DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF AN AUTOMATED PARKING

LOT SYSTEM

BY

ONYENUFORO VICTOR CHIGOZIE

U2019/3015045

AND

EMAKPOR OGHENETEGA CLETUS

U2019/3020052

A PROJECT WORK SUBMITTED TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC

ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

IN PARTIAL FUFUILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (B. ENG.)
DEGREE IN ELECTRICAL ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING.

NOVEMBER, 2025.

1
 DECLARATION

We hereby solemnly declare that this project was carried out by ONYENUFORO
VICTOR CHIGOZIE (Mat. No: U2019/3015045) and EMAKPOR
OGHENETEGA CLETUS (Mat. No 2: U2019/3020052). All materials consulted
were adequately referenced.

_________________________
ONYENUFORO VICTOR CHIGOZIE
U2019/3015045

______________________
EMAKPOR OGHENETEGA CLETUS
U2019/3020052

2
 CERTIFICATION

The undersigned certify that this project work was carried out by ONYENUFORO
VICTOR CHIGOZIE (Mat. No: U2019/3015045) and EMAKPOR
OGHENETEGA CLETUS (Mat. No 2: U2019/3020052).

ENGR DR. EKPAN DAN ……………….. ………………..

Project Supervisor Signature Date

DR. MRS.NKOLI N. NWAZOR ……………….. ………………..

Head of Department Signature Date

………………….. ……………….. ………………..

External Examiner Signature Date

3
 DEDICATION
We dedicate this project work to almighty God for his grace and wisdom to start
and complete this project.

4
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Our deepest gratitude goes to Almighty God for his guidance all through the
preparation and accomplishment of this project.

We owe our debt of gratitude to our keen and diligent supervisor, Engr Dr. Ekpan
Dan, who gave us undivided attention and guidance in this project work. We thank
him for his positive criticism, valuable suggestions, corrections and advice.

We also appreciate our proficient lecturers of Electrical and Electronic department

for their efforts and inputs in training us towards excellence in engineering as a
profession.

Our special thanks also goes to our adorable parents and siblings for their care,
love and support in our academic pursuit.

5
 ABSTRACT

The increasing number of vehicles and limited parking spaces in urban areas have
led to significant challenges in parking management, resulting in traffic
congestion, wasted time, and environmental pollution. To address these issues, this
project involves the design and fabrication of a smart parking lot system with
smartphone accessibility. The system consists of Infrared Ray (IR) proximity
sensors attached at each parking lot to detect the presence of a parked car,
programmable microcontroller, and a Bluetooth communication module to transmit
information to and fro the smartphone. It focuses on utilizing cost effective
electronic components through the embedded system technology to provide real-
time information to car users about the availability of space at nearby parking lots.
Also, it helps provide security operatives and car park managers with usage data
such as number plates of cars been parked and daily usage to help tighten security
in prone areas. The proximity sensor used in this work operates on the principle of
light reflection. The Arduino Nano microprocessor is used to read the sensor data
from each parking lot while the Bluetooth module is used to establish
communication with the smartphone and send the relevant data. The mobile app
was developed using MIT App inventor, which is an open source app development
platform. The design analysis and simulation was done with proteus and Arduino
IDE software. The system was tested using a miniaturized car park with dummy
cars and the results were obtained.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
DECLEARATION ii
CERTIFICATION iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF FIGURES ix
LIST OF TABLES x
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study 1
1.2 Statement of problem 2
1.3 Aim and objectives 3
1.4 Significance of project 3
1.5 Design methodology 4
1.6 Scope of project 4
1.7 Project structure 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction to flooding 6
2.2 History of flooding in Nigeria 6
2.3 Causes of flooding in Nigeria 7
2.4 Efforts towards tackling flooding in Nigeria 9
2.5 History of flood detector systems 12
2.6 Hardware components description 15
CHAPTER THREE: DESIGN METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS
3.1 System design and methodology 27
3.2 Hardware implementation 28
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3.3 Design analysis 29
3.3.1 Software Implementation 29
3.4 System flow chart and circuit 35

REFERENCES
APPENDIX

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LIST OF FIGURES

Fig 3.1: Arduino Nano Pins Specification

Fig 3.2: Arduino Nano data sheet

Fig 3.3: HC-05 Bluetooth Module

Fig 3.4: HC-05 Bluetooth Module

Fig 3.5: LED Indicator

Fig 3.6: 18650 Li-ion Battery

Fig 3.7: JX-887Y DC-DC boost module

Fig 3.8 Break down structure of the system

Fig 3.9: Block Diagram of the Automated Parking System

Fig 3.10: Arduino IDE Interface

Fig 3.11 Working principle of the IR Proximity Sensor

Fig 3.12 Internal circuit diagram of the IR proximity sensor

Fig 3.13 Flow chart diagram of the system

Fig 3.14 Full circuit diagram of the system

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

PGI - Parking Guidance and Information

RFID – Radio Frequency Identification
IoT - Internet of Things
IR - Infrared Ray
IDE - Integrated Development Environment
US - United States
APS - Automated Parking Systems
IPAS - Intelligent Parking Assist System
MILP - Mixed Integer Linear Programming
LCD - Liquid Crystal Display
FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array
HDL - Hardware Description Language
GBDT - Gradient Boosting Decision Tree
WNN - Wavelet Neural Network
YOLO - You Only Look Once
GUI - Graphical User Interface
PIC – Peripheral Interface Controller
ARM – Advanced RISC Machine
USB – Universal Serial Bus
I2C _ Inter Integrated Circuits
SPI – Serial Peripheral Interface
CAN – Controller Area Network
ROM – Read Only Memory
RAM – Random Access Memory
10
UART - Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange
EDR - Enhanced Data Rate
LED - Light Emitting Diode
BMS - Battery Management Systems
PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

