How do you transform parking from a daily frustration into a seamless experience at a bustling commuter university? The University of Houston faced the challenge head-on by partnering with Parking Guidance Systems (PGS).
Together, they integrated cutting-edge parking technology, featuring ultrasonic sensors, AI-backed cameras and real-time wayfinding signage, to build a smarter, more efficient system.
Parking Challenges at University of Houston
With a student population exceeding 47,000 and a location in one of the most sprawling cities in the United States, the majority of UH’s community relies on personal vehicles to access the campus.
For faculty, staff and commuting students, finding a parking spot quickly and efficiently can mean the difference between arriving on time or missing vital class time, meetings or lectures. This challenge is even greater during peak hours, such as mornings and during major events, including football games.
Given this dynamic, parking is more than just a matter of convenience at UH; it directly affects resources, operations and stakeholder satisfaction with the campus experience.
Six Garages, 11,000 Parking Spaces
UH’s 600-plus-acre main campus required a parking solution that could handle large volumes of daily traffic. PGS was initially asked in 2018 to retrofit three campus garages with INDECT parking guidance technology. University leaders later chose to work with PGS to integrate the same capabilities into three additional garages as they were constructed, bringing the total number of enhanced structures to six, each with five parking levels. Currently, UH offers 11,349 spaces monitored by parking guidance technology.
Simple, Reliable Sensors
After exploring the options with PGS, UH requested an Ultrasonic Mini Sensor (UMS) system to reach its guidance and monitoring goals. Each UMS is purpose-built for single-space monitoring with exceptional precision.
Using ultrasonic technology, a UMS emits and receives sound waves to determine whether a space is occupied. This technology delivers an industry-leading 99.9% detection accuracy. The sensor is fully automated, designed for simplicity and built to last for 15 years. Their single-space design provides clear, space-specific guidance, making them ideal for high-turnover garages or facilities where clear visual cues are essential.
Every UMS is individually mounted above a parking space and includes a built-in LED indicator for precise, space-specific guidance. These lights display availability status and can be color-coded to communicate restrictions to specific user groups, offering instant occupancy information to drivers.
More recently, the campus replaced the in-ground sensors previously used for rooftop monitoring with the Views detection system. Now, high-mounted cameras deliver precision video coverage and real-time availability data. Each camera can monitor 20 or more parking spaces and provide instant, AI-backed analysis to determine occupancy with >98% accuracy.
Full-Featured Wayfinding Signage
Eight matrix signs and 52 internal signs were installed to provide drivers with clear, dynamic wayfinding, continuously displaying the number of available spaces and directing drivers to their location.
The garage entrance signs were placed strategically to attract parkers and communicate availability clearly to maximize utilization. They are the first step to a seamless parking experience. Similarly, in-garage overhead signs were placed at key decision points to inform parkers about available spaces, highlight destinations and direct drivers to open spots or guide them to the nearest exit.
UH also opted to use advanced Matrix displays in all of its parking guidance signage. Matrix signs gave the campus the added control of dynamic signs that could provide real-time, flexible communication. They are ideal for high-traffic, customer-facing environments and support multimedia content including text, graphics and video, including branded, emergency, event-specific, or advertising messages.
PGS Delivers for Drivers and the University
Completing a comprehensive parking guidance system at the University of Houston campus resulted in substantial benefits for the campus community.
The university can now optimize parking permit sales by overselling designated spaces based on accurate parking pattern insights, increasing revenue and improving the parking experience.
Campus-wide signage now indicates real-time parking availability within each parking structure, making it easier for drivers arriving on campus to find the most convenient, open space to reach their destination.
Matrix signage provides an additional communication tool during major events or campus emergencies. The signs can be instantly updated with relevant messaging, valuable branding, or paid advertising.
A web-based browser allows parking management to understand how parking assets across campus are used. They currently have access to up to 1,000 customizable reports and can make decisions backed by reliable data.
Connect with PGS to Design Your Parking Solution
The University of Houston’s parking transformation showcases how innovative parking technology can address the long-standing challenges of a commuter university. By installing a comprehensive system, UH has improved convenience, maximized efficiency, and increased revenue.
Start a conversation with Parking Guidance Systems to discuss your site’s biggest parking challenges. Our team is ready to design a customized system that solves problems and creates new opportunities.
