PNI Sensor
PlacePod User Manual V2
Page 8 of 15
gateway since many network providers offer bundled services that allow for smoother implementation.
Once a network service has been selected, talk to the network provider regarding the bundled services
they may offer.
The two decisions related to gateway deployment are: 1) choosing the desired gateway features, and 2)
determining the number of gateways required based on coverage area and number of PlacePods
deployed on the network.
PNI strongly recommends that the customer conduct a pre-installation site survey in order to determine
the number of gateways required for reliable network performance. The number of gateways needed
depends on the signal strength (RSSI) and the noise level (SNR) of PlacePods in each parking space.
Factors affecting the number of gateways required include location of gateways, density of gateways,
nearby buildings and obstructions, antenna size, and choice of manufacturer. The same parking space
may have RSSI variation of 10 to 15dB when a car is present or when the space is vacant. PNI
recommends testing for a -90dBm RSSI without a car in the space as the baseline for gateway setup. For
small parking projects, a minimum of two gateways are recommended as redundancy protection.
Generally, more gateways translate to better coverage. Deploying too few gateways will affect the
network reliability due to weak signal strength at the gateways and a lack of redundancy.
Gateways can be ordered from many LoRa gateway manufacturers, such as Multitech, Cisco, Tektelic,
Kerlink, The Things Network, and others.
2.4
NETWORK SERVICE
The Network Service uses remote servers to collect PlacePod sensor data relayed from the gateways.
This data is stored on the network service provider’s servers and accessed by the customer through the
Parking Application. PlacePod works with either public or private LoRa networks (such as Actility, PNI,
machineQ, The Things Network, and Senet). PlacePod is also successfully integrated into other LoRa
networks in the United States, Canada, Australia and South America.
PNI partners with service companies that provide integrated gateway and network cloud solutions. Uti-
lizing the bundled services from these companies allows for the smoothest implementation.
Some customers prefer to create and run their own custom parking management solutions. A systems
integrator can help implement a customized solution using less common components.
2.5
PARKING MANAGEMENT APPLICATION
The web interface in the Parking Management Application is used to manage interaction with the vehi-
cle detection sensors and gateways. The web interface can provide an overview of sensor data and re-
ports, such as:
•
Real-time spaces available
•
Average daily occupancy
•
Sensor events per space
•
Turnover heat map