The rapid urbanization and exponential growth in vehicle ownership have

amplified parking management challenges in crowded cities globally. With limited

parking spaces and inefficient traditional parking systems, it is reported that on a

daily basis, 30% of traffic congestion in urban areas is caused by vehicles cruising

for parking space, and it takes the driver an average of 7.8 min to find a parking

space. This not only increases traffic congestion but causes unnecessary fuel

consumption and environmental pollution (Geng & Cassandras, 2013). In many

urban areas, the lack of real-time parking information results in unnecessary

circling, contributing to urban traffic inefficiencies and heightened carbon

emissions (Kotb et al., 2016).

To curb this issue, urban traffic management systems have increasingly adopted

Parking Guidance and Information (PGI) systems to optimize parking operations.

These intelligent systems provide real-time data on parking availability within

designated zones, guiding motorists to unoccupied spaces through dynamic

displays. The information is typically displayed over signage boards strategically

positioned along major thoroughfares and intersections. Modern PGI

12
implementations rely on automated vehicle detection technologies that employ

various sensor configurations to monitor parking space occupancy. They work

either by incorporating pavement-embedded or surface-mounted devices such as

inductive loops, pneumatic tubes, and piezoelectric sensors or using video

analytics, acoustic sensors, microwave radar arrays, ultrasonic detectors, infrared

sensors, and RFID technology.

These solutions, while effective, are too expensive to implement and difficult to

maintain. Thereby slowing down its adoption especially in developing countries

like Nigeria.

To mitigate these issues, and offer a more affordable solution, there is a need for

smart parking systems that will leverage modern technologies such as the Internet

of Things (IoT), embedded systems, and mobile applications to optimize parking

space utilization. Thus, this project was initiated to proffer a more affordable

solution using cost-effective electronics components such as Infrared Ray (IR)

proximity sensors, an Arduino Nano microcontroller, and a Bluetooth module for

wireless communication. The IR sensors detect vehicle presence by measuring

reflected light, while the microcontroller processes this data and transmits it via

Bluetooth to a mobile application developed using MIT App Inventor. The system

provides real-time parking slot availability to users and infographic mapping to

help users navigate the parking space. The idea of integrating with smartphones
13
was proposed in this design because mobile phones have become a popular

communication device amongst people all over the world.

This study contributes to the growing body of research on smart parking solutions

by presenting a low-cost, scalable, and user-friendly alternative to conventional

parking systems, with potential applications in urban planning, smart cities, and

IoT-based transportation management.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

As a rapidly developing nation, Nigeria faces significant challenges in urban

transportation management and over the years, tons of reports and research have

consistently identified traffic congestion as the most pressing urban transport issue,

stemming primarily from inadequate road infrastructure in traditional city centers

and poorly planned urban expansion with disorganized land use patterns

(Ogundare, 2013).

Despite the parking shortage across Nigerian urban areas, improper human

behaviours have worsened the problem. Behaviours such as illegal roadside

parking, double occupancy, etc. have led to heightened traffic problems. While

road management agencies have tried to enforce mechanisms to curb this

challenge, the problem continues because motorists lack the tools that’ll help them

14
find suitable parking spaces and management bodies lack the tools to help them

optimize the limited available parking spaces.

These urban challenges have intensified dramatically over the past thirty years.

And with our 2.1% population rise rate (worldbank, 2023), if no solution is

provided, it will get worse.

1.3 Aim and Objectives

The aim of this project is to design and construct an Iot enabled automated

parking lot system that will help motorists see availability of parking spaces in

nearby parking lots. The following are the objectives of the project;

● To design and simulate the circuit on proteus software in order to get

insights before real world execution.

● Study the C++ programming language and use it to program the ARDUINO

IDE

● Program the ARDUINO NANO microcontroller to read sensor data and

communicate with the smartphone via the Bluetooth module.

● Develop a miniaturized car parking lot on which the system would be tested.

● Develop the electronic circuit on prototyping circuit board and connect all

components together.

● Design the smartphone app using MIT app inventor.

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 ● Integrate it with the miniaturized parking lot and test the entire system.

1.4 Significance of the Project

The automated parking lot system is crucial for managing and optimizing parking

lots in crowded cities in Nigeria. By getting real-time data of cars packed. The

following are some of the significance of the project:

● The automated parking lot system has the ability to reduce the rate of traffic

congestion caused by illegal parking.

● The system helps to reduce roaming time and unnecessary fuel lost while

searching for parking spaces. Thus, helping drivers save time and cost.

● This simple yet very effective parking lot management system is deemed to

be one of the fastest and most affordable method of helping drivers find

suitable parking lots.

● This system can also serve as a tool for security operatives to track stolen or

wanted cars.

1.5 Design Methodology

The methodology adopted to achieve the desired output will range from design to

actual construction (prototyping). These includes:

● Drawing of block diagram of the project.

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 ● Simulation of the design using simulation software like Arduino IDE, and

Proteus.

● Designing of the system flowchart

● Development of the mobile app using MIT app inventor.

● Prototyping and construction of design.

