ParQ

Changing the way parking is done

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Inspiration

The core idea behind ParQ was to solve a real-world daily problem that hundreds of thousands of people face in Cyprus, and in many other countries around the globe: parking. I have personally experienced the struggle of trying to find a parking spot no matter the day and hour of the week, leading me to waste time and sometimes not even successfully park. Having to take coins out to pay for my spot and the inaccurate information about available parking spots are also contributing factors to this overdue problem. I decided to take matters into my own hands and solve a problem using modern technology and AI, not only for my benefit but for the wider community.

What ParQ does

ParQ allows users to book the exact parking spot they want in advance, receive AI-powered insights based on their chosen location, date, and time, get real-time live updates of parking availability, and manage their upcoming bookings through a sleek, user-friendly web app. After booking, users receive a unique QR code that acts as their digital parking pass.

How I built it

With some prior research and experience in web app development, I carefully selected the following technologies for this project.

Front End

  • JavaScript
  • Flask Templates (Jinja2)
  • Bootstrap 5
  • Custom CSS
  • Mapbox GL JS for interactive map views

Back End

  • Python with Flask
  • SQLAlchemy for database handling
  • WTForms for form validation
  • Stripe API for payments
  • Cryptography for secure data
  • Pillow
  • QR Code Generation

Database

  • SQLite during development (planned PostgreSQL for production)

Challenges I ran into

The biggest challenge was managing the limited time available to build such a complex system from scratch. The intricate logic behind the booking management system took longer to develop than I initially anticipated, which impacted the project timeline. Despite setbacks, steady progress was maintained through perseverance and willingness to put in effort. Additionally, another major complexity was UI flow and design. Delivering a user-friendly, smart, smooth and satisfying user experience was one of my key goals, requiring careful attention to detail and consuming more of my limited time. Despite these hurdles, the extra effort paid off, and I have delivered an enjoyable experience for users.

Accomplishments I am proud of

My most significant accomplishment for this event was that I provided a smart, scalable and technologically advanced solution to a daily problem that I and many others face. I have also exercised my creativity, delivering a product that uses cutting-edge technology, with a modern and polished interface. I am also proud that I pushed myself to enter a competition, compete against other like-minded individuals and witness the value of dedicated effort.

What's next for ParQ

The next chapter for ParQ will be focusing on turning it fully deployable as a real-world solution. I plan to integrate the system with smart parking barriers and sensors to allow automatic access via users' unique QR code or number plate. In addition, I will migrate from SQLite to a scalable cloud database and implement push notifications for reminders and live updates. In the longer term, I would like to partner with municipalities and private lot owners to make parking once and for all simple for everyone.

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