Better Parking, Happier Travelers: Detroit Metro Airport to Streamline Parking for Millions
As the holidays approach, more travelers than ever are taking to the skies as airports across the country are looking for better ways to provide stress-free holiday travel experiences. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), is no exception. DTW is one of the nation’s busiest transportation hubs and is widely recognized for its commitment to providing exceptional service and operational excellence. With more than 36 million passengers traveling through its terminals annually, DTW is a key gateway for both domestic and international travel that continues to see growth year after year.
In recent years, DTW has won the Air Transport Research Society’s Airport Efficiency Excellence Award and been named one of the top five airports in the country for stress-free travel. Building on that momentum, DTW and WCAA selected the Park Assist Solution, from TKH Security, to help the airport reach new heights in parking efficiency and operations.
“At Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, we operate one of the largest parking areas in the world totaling more than 18,000 on-airport spaces,” said Chad Newton, Wayne County Airport Authority CEO. “We trust our customers will experience the benefits of the user-friendly (Find Your Car) app helping them to find available spaces and their parked vehicles upon return. This is one more innovative step we are taking to improve the passenger experience at DTW.”
The Park Assist Solution represents a collaborative effort to enhance the passenger experience and streamline DTW parking operations.
“Our ability to customize solutions to meet the unique challenges of large-scale, complex facilities like DTW made this project an ideal match for our expertise,” said Coley Nash, Regional Sales Executive, Northeast. “We are proud to partner with the Wayne County Airport Authority to deliver a quick and stress-free parking experience to their passengers.”
The Park Assist Solution, an Automated Parking Guidance System (APGS), will be installed in the McNamara Parking Garage, the Big Blue deck, and surrounding surface lots, totaling 18,000 monitored spaces upon completion. The new smart parking management system is designed to simplify parking for travelers, reduce traffic congestion in and around the parking facilities, and enhance operational efficiency. By reducing the time spent searching for an open spot—up to 63% faster—travelers can enjoy a stress-free start to their journey, even during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
At the heart of DTW’s new parking guidance system is the camera-based M5 smart sensor, a smart parking solution that will provide operators with real-time HD streaming video 24/7. Each M5 sensor is outfitted with two CMOS digital cameras, capable of monitoring up to six parking spaces (three on each side) from above the driving lanes. With an industry-leading accuracy rate exceeding 99%, the M5 sensor also features a customizable full-spectrum RGB LED indicator. This advanced lighting system offers thousands of color options to indicate parking availability, special sections, and more, ensuring clear communication for those seeking an available parking space quickly.
DTW’s automated parking guidance system package also includes:
- Park Finder, combined with license plate recognition (LPR) technology, assists travelers with locating their vehicle in seconds via touchscreen kiosks, a connected parking app, or a finder-enabled pay station,
- LCD-NAV, an advanced outdoor display providing real-time customizable updates, guides travelers and enhances parking communication,
- Park Alerts, with built-in LPR, allows parking operators to set automated rules and alerts to assist with managing garage activities like a vehicle parked in a restricted or premium space they shouldn’t be in or a vehicle that has overstayed in a limited-time space,
- Park Surveillancesoftware captures streaming HD video whenever motion is detected, or continuously, in or between parking spaces and stores the recording for up to 90 days, improving facility safety and security,
- S2, a camera-based outdoor solution, delivers top-tier security and surveillance for surface lots and rooftop parking,
- INX-Core software suiteoffers real-time and historical data, providing operators with detailed parking analytics and reports,
- Customer Experience+ API provides opportunities to elevate the customer experience with additional functionalities such as garage availability prior to airport arrival,
- Ops Command+ API enables operators to control building systems and digital signage, while also providing alerts, notifications, and seamless website integration, and
- Business Development+ API, allows tiered, reserved, and permit parking options, alongside advanced analytics of parker behavior and preferences to boost revenue.
Darrell Brantley, Director of Airport Programs, North America noted, “Our APGS represents true parking innovation, seamlessly blending technology and efficiency to serve one of the country’s most important airports. We’re confident our system will significantly enhance both the traveler experience and operational effectiveness at DTW.” Installation is expected to be completed in two phases between 2025 and 2026.
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