1.6 Scope of the Project

This project involves the design and fabrication of a smart parking lot system with

smartphone accessibility. The system consists of Infrared Ray (IR) proximity

sensors attached at each parking lot to detect the presence of a parked car,

programmable microcontroller, and a Bluetooth communication module to transmit

information to and fro the smartphone.

1.7 Project Structure

Basically, this project is structured into five chapters that contains the

Introduction, Literature Review, Design Methodology and Implementation, Results

and Discussion and the final chapter is Conclusions, Contributions and

Recommendations of the Project.

Chapter 1 is an introduction of the project. In this chapter, this report will explain

the Background of Study, Statement of Problem, Objectives of Study, Significance

17
of Study, Methodology of Study, Scope of the Project and Project Structure of the

automated parking lot.

Chapter 2, is basically the literature review on the previous work related to the car

parking systems in form of articles, journals and books published.

Chapter 3 will explain the design and implementation methodologies of our

automated car parking system. It also reviews the hardware description of each

circuitry and components used in the project. After that, it elaborates the software

development of the project by using flow chart approach that will include the

layout and information about components usage.

Chapter 4 will focus on all the tests and results obtained from various test

conducted on each module and the completed system.

Chapter 5 will discuss Conclusions, Contributions and Recommendations of the

Project.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 History of Parking and the Need for Parking Lot Optimisation

The concept of parking emerged with the advent of automobiles in the early 20th

century. Initially, vehicles were parked haphazardly on streets, leading to

congestion and safety concerns. To address this, cities began implementing angled

parking and designated parking zones. By the 1920s, cities like New York

established specific dimensional standards for parking spaces to optimize street

usage (MIT Press Reader, 2020). While this move partially solved the problem, it

also created room for another problem. People would leave their cars in parking

lots thereby preventing other new users from utilizing the limited space. So in

1935, Carl C. Magee introduced the first parking meter in Oklahoma City to

regulate parking duration and generate municipal revenue (Wired, 2010). This

innovation marked a significant shift in parking management, introducing time-

based parking fees and influencing urban parking policies globally.

As cities expanded and car ownership became ubiquitous, the demand for parking

spaces surged, often outpacing supply. This imbalance resulted in traffic

congestion, environmental degradation, and socio-economic disparities. To worsen

this, the post-World War II era witnessed a boom in automobile ownership,

19
prompting cities to integrate parking requirements into zoning laws. By the 1950s,

many U.S. cities mandated minimum parking provisions for new developments,

aiming to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles (Route Fifty, 2021).

However, these mandates often led to the overproduction of parking spaces,

contributing to urban sprawl and reduced land availability for other uses. This

didn’t mean creating parking lots was bad, it only needed to be optimized.

The undersupply of parking spaces, coupled with increased car usage, exacerbated

traffic congestion in urban centres. Moreover, expansive parking lots contributed

to environmental issues, including increased surface runoff and urban heat islands

(Time, 2022). Parking policies have also influenced socio-economic dynamics. For

instance, the allocation of free or subsidized parking in affluent areas often

contrasts with limited parking availability in lower-income neighbourhoods,

highlighting systemic inequalities (The New Yorker, 2025).

In rapidly urbanizing regions, such as parts of Africa and Asia, the surge in vehicle

ownership has outpaced infrastructure development. Cities like Nigeria and India,

face persistent parking shortages, leading to unauthorized parking and strained

public amenities (Times of India, 2025).

2.2 Early Development

2.2.1 Emergence of Automated Parking Systems (APS)

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One of the earliest attempts to optimize parking space utilization was the

introduction of Automated Parking Systems (APS). In 1905, Paris witnessed the

construction of the Garage Rue de Ponthieu, a multi-level concrete structure

equipped with internal elevators to transport cars to upper levels, maximizing

space efficiency (Focus2Move, n.d.). This concept laid the foundation for future

automated parking solutions.

In the 1920s, the "Paternoster" system gained popularity. This Ferris wheel-like

mechanism allowed multiple cars to be parked vertically, occupying minimal

ground space. Such systems were particularly beneficial in densely populated

urban areas where land was scarce (Cleverciti, n.d.).

The United States also embraced APS innovations. In 1928, the Kent Automatic

Garage in New York introduced an electric "parker" that lifted and moved cars to

available spaces using elevators, accommodating up to 1,000 vehicles efficiently

(Focus2Move, n.d.).

2.2.2 Challenges and Decline of Early APS

Despite their ingenuity, early APS faced several challenges. Mechanical

complexities often led to system failures, and retrieval times for vehicles were

longer than anticipated, causing user dissatisfaction. Additionally, the post-World

21
War II era saw a shift towards more spacious urban planning, reducing the

immediate need for such compact parking solutions (Harding Steel, 2021).

By the 1960s, many of these systems were decommissioned or repurposed due to

maintenance issues and changing urban landscapes. For instance, London's Auto

Stacker, introduced in 1961, faced operational difficulties and was eventually

dismantled (Wikipedia, 2025).

2.3 Technological Advancements in Parking Solutions

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there was a resurgence of parking

innovations, driven by technological advancements. In 1999, Toyota introduced

the Intelligent Parking Assist System (IPAS) in Japan, allowing vehicles to park

themselves with minimal driver input. This technology was later incorporated into

various Toyota and Lexus models worldwide (Wikipedia, 2025).

