CHAPTER I

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

1.1

Introduction
Parking lots are facilities used by establishments to provide accommodations for
the vehicles of their employees and customers. Security in parking lot is a serious
problem that the drivers and owners are encounter today. Parking facilities are one of
the most frequently places in which violent and property crime occur. According to Gary
R. Cook, approximately 80% of the crimes at business offices, marketplaces and
shopping malls take place in the parking lot. Preventing criminal offences in the parking
lot is no easy, although many operators uses traditional video surveillance and security
fences it is not enough to provide an appropriate detailed in solving crime.
(Closed-circuit television camera) or CCTV is most often used as a security
system in the parking facilities. This security system has three disadvantages, first is the
unsystematic order of security video footage that are available. If theres any incident
happen or criminal activity that occurs inside the parking lot and an investigation needs
a information about who was entering and exiting at the parking lot in a particular period
of time, it take hours, days or even a month to manually review all of the significant
footage and obtain the required clips. The second disadvantage of using a CCTV is that
it requires large amounts of video storage especially in large facilities that have multiple
surveillance cameras.

Lastly, CCTV cameras dont always work. It cannot monitor every area of your
parking lot at all times and cannot be considered as a reliable method for crime
prevention. Another problem that drivers always encounter in a parking lot is finding
available parking spaces; drivers circling around the parking lots hunting for a space are
frustrating and time consuming endeavor. Considering all of these, the proponents
came up with the idea of designing and developing a Wireless Sensor Based, Secure
and Efficient Parking System with Image Based Login System using MatLAb.
Face detection and recognition system using MatLab can prevent the vehicle
from being stolen and it can provide security to the driver. When the face was
recognized it will stored in the database, with the vital information such as the time of
entry and exit and serve as a record book for the future concerns in terms of cars being
stolen and other investigations if the situation persists. Through magnetic car sensors,
the proposed monitoring system will not just display the numbers of available parking
spaces but also the main view of the slots concerned.

1.2

Objectives of the study

The main objective of the study is to develop A Wireless Sensor Based, Secure and
Efficient Parking System with Image Based Login System using MatLAb.
In relation to this, the researchers enumerated the specific objectives of this
study:
1. To determine the consideration in the development of the different
components of the project
a. Hardware consideration
b. Software consideration
2. To develop a secure parking system using face detection and recognition.
3. To develop a wireless sensor based parking system using magnetic car
sensor.
4. To test by simulation the integrated hardware and software and determine
the overall system effectiveness in terms of:
a. Efficiency
b. Functionality
1.3Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework is the outline of this research study. Figure1.1 shows
the conceptual paradigm of the study. The input of this study included knowledge on
parking system, MathLab and wireless sensor technology.
Data gathering related to the study helped much in constituting ideas with
regards to the current study. The process of this design consisted of designing and
laying-out, fabrication of the assembly, and testing and evaluation.

After collecting and organizing the all facts, the process was established to have
an output of a wireless sensor based, secure and efficient parking system with image
based login system.

PROCESS
INPUT
Knowledge Requirements

Parking system

MathLab

Wireless Sensor
Technology
Hardware Requirements

Magnetic car sensor

Camera

Desktop Server

Microcontroller

Wi-Fi Module

Data Gathering
Design and Layout

Materials and components

selection
Fabrication

Sensor installation

Software programming

Hardware and software

interfacing
Testing and evaluation

System functionality and

output quality

Troubleshooting

OUTPUT
A WIRELESS SENSOR BASED, SECURE AND
EFFICIENT PARKING SYSTEM
WITH IMAGE BASED LOGIN SYSTEM

Figure 1.1 Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

1.4 Significance of the Study

The concept of the study is to design a Wireless Sensor Based, Secure and
Efficient Parking System with Image Based Login System. The result of the project
would be beneficial to the following:
To the parking lot attendant, it will help them to monitor and secure the cars in a
parking lot. The proposed parking system provides more secured parking lots using
face detection and recognition. Processing the image of the drivers face upon entering
and exiting the parking lot and matching it with the plate number, is the main purpose of
this study to prevent crimes or such incidents of theft. There are also magnetic car
sensors that are attached at every parking slot to monitor the space in the parking lot.
This study shows a possible way to integrate the data of the sensors from the
microcontroller using the server that can be monitored. The microcontroller is interfaced
with Wi-Fi module which is used to display the devices monitoring status wirelessly.
To the proponents, this study will enhance their knowledge and ability. This gives
opportunity to the proponent to explore the different applications of face detection and
recognition, hence, improving their skill in electronics and wireless applications.
Lastly, to future researchers, this study may serve them more information as
reference that are related to their study and let this be part of their research works also.

1.5 Scope and Limitations

This research will focus mainly on developing an efficient and secure parking
system using wireless sensor technology and face detection and recognition system.
The study also aims to improve the security in the parking lot through a face detection
and recognition system using MathLab software. The monitoring of parking space in the
parking lot is also concerned in the study. The proponents considered that used of
magnetic car sensor to monitor the space. The data from the magnetic car sensors are
streamed from the microcontroller unit to a server. The microcontroller is integrating with
Wi-Fi module to continuously monitoring the space at the parking lot.

1.6 Definition of Terms

Some

terms

were

defined

conceptually

and

operationally

for

better

understanding of the whole study.

Database - is a collection of data that are arranged in a way that computer can
rapidly select an information.
Face Detection - is a technology that detects the location of faces in the images, it
recognizes the facial appearance of the face and disregarded things such as clothes,
bodies, building and trees.
Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that the user shared a common connection
to a group of computer in a small area such as office building, school, home and etc.
Parking Lot is an area where the driver parks their vehicle. It can be found in many
establishments

such

condominium and etc.

as

shopping

center,

marketplace,

hospital,

strip

malls

Magnetic Car Sensors is a sensor that detects the presence of a vehicle by the
disruption that is created by the cars with the magnetic field of the earth.
MathLab is an computer software that capable of performing different mathematical
procedures like integration, substitution, simplification, polynomial factorization,
differentiation,

linear

equation,

inversion

of

matrices

and

Laplace

inverse

transformation.

Microcontroller unit (MCU) is an integrated circuit composed of a programmable

output or input peripherals, processor core and memory. It is used to controlled different
devices and automobile systems.
Security is a state of being secure, safe or protected from any harm or danger that
can occur in a specific place.
Server - is a system that provides a network services to a computer or group of
computers.
Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) is a technology that enable devices and other computer to
exchange information or communicate to the internet wirelessly.

REFERENCES:

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design in Parking Facilities. available

from:< http://blog.autopartswarehouse.com/tag/parking-lot-accident-statistics/>

Parking lot Attendant. available from:<http://www.wisegeek.org/what-does-a-lotattendant-do.htm>

Parking Lot.Available from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_lot

Video Surveillance for Parking Lots. Available

from:http://www.videosurveillance.com/parking-lots.asp

Face recognition.Available from:<

http://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/security/technologies/face_recognition.ht
ml>

CPUC. 2011. Parking Garage Lighting and Controls, 2013 California Building
Energy Efficiency Standards. California Public Utilities Commission, California
Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Program, Sacramento, California.