Have fine increased by dishonest shill San Francisco court which exists only to fill the city's coffers with contrived fines because that's how the city and county of San Francisco does business.