Similarly, the early 2000s saw the development of smart parking systems utilizing

sensors and real-time data. But let us see a comprehensive list of works that have

directly tackled the parking lot problem in recent times.

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2.3.1 New “Smart Parking” System Based on Resource Allocation and

Reservations

In 2013, reserchers Geng, Y., & Cassandras, C. G. (2013) published a study on

New "Smart Parking" System Based on Resource Allocation and Reservations.

The study aimed to develop a smart parking system that optimally allocates and

reserves parking spaces for drivers in urban environments. They designed a system

that would assign and reserve optimal parking spaces based on drivers' preferences,

such as proximity to destination and parking cost. It also ensured efficient

utilization of overall parking capacity, prevent resource reservation conflicts and

guarantee that no user is assigned a resource with a cost that is higher than their

current preference.

They did this by creating decision points. At each decision point, the system solves

a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem to allocate parking spaces

optimally based on current state information and random events like new user

requests or parking spaces becoming available. They then conducted simulations

based on parking scenarios at Boston University to evaluate the system's

performance compared to uncontrolled parking processes and existing guidance-

based systems.

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Their smart parking system achieved significant improvements in parking space

utilization compared to uncontrolled parking processes and guidance-based

systems that were predominant at that time. However, their system didn’t have any

means of authentication or regulation so it would allow unauthorised users to park

at restricted zones. Also, their system didn’t have a user interface for the driver, it

still relied heavily on human intervention.

2.3.2 Automatic Car Parking System Using RF-ID

In 2017, More, Ravariya, Shah, and Solkar (2017) proposed a system to automate

the parking process, reduce human intervention, optimize space utilization in

multi-level parking structures, and enhance security and access control using RFID

technology. They used an Arduino microcontroller was to manage system

operations, including sensor data processing and actuator control. In their system,

each authorized user was provided with an RFID card. Upon swiping the card at

the entrance, the system verifies access rights, ensuring only authorized vehicles

can enter. Infrared (IR) sensors were also installed to detect vehicle presence and

monitor parking slot occupancy. And Real-time information about parking slot

availability was displayed to users via an LCD screen at the entrance. They also

24
included a rotating platform and forklift mechanism to transport vehicles to

designated parking slots, especially in multi-floor setups.

While their proposed system increases the efficiency, helped to optimize space,

and enhance security, it was too cumbersome and thus difficult to implement.

Users had to acquire RF-ID tags which granted them entry into the parking spaces.

If a user misplaces or forgets his or her card at home, they will not have access to

the system. Also, the involvement of a rotating forklift mechanism made it

expensive and requiring frequent maintenance.

2.3.3 Car Parking System Using FPGA

Further work was done in 2020 by S. Sharmila Devi, J.J.R. Blessy Angel, M.

Deepa, and A.I. Kaaviya. The study aimed to develop a secure and efficient car

parking management system utilizing Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

technology. They proposed a system capable of real-time detection of available

parking slots and enhancing security through password-protected access to parking

facilities. The researchers designed the system using Verilog Hardware Description

Language (HDL) and implemented it on an FPGA platform. The system comprised

two main modules namely;

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 1. Password Entry and Exit Module: This module ensures that only authorized

users can access the parking facility. Users had to enter a valid password to

gain entry or exit, enhancing the security of the parking system.

2. Distance Calculation and Empty Slot Detection Module: Utilizing infrared

(IR) sensors, this module detects the presence or absence of vehicles in

parking slots. It calculates distances to determine slot occupancy and

identifies vacant slots in real-time.

They also added an LCD display to provide users with information about available

parking slots and system status.

The use of FPGA allowed for faster execution times and efficient handling of real-

time data from sensors but is a more complex technology and when compared with

micro-controllers, it is more difficult to find experts who could implement or

troubleshoot the system. To add to that, the fact that users had to come down from

their vehicles and enter their passwords before gaining access made it difficult to

use and time consuming.

2.3.4 Short-Term Prediction of Available Parking Space Based on Machine

Learning Approaches

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This study aimed to develop a reliable short-term prediction model for available

parking spaces (APS) to enhance the efficiency of Parking Guidance Information

Systems (PGIS), (Ye, Wang, Wang, Yan, Ye, & Chen, 2020) . Their primary

objectives were to: analyze the variation characteristics of APS at different spatial-

temporal levels, develop machine learning models capable of accurately

forecasting short-term APS, and evaluate the performance of these models to

determine their applicability in real-world scenarios.

(Ye et al., 2020) conducted their study in the Eastern New Town of Yinzhou

District, Ningbo, China, focusing on on-street parking areas by gathering real-time

data on parking availability from the intelligent parking system in the study area,

investigating the variation characteristics of APS across different times and

locations to understand patterns and influencing factors and implementing two

primary machine learning approaches on the data. First, they used the Gradient

Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), and then the Wavelet Neural Network (WNN).

The research successfully demonstrated that integrating machine learning models

with already existing surveillance and APS systems, enhances our ability to predict

short-term parking availability accurately. However, it only meant that their

solution would be obsolete in places like Nigeria, where we lack the suitable

infrastructure to gather data on Available Parking Spaces.

