Dr. Eng. Erwin Widodo, S.T., M.Eng., one of the lecturers in the ITS team who designed the Digital Parking application

ITS Campus, ITS News – The issue of leakage on the parking retribution revenue, which happened in Sidoarjo Regency, becomes an important problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Concerned with the unfortunate condition, a team of lecturers from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) initiated a digital parking application to reduce the problem.

They are Dr. Eng. Erwin Widodo, S.T., M.Eng., and Ratna Sari Dewi, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. Both of them are lecturers of the ITS Industrial Engineering Department. Erwin said that digital parking can prevent conflicts that bound to happen between parking attendants (jukir), who often fight over land. Not only that, the comfort and safety of vehicle users is also the goal of creating this digital parking. “The most important thing is to help overcome the problem of leakage income from parking fees,” he emphasized.

Erwin explained that digital parking application has several focuses. First, regarding the payment system. The use of electronic money was chosen in this digital parking payment system. Erwin revealed that with electronic money, it is expected that leakage of parking revenue can be minimized. “Parking attendants (jukir) also do not need to bother looking for a change,” he added.

Dr. Eng. Erwin Widodo, S.T., M.Eng., when displaying the Digital Parking application

Erwin also did not fail to realize that it is not easy for the public to switch from cash payments to electronic money. Therefore, Erwin decided to the two systems together. In addition, the discounts offered in payments using electronic money are also expected to attract the interest of the public. “The number of discounts and quota of cash and non-cash payments is still being examined and developed further,” he explained.

This ITS graduate turned lecturer continued that the implementation of digital parking is also planned to collaborate with a bank in Sidoarjo Regency. This plan is hoped and expected to reduce leakage on the parking retribution revenue. “It’s still a plan in early stages, but hopefully it can be achieved,” he expressed.

This bespectacled man further conveyed that another focus in the zone. The zone or parking slot space is still in the research stage. To examine this focus of the zone, Erwin plans to partner with several lecturers from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning ITS. Erwin also wants to add a booking system to digital parking. “It’s still just a plan, but if it works, the system will be similar when booking tickets for a movie in the cinema,” explained Erwin.

The last focus is on the application. According to a survey conducted, 99 percent of parking users in the Sidoarjo Regency have smartphones. The percentage obtained consists of 94 percent of Android users, four percent of iOS users, and the rest were other smartphones.

Example of display for the parking payment with electronic money on the Digital Parking application

This is what makes Erwin more sure in making applications. In terms of application, Erwin plans to collaborate with several lecturers from the ITS Informatics Department. “I hope the application will be easily understood by the public later,” he emphasized full of hope.

Currently, Erwin has established three areas in the Sidoarjo Regency which will be the initial users of this digital parking. These areas are Larangan Market, GOR Delta, and Jalan Gajah Mada. The area was chosen because of the large number of vehicles in the area.

Erwin revealed that digital parking research was started in early 2019. Erwin hopes that in 2020, digital parking will be implemented. “Although there are some things that need to be researched and addressed further, I hope the application will run by this year,” he added.

Erwin also mentioned that it cannot be denied if this digital parking system will also be applied at ITS. With offers such as discounts and bookings, students will be highly interested. “But for now, we still focus on developing the application for Sidoarjo Regency,” he concluded. (dil/ory/ITS Public Relations)