Parking spaces in San Francisco get smart

Looking for a place to park in San Francisco is a hassle and a huge gas-waster, but thanks to a system developed by Streetline, finding an empty spot on the street will no longer require luck.

According to the New York Times, over 6,000 parking spots across the city are being converted into smart spots with the help of wireless street sensors that determine if a parking space is occupied or vacant.

Drivers can access SFPark's up-to-date information via their cell phone, but to keep everyone safe on the road, the city also plans to install battery-operated street signs that display the number of empty spots available in nearby streets.

Apparently, these 4-inch-by- 4-inch plastic sensors not only determine when vehicles are parked, but also when they depart, and a when a new one replaces it, which has city officials thinking of ways drivers could feed the parking meter without returning to their car.

The New York Times says the sensors will also be used to relay congestion information to city planners, but in the future, they may be used to monitor air quality and deploy noise sensors when the sound of a car crash or gun shot is detected.

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Can’t Find a Parking Spot? Check Smartphone