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2.3.5 Cloud computing based User Cum Eco-Friendly Smart Parking Lot

As cloud computing gained popularity and posed a cheaper way of performing

computational task, Pasupuleti, Priya, Nihari, Gupta, and Kumar (2021) stepped

into the scene by proposing a cloud-based eco-friendly smart parking system. Their

study aimed to develop a smart parking system that leverages cloud computing and

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to address urban parking challenges. Their

work aimed to provide real-time information on parking slot availability to users,

enable online booking of parking slots to reduce search time and traffic congestion,

and implement energy-efficient solutions to minimize environmental impact,

particularly in underground parking facilities. They did this by integrating IoT

sensors deployed in parking slots to detect vehicle presence and transmit

occupancy data, cloud platform to collected and process data from the sensors,

providing centralized management and real-time updates. To communicate with

users, they developed a mobile application that allowed users to view available

slots, make reservations, and receive notifications.

Their work, though capable of increasing parking lot efficiency, reduce traffic

congestion, and conserve energy, it had a major flaw. The users had to book

parking lots beforehand and when they don’t, they will not have access to the

28
parking lot. The problem with this is that some users would book lots and not show

up while some who forgot to book lots at home would be stranded even if the

parking lots has unoccupied spaces that have been booked by other users

somewhere else.

2.3.6 Machine Learning Based Smart Parking Management for Intelligent

Transportation Systems

Seeing the insufficiencies of the previous works, Ouseph, Francis, Durgaprasad,

Abdulla, Lal, Dhanaraj, and Harikrishna (2022) developed a machine learning-

based smart parking system that leverages machine learning techniques to detect

vacant parking spaces in real-time. Their primary goals were to address the

challenges of urban parking shortages and traffic congestion caused by drivers

searching for available parking, utilize existing surveillance infrastructure to

minimize additional hardware requirements, and provide real-time information to

drivers about parking availability through a user-friendly interface. To achieve this,

they utilized surveillance cameras to capture images of parking areas, implemented

the YOLO (You Only Look Once) algorithm to process images and detect

occupied and vacant parking slots, and created a web-based graphical user

interface (GUI) to display real-time parking availability to users.

29
By integrating advanced image processing algorithms with existing surveillance

systems, their solution offers a cost-effective and efficient approach to managing

parking resources. While this can significantly reduce traffic congestion and

improve urban mobility, it can only be used in areas with functioning surveillance

systems which is very rare in developing countries like Nigeria. For this to be

implemented in areas like Lagos, or India, surveillance cameras have to be

installed at designated points to create a mesh network. Also, there needs to be

provision for constant electricity to power these systems thus, hindering the

adoption of their solution.

2.4 Knowledge Gap

In the reviewed literatures, previous attempts to automate the parking lot problems

were either too complex, relied on existing surveillance infrastructure or difficult

to implement. They also involved expensive hardware devices to function and thus

a more difficult maintenance process. Our approach seems very simple but is least

expensive and easier to implement when compared to other solutions. By

integrating smartphone compatibility and security features, our project has the

capacity to revolutionize the way we park in Nigeria, and other developing nations

30
31
 CHAPTER THREE

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

3.1 Equipment and Tools used

The following tools and equipment were used for the fabrication.

1. Measuring tape

2. Multimeter

3. Pliers

4. Wire cutter

5. Welding tools

6. Screw driver

7. Laptop for programing

3.2 Procedures

• Circuit Design and simulation (Proteus)

• Sourcing of materials

32
• Soldering the circuit

• Fabrication of miniaturized car park

• Building the app (MIT App Inventor)

• Assembly of parts

• Testing of the entire system

3.3 Hardware Components Used

The materials utilized for this project include the following:

3.3.1 Arduino Nano Micro-controller

Brief Overview of a Microcontroller

A microcontroller is a computer present in a single integrated circuit which is

dedicated to perform one task and execute one specific application. It contains

memory, programmable input/output peripherals as well a processor.

Microcontrollers are mostly designed for embedded applications and are heavily

used in automatically controlled electronic devices such as cellphones, cameras,

microwave ovens, washing machines, etc. Microcontrollers have played a

revolutionary role in embedded industry after the invention of Intel 8051. The

steady and progressive research in this field gave the industry more efficient, high
33
performance and low-power consumption microcontrollers. The AVR, PIC and

ARM are the prime examples. The new age microcontrollers are getting smarter

and richer by including latest communication protocols like USB, I2C, SPI,

Ethernet, CAN etc.

Features of a Microcontroller

● Far more economical to control electronic devices and processes as the size

and cost involved is comparatively less than other methods

● Operating at a low clock rate frequency, usually use four-bit words and are

designed for low power consumption.

● Architecture varies greatly with respect to purpose from general to specific,

and with respect to microprocessor, ROM, RAM or I/O functions.

● They have dedicated input/output port.

● Usually embedded in other equipment and are used to control features or

actions of the equipment.

The Arduino Nano Micro-Controller

The Arduino Nano is a small, complete, and breadboard-friendly board based on

the ATmega328. It offers the same connectivity and specifications of the UNO

34
board in a smaller form factor. The Arduino Nano is programmed using

the Arduino Software (IDE), the Integrated Development Environment common to

all our boards and running both online and offline.

If you want to program the Arduino Nano while offline you need to install

the Arduino Desktop IDE. To connect the Arduino Nano to your computer, you'll

need a Mini-B USB cable. This also provides power to the board, as indicated by

the blue LED (which is on the bottom of the Arduino Nano 2.x and the top of the

Arduino Nano 3.0).

