Applying Systems Engineering framework for architecting a Smart Parking System within a Smart City

Abstract

A Smart Parking System is an important feature in any Smart City, as it hopes to address a persistent challenge in urban mobility. Various technology-based solutions have been developed. However, in such complex societal systems, it is important to consider various stakeholders and interfaces with other systems to choose an architecture that works efficiently for the given context. In this paper, we present the application of the Systems Engineering framework to develop a Smart Parking System architecture to meet the needs of a hypothetical Smart City. The framework shows the application of methods to analyse the context, prioritise needs, define and formally model alternate architectures, choose between the alternatives, and the use of a simulation model to validate requirements derived for the chosen architecture. Such systematic application of Systems Engineering methods can help planners and designers to negotiate complexities and avoid getting locked into sub-optimal technological solutions.