A research team at IMDEA Networks Institute have developed a coordination system called Cord-Approx strategy that significantly cuts the time drivers spend searching for on-street parking. The study “Reducing Street Parking Search Time via Smart Assignment Strategies” tested the approach in detailed simulations of Madrid using a real traffic dataset. On average, drivers using Cord-Approx strategy found a parking spot in 6.7 minutes, compared to almost 20 minutes without it. The paper has been accepted and will be presented at ACM SIGSPATIAL’05, a flagship venue for data-driven research for smart-cities and other environments.

The methodology split drivers into two groups (app users vs. regular drivers) and simulated how different strategies affect search times and parking success rate. Cord-Approx strategy coordinates drivers by predicting likely spot availability from historical success patterns and assigning different drivers to different spots via an optimal matching algorithm, so they don’t all compete for the same one. This coordinated approach achieves results close to an ideal “all-knowing” scenario. “The key finding of the research is how much coordination boosts efficiency: by steering each driver to a specific spot, it turns a chaotic free-for-all into an organized process,” explains Behafarid Hemmatpour, PhD student at IMDEA Networks and first author of the paper.

From theory to practice
Cord-Approx strategy works by coordinating drivers, so they do not all compete for the same parking space. Unlike most commercial apps that mainly predict where spots might be available, this approach adds a city-wide coordination layer.

Its effectiveness has been tested against a theoretical benchmark proposed as the Oracle, which assumes perfect information on all drivers and parking spots. “Cord-Approx strategy comes very close to the ideal Oracle scenario in performance, capturing a large share of its theoretical advantage without requiring perfect data,” notes Hemmatpour.

Benefits for cities and population
The system can be integrated into existing mobility platforms such as Google Maps, Waze, or municipal apps through an API, providing drivers with real-time directions to available parking spaces as they approach their destination.

By guiding drivers to specific on-street parking spots, the system would save drivers time and reduce frustration. For instance, in Madrid they observed search time cut for drivers using the app by about 66% compared to the regular drivers, which translates to thousands of driver-hours saved daily. Fewer cars cruising for on-street parking reduce traffic congestion and emissions, contributing to improved air quality and a smaller environmental footprint.

Additionally, “city authorities could use such a system to manage on-street parking demand more efficiently, for example, by integrating it with municipal traffic management or even dynamic pricing. Another application is using the insights from this research for urban planning: city planners can identify hotspots of parking difficulty and take steps to address them”, highlight Hemmatpour.

Next steps
So far, the research has been simulation-based. The team is currently developing a fully functioning prototype to demonstrate the potential of the technology in real-world settings. They are exploring opportunities to test Cord-Approx strategy in real-world pilots with municipalities or mobility providers. “As of now, we have not yet partnered with municipal authorities or private companies to test the system in a live setting… the next step is to work with a city or a company to implement a trial,” says Prof. Nikolaos Laoutaris, Director of the Data Transparency Group of IMDEA Networks where the research was carried out.

The system has been designed to adapt to different urban contexts. Madrid was chosen as a case study because of its diverse urban layout and the availability of detailed traffic datasets. But according to Hemmatpour, the results are not limited to this city: “The algorithm isn’t Madrid-specific; it relies on inputs that any city can supply. Coordinated guidance should work wherever curb scarcity drives search traffic.”

“Think of it as a smart GPS guiding app for parking: instead of circling, the app coordinates drivers city-wide to assign each a street parking spot, slashing search time and, in turn, cutting traffic jams and pollution from cars cruising the block,” concludes Hemmatpour.