Fig 2.1: Sample of Arduino Nano

(www.store.arduino.cc)

Fig 3.1: Arduino Nano Pins Specification

(www.TheengineeringProjects.com/Arduino Nano)

35
 Table 3.1 Arduino Nano Specifications

(www.avrchip.com)

Microcontroller Atmel ATmega168 or ATmega328

Operating Voltage (logic 5V

level)

Input Voltage 7-12 V

(recommended)

Input Voltage (limits) 6-20 V

Digital I/O Pins 14 (of which 6 provide PWM output)

Analog Input Pins 8

DC Current per I/O Pin 40 mA

Flash Memory 16 KB (ATmega168) or 32 KB (ATmega328) of

which 2 KB used by bootloader

SRAM 1 KB (ATmega168) or 2 KB (ATmega328)

EEPROM 512 bytes (ATmega168) or 1 KB (ATmega328)

Clock Speed 16 MHz

Dimensions 0.73″ x 1.70″

Length 45 mm

Width 18 mm

Weight 5g

36
 Fig 3.2: Arduino Nano data sheet (www.avrchip.com)

3.3.2 HC-05 Bluetooth Module

The HC-05 is a Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port Protocol) module designed for wireless

serial communication. It is a low-cost, easy-to-use module that enables devices to

communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth using UART (Universal Asynchronous

Receiver/Transmitter). The module operates in both Master and Slave modes,

making it highly versatile for various applications in embedded systems, such as

wireless data logging, robot control, home automation, and smart parking systems.

The HC-05 module includes the CSR BlueCore chip, which is a highly integrated

Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) chip. Communication is based on the

Bluetooth v2.0+EDR standard with a default baud rate of 9600 bps (configurable

up to 1382400 bps), making it compatible with most microcontrollers.

37
The module features onboard 3.3V voltage regulators and is designed for 3.3V

logic levels, but it can tolerate 5V input for power. It supports AT commands in

command mode to configure parameters like device name, baud rate, and role

(master/slave). It operates over a typical range of 10 meters in open space and

provides full-duplex communication with low latency.

The HC-05 includes on-board status LEDs and key pins for entering AT mode,

allowing for flexible configuration and debugging. It connects via a serial interface

(UART) and communicates using simple ASCII-based commands, making it easy

to integrate with Arduino, ESP32, and other microcontrollers.

Fig 3.3: HC-05 Bluetooth Module (www.lastminuteengineers.com)

38
Features of the HC-05 Bluetooth Module

 Bluetooth Standard: Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)

 Operating Voltage: 3.3V (Tolerant to 5V power supply)

 Communication Protocol: UART (Serial Communication)

 Baud Rate: (Default: 9600 bps. Configurable from 1200 to 1382400 bps)

 Modes of Operation: Master and Slave

 Frequency: 2.4GHz ISM Band

 Range: Up to 10 meters in open space

 Modulation: GFSK (Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying)

 Security: PIN-based pairing (default pin: 1234 or 0000. Configurable via AT

Commands)

 On-board 3.3V Regulator

 Status Indicator LED

 I/O Level: 3.3V (5V tolerant on VCC)

 Interfaces: VCC, GND, TXD, RXD, EN (key pin to enter AT mode)

 Power Consumption:

 Idle: ~2.5mA

 Connected: ~8mA

 Transmission: ~30mA

3.3.3 IR Proximity sensor

39
The Infrared (IR) Proximity Sensor is a non-contact electronic sensor that detects

the presence or absence of an object, or the distance to the object, using infrared

light. It works based on the principle of light reflection—an IR LED emits infrared

light, which is reflected back by a nearby object and detected by a photodiode or

phototransistor.

These sensors are commonly used in embedded systems, automation, and robotics

for tasks such as obstacle detection, distance measurement, and presence sensing.

In smart parking systems, IR proximity sensors are mounted in each parking slot to

detect whether a vehicle is present or absent, enabling real-time monitoring of

space availability.

The sensor module typically includes:

 An IR emitter (transmitter LED),

 An IR receiver (photodiode or phototransistor),

 A comparator circuit to determine the logic output (HIGH or LOW),

 A potentiometer to adjust the sensitivity range.

IR proximity sensors offer a digital output, which can be directly connected to

microcontrollers like the Arduino Nano to detect vehicle presence and trigger

updates in the system.

40
 Fig 3.4: HC-05 Bluetooth Module (www.circuitdigest.com)

Features of the IR Proximity Sensor

 Sensing Range: Adjustable (typically from 2 cm to 30 cm)

 Output Type: Digital (High/Low) or Analog (on some models)

 Working Principle: Reflection of infrared light

 IR Wavelength: Typically 850–950 nm

 Input Voltage: 3.3V – 5V DC

 Detection Type: Non-contact

 Indicator LED: Onboard LED indicates detection status

 Sensitivity Adjustment: Via onboard potentiometer

 Response Time: Fast (in milliseconds)

 Compact Size that easily integrated into small devices and projects

 Operating Temperature: 0°C to +70°C

41
3.3.4 LED indicator

The LED Indicator is a light-emitting diode used in electronic circuits to provide

visual feedback or status indication. In a smart parking lot system, LED indicators

are commonly used to signal the availability or occupancy of a parking slot—

typically with green indicating availability and red indicating occupancy.

An LED operates on the principle of electroluminescence, emitting light when a

forward bias voltage is applied across its terminals. It is a polarized component

with anode (positive) and cathode (negative) leads and requires a current-limiting

resistor in series to prevent damage due to excess current.

The LED indicator is a crucial part of the user interface in embedded systems due

to its low power consumption, fast response time, and long operational life.

