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FLL To Be 1st U.S. Airport With Camera Based Parking Guidance System

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- A South Florida airport is the first in the nation to get a new camera-based parking guidance system meant to make the troublesome task easier.

The system, which will be installed at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, will let users know what space is available as soon as they pull into the garage.

The way it works is, once the driver arrives, they will be guided to the nearest available empty parking spot using an electronic sign that says what spots are free.

FLL  Camera-Based Parking Guidance System
Once the driver arrives at the entrance, they will be guided to the nearest available empty parking spot using an electronic sign that says what spots are free. (Courtesy: Park Assist)

From there, LED lights installed at the center of the driveway will be lit green for an open space or red for a taken space. The lights could also be lit in other colors like blue for handicapped spots or yellow for VIP.

According to Park Assist, the company who offers the system, the guidance system cuts down on the average time to park by nearly 50 percent.

FLL  Camera-Based Parking Guidance System
LED lights installed at the center of the driveway will be lit green for an open space or red for a taken space. The lights could also be lit in other colors like blue for handicapped spots or yellow for VIP. (Courtesy: Park Assist)

At the heart of the system are units which include cameras, an internal processor, and LED lights. Each unit can monitor four parking spaces at a time. Each unit then integrates with each other to create a network of monitored parking spaces.

The cameras will monitor the activity of each parking space including the arrival time and the license plate number of each car.

FLL  Camera-Based Parking Guidance System
For those drivers, who don't seem to know where their car is, the system will also help them find their parked car by providing a map showing where the car is. All the driver has to do it type in part of the license plate number. (Courtesy: Park Assist)

For those drivers, who don't seem to know where their car is, the system will also help them find their parked car by providing a map showing where the car is. All the driver has to do it type in part of the license plate number.

While the units have not been installed yet at the airport, officials say the project is expected to be completed by Fall 2015.

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