Fig 3.5: LED Indicator (www.lastminuteengineers.com)

42
Features of the LED Indicator

 Size: 5mm through-hole or surface-mount LED

 Operating Voltage: Typically 1.8V – 3.3V (varies by color)

 Forward Current: 20mA (typical)

 Color: Red

 Polarity: Anode (long leg) and Cathode (short leg)

 Viewing Angle: ~20°–60°, depending on lens type

 Lifespan: >50,000 hours under normal operation

 Response Time: Instantaneous (<1µs)

3.3.5 18650 Lithium Ion Battery

The 18650 Lithium-Ion Battery is a rechargeable cell widely used in portable

electronics and embedded systems due to its high energy density, long cycle life,

and compact size. The name "18650" refers to the battery’s dimensions: 18mm

diameter and 65mm length. It is a cylindrical lithium-ion cell typically rated at

3.7V nominal voltage and up to 4.2V when fully charged, with capacity ranging

from 1800mAh to 3500mAh depending on the manufacturer and model.

18650 batteries provide reliable off-grid power, especially when portability or

backup power is required. These batteries are usually paired with Battery

43
Management Systems (BMS) or protection circuits to prevent overcharging, over

discharging, and short circuits

Fig 3.6: 18650 Li-ion Battery (www.1ohm.in)

Features of the 18650 Lithium-Ion Battery

 Nominal Voltage: 3.6V – 3.7V

 Fully Charged Voltage: 4.2V

 Cut-off Discharge Voltage: ~2.5V – 3.0V

 Typical Capacity: 2000mAh – 3500mAh

 Standard Discharge Current: 1C (e.g., 2000mAh battery = 2A)

 Max Discharge Current: Varies by cell type (up to 10C or higher for high-

drain models)

 Charging Current: Typically 0.5C – 1C

 Cycle Life: 300–500 full charge/discharge cycles (up to 1000)

44
  Chemistry: Common types include Li-ion (LiCoO₂),

 Temperature Range: Charging: 0°C to 45°C Discharging: -20°C to 60°C

3.3.6 JX-887Y DC-DC boost module

The JX-887Y is a compact and efficient DC-DC boost module designed

specifically to convert the 3.7V output of 18650 lithium-ion batteries into a

regulated 5V power supply. It features dual USB output ports, making it ideal for

DIY power bank applications and embedded electronics projects that require USB-

level 5V power.

This module integrates power management, protection circuitry, and user-friendly

features, allowing seamless integration into battery-powered smart devices such as

the smart parking lot system, where stable 5V power is needed to drive

microcontrollers, sensors, and communication modules.

Fig 3.7: JX-887Y DC-DC boost module (www.circuitointegrato.com)

45
Features of the JX-887Y DC-DC boost Module

 Input Voltage: 3.0V – 4.2V (from single 18650 Li-ion cell)

 Output Voltage: 5V DC (regulated)

 Maximum Output Current: 2A (total across both USB ports)

 Integrated Battery Protection: Overcharge protection, Over-discharge

protection, Overcurrent protection, Short-circuit protection

 Built-in Boost Converter: Steps up 3.7V to 5V output

Use Case in this project

 Provides regulated 5V to microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino Nano)

 Powers modules like the HC-05 Bluetooth and IR sensors

 Enables a rechargeable power solution using 18650 batteries

3.3.7 Vero board

Vero board, also known as stripboard, is a prototyping board used for assembling

and testing electronic circuits without the need for custom-designed printed circuit

boards (PCBs). It consists of a grid of holes with parallel strips of copper tracks

running in one direction on one side of the board. Components are inserted through

the holes and soldered to the copper tracks to create electrical connections.

46
Vero board is widely used in electronics prototyping and project development,

especially in academic and experimental builds like the smart parking lot system,

where it provides a flexible and reusable platform for testing circuit functionality

before final PCB design.

Applications of the Vero board in the Smart Parking System

 Mounting of the Arduino Nano, HC-05 Bluetooth module, and IR sensors

 Soldering passive components like resistors, capacitors, and indicator LEDs

 Compact arrangement of modules and connection wires during prototyping

 Testing and debugging the entire parking control logic before final

integration

Materials used for this project where locally sourced material.

3.4 System Design Methodology Adopted

This Chapter describe the methodology used, also the different section of the

design are considered with block and circuit diagram of the project. This section

explains the breakdown of the design using a Top down approach.

47
 SMART PARKING SYSTEM

SYSTEM SYSTEM
HARDWARE SOFTWARE

POWER SUPPLY CONTROL COMMUNICATION MICROCONTROLLER

ANDROID APP
UNIT UNIT UNIT SOFTWARE

IR PROXIMITY
JX-887Y DC- HC-05
SENSOR
DC BOOST SENSOR
BLUETOOTH MIT APP EMBEDDED
MODULE MODULE INVENTOR C/C++
SMARTPHONE

Li-ion
Battery LIGHT EMITTING
DIODE

Fig 3.8 Break down structure of the system

Figure 3.7 shows the general structure of the prototyped automated parking system.

There are two (2) main sub units namely: hardware unit and Software unit. The

functions and operation of the system is determined by the combination of these

two (2) sub units.

The hardware unit is divided into the power supply unit (18650 battery and DC-DC

Boost module), control unit and communication unit. The control unit which

consists of the IR proximity sensor, light emitting diode and the smartphone app

48
will handle the input to the microcontroller and display of the system status. The

communication unit which consists of the HC-05 Bluetooth module will handle the

data storage and data transfer to the users. The software unit consists of computer

tools used for the programming of the hardware components and the android app.

The software used for the programming of the hardware components for this

project is the embedded C++ platform while MIT App inventor was used to

program the android app.

3.4.1 Design of the Automated Parking System

Operation of the flood detection system is presented in the block diagram as shown

in figure 3.8. The system can be separated into three main parts: IR Proximity

sensor, Arduino Nano as the microcontroller and the Bluetooth Module to send the

data to the end user. The source of voltage for the system will be the 3.7V Li-ion

Battery boosted to 5V by the DC-DC Boost converter. The microcontroller is

connected to the power supply unit, proximity sensor, and the Bluetooth module.

The LED shows the status of the system. There are 6 proximity sensors placed one

per parking lot. The microcontroller reads the inputs from each of these sensors to

know which parking lot is used and which is unused at every point in time. When a

new users connects to the system via Bluetooth on the android app, the Arduino

Nano microcontroller quickly assigns them to the next unused parking lot and then

marks it as “used” when the user parks successfully.

49
 Power Supply

IR Proximity Bluetooth
Microcontroller Module
Sensor

Android
LED App

Fig 3.9: Block Diagram of the Automated Parking System

3.5 Design Analysis

3.5.1 SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION

This section gives detailed explanation of the microcontroller programming using

algorithms, Circuit diagram and flowcharts.

3.5.2 Microcontroller Programming:

The microcontrollers used to achieve this work is the Arduino Nano. The

programming language the microcontrollers understands is machine language. To

50
program the microcontroller using a high-level language such as C, C++ or Python,

a compiler is needed to translate the high-level language into machine language.

One of the essential tools needed to program a microcontroller is an Integrated

Development Environment (IDE). This software is usually developed by the

manufacturers of the microcontroller and contains useful tools which helps in the

microcontroller programming.

3.5.3 The Arduino IDE

Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics projects. The

Arduino Software (IDE) is a piece of software that runs on the computer and

allows the user to write programs and upload them to the physical board. The top

menu bar of the IDE has the standard options, including “File” (new,

programming), “Tools” (useful options for testing projects), and “Help”. The

middle section of the IDE is a simple text editor that where you can enter the

program code. The bottom section of the IDE is dedicated to an output window

that is used to see the status of the compilation, how much memory has been used,

any errors that were found in the program, and various other useful messages. The

Board of Arduino Nano can be included in the Board manager of the Arduino IDE

to be able to program the microcontroller with the Arduino IDE.

51
 Fig 3.10: Arduino IDE Interface

3.5.4 The IR Proximity Sensor Unit design and analysis

The sensing component in this circuit is IR photo-diode. More the amount of Infra-

Red light falling on the IR photodiode, more is the current flowing through it.

(Energy from IR waves is absorbed by electrons at p-n junction of IR photodiode,

which causes current to flow). This current when flows through the 10k resistor,

causes potential difference (voltage) to develop. The magnitude of this voltage is

given by Ohm’s law, V=IR. As the value of resistor is constant, the voltage across

the resistor is directly proportional to the magnitude of current flowing, which in

turn is directly proportional to the amount of Infra-Red waves incident on the IR

photodiode.

52
 Fig 3.11 Working principle of the IR Proximity Sensor (www.rfwireless-
world.com)

So, when any object is brought nearer to the IR LED, Photo-Diode pair, the

amount of IR rays from IR LED which reflects and falls on the IR photodiode

increases and therefore voltage at the resistor increases (from the deduction in

previous para). We compare this voltage change (nearer the object, more is the

voltage at 10K resistor / IR photodiode) with a fixed reference voltage (Created

using a potentiometer).

Here, LM358 IC (A comparator/OpAmp) is used for comparing the sensor and

reference voltages. The positive terminal of photodiode (This is the point where the

voltage changes proportion to object distance) is connected to non-inverting input

of OpAmp and the reference voltage is connected to inverting input of OpAmp.

The OpAmp functions in a way that whenever the voltage at non-inverting input is

more than the voltage at inverting input, the output turns ON.

53
When no object is near the IR proximity sensor, we need LED to be turned off. So

we adjust the potentiometer so as to make the voltage at inverting input more than

non-inverting.

When any object approaches the IR proximity sensor, the voltage at photodiode

increases and at some point the voltage at non-inverting input becomes more than

inverting input, which causes OpAmp to turn on the LED.

In the same manner, when the object moves farther from the IR proximity sensor,

the voltage at non-inverting input reduces and at some point becomes less than

inverting input, which causes OpAmp to turn off the LED.

Fig 3.12 Internal circuit diagram of the IR proximity sensor

54
3.6 System Flow Chart and Circuit

Fig 3.13 Flow chart diagram of the system

3.6.1 Explanation of the Flow Chart and Algorithm

When the system is put on, it initiates the Bluetooth module and waits for a new

user to connect. When a new user makes a connection via the app to the Bluetooth

55
module, it checks for available parking lots by reading the inputs of the IR

proximity sensor at each parking lot. If there is a free space, it opens an interface

on the mobile app where the user can input his or her car registration number.

After a user inputs their car registration number, the system assigns them the next

free parking lot. Else, if there is no free parking lot, it displays “No free parking

lot” to inform the user that the parking lot is full.

3.6.2 Complete Circuit diagram of the system

Fig 3.14 Full circuit diagram of the system

56
57
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