Mini

Project
on
Spot Finder : A Parking Management System in a C

In Partial fulfillment of
BCA 1(G) Session – 2024-25
Uttaranchal School of
Computing Sciences
Submitted By : Guided By :
Satyam Nautiyal Mr. Parminder
(24360900364) Singh
Shiwang (24360900271) Assistant
Professor
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

•The most awaited moment of any endeavor is successful completion, but nothing can be done successfully if done alone.
Success is the outcome of contribution and consistent help of various persons and we thank those ones who helped us in
successful completion of this project.
•Primarily I would like to thank Prof (Dr.) Sonal Sharma, Director-USCS for providing a healthy and
encouraging environment to study.
•I profusely thankful to the Dr. Sameer Dev Sharma HOD-USCS for providing all the required resources in the
successful completion of my project report.
•I express my thanks to ,Mr. Parminder Singh Project Mentor, Assistant Professor-USCS. He has been
generous enough to provide me an opportunity and accepting my candidature for the most valuable guidance and affordable
treatment given to us at every stage to boost my morale.
Name:- Satyam Nautiyal and Shiwang
Roll no:- 24360900364 / 24360900271
B.C.A 1ˢᵗ Semester
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project report entitled Spot Finder : A Parking Management System in a C submitted by Student
Name to Uttaranchal School of Computing Sciences. The project report was done under the guidance of Miss
Vyeshika, Assistant Professor-USCS. I further declare that the work reported in this project report has not been
submitted and will not be submitted, either in part or in full, for the award of any other degree or diploma in this university or
any other university or institute.

Name:- Satyam Nautiyal and Shiwang

Roll no:-24360900364/243609002371 B.C.A
1ˢᵗ Semester
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify Satyam Nautiyal and Shiwang student of BCA 1ⁿᵈ Semester, of Uttaranchal School of Computing
Sciences, Dehradun, has completed the Project Report for the topic - Spot Finder : A Parking Management System in a C
for the session (2024- 2025).

Under the guidance of:-

Mr. Parminder Singh
Assistant Professor-
USCS
Uttaranchal University Dehradun
 Introduction :

A Spot Finder Parking Management System is a software solution designed to simplify and automate the
process of parking management in a parking facility. The primary goal of this system is to help users quickly find
available parking spaces, efficiently allocate spots to vehicles, and keep track of the parking status. The system can
be particularly useful in environments such as shopping malls, office buildings, residential complexes, or public
parking lots.

Objective:
The main objective of the Spot Finder Parking Management System is to streamline the process of parking in
busy areas, thereby reducing the time spent searching for an open spot, improving the overall user
experience, and optimizing the use of available parking spaces.
The system is developed in the C programming language, which provides a structured and simple way to
implement and manage such a system. Using C, we can model the parking lot, manage the spots, and track
the status of each parking space.
 Key Features:
 Parking Spot Availability: The system provides real-time updates on the status of parking spots, showing whether
they are available or occupied.
 Parking Spot Allocation: When a vehicle enters the parking lot, the system automatically assigns it to an available
parking spot, ensuring optimal space usage.
 Car Exit Management: When a vehicle leaves, the system updates the parking lot status, making the spot available
again for other vehicles.
 Efficient Search for Available Spots: The system is designed to quickly find the first available spot, saving time for
drivers and reducing congestion within the parking lot.
 Simple User Interface: The system is text-based and easy to navigate, allowing users to interact with it through
simple commands to park or remove a vehicle.
 Space Utilization: The system ensures that all available parking spots are utilized efficiently by tracking occupancy
and avoiding unnecessary empty spots.
Applications:
 The Spot Finder Parking Management System can be applied in various scenarios:
 Commercial Parking Lots: To manage multiple parking spots efficiently, ensuring customers can easily find a
place to park.
 Shopping Malls: To prevent congestion by helping shoppers locate parking spaces quickly.
 Residential Areas: To manage parking in gated communities or apartment complexes, where each spot needs to
be tracked for each resident or visitor.
 Office Complexes: To allocate parking spaces to employees and visitors based on availability.
Conclusion:

The Spot Finder Parking Management System in C serves as an effective and efficient tool for parking
lot management, ensuring better space utilization, reduced search time, and improved user experience.
By providing a simple, automated approach to managing parking, this system can significantly enhance
parking operations in various types of facilities.
The Spot Finder Parking Management System in C is a practical and efficient solution to manage parking spaces in
any parking facility, whether it’s a small residential complex, a large shopping mall, or a busy office building. By
leveraging simple programming concepts in C, this system can automate the process of assigning parking spots to
vehicles and tracking their availability, reducing human intervention and errors.
 System analysis
A Spot Finder Parking Management System is designed to help users find available parking spots in real-time and
assist parking lot administrators in managing the occupancy and payment. Below is a detailed system analysis,
describing its key components, functionalities, and various aspects of the design.

1. System Objectives
 Efficient Parking Allocation: Automatically assigns available parking spots to users.
 Real-time Availability Information: Provides live updates on available spots.
 Space Management for Administrators: Allows parking lot admins to manage parking spots and monitor usage.
 User-Friendly Interface: Ensures easy interaction for both drivers and administrators.
 Payment Integration: Facilitates payment processing for parking fees.
 Optimized Traffic Flow: Minimizes search time for drivers, reducing congestion and fuel consumption.
 System Requirements
Functional Requirements:
 User Registration & Login:
• Users must be able to create accounts, log in, and manage their profiles.
 Parking Spot Search:
• Users can view real-time availability of parking spots in a parking lot.
• The system should display the location and status (available/occupied) of spots.
 Spot Reservation:
• Users can reserve parking spots in advance or on-demand based on availability.
• Reservation details must be sent to the system for confirmation.
 Payment Processing:
• After parking, the system should calculate the cost based on the time spent and enable payment through
various methods (e.g., online payment, cash, mobile apps).
 Admin Management:
• Administrators can view all available parking spots and their statuses.
 Parking Slot Occupancy Tracking:
• The system tracks the status of each parking spot in real-time (occupied/vacant).
 Notification System:
• Sends notifications to users for parking reminders, payment confirmations, or system alerts (e.g., parking lot
full).
 Reporting:
• Admins can generate reports about parking lot usage, occupancy rates, and financials.
• System Design
• Use Case Diagram:
 Actors:
• User (Driver)
• Administrator
• Payment System
• Parking Lot System
 Use Cases:
• User:
• Register, Login, View Available Parking Spots, Reserve Spot, Pay for Parking.
 Administrator:
• View Lot Occupancy, Add/Remove Parking Spots, Generate Reports.
 Payment System:
• Process Payment, Issue Receipt.
 Parking Lot System:
• Track Spot Status (Occupied/Vacant), Update Status after Reservation.
Class Diagram:
The system can have the following classes:
1. User:
• Attributes: userID, userName, userEmail, userPhone
• Methods: register(), login(), viewAvailableSpots(), reserveSpot(), makePayment()
2. ParkingSpot:
• Attributes: spotID, spotNumber, spotLocation, isAvailable, spotType (e.g., Handicapped, Electric Vehicle)
• Methods: updateStatus(), reserveSpot()
3. Payment:
• Attributes: paymentID, userID, amount, paymentMethod, paymentStatus
• Methods: processPayment(), generateReceipt()
4. Admin:
• Attributes: adminID, adminName
• Methods: addSpot(), removeSpot(), viewReports()
5. ParkingLot:
• Attributes: lotID, spotList (a list of ParkingSpot objects)
• Methods: getAvailableSpots(), updateSpotStatus()
 System Constraints
• Parking Spot Types: Different parking spots (e.g., standard, electric vehicle, handicapped) may require specific
handling.
• Integration with External Systems: Payment gateways or third-party services might have limitations or different data
formats.
• Real-time Data Updates: Ensuring that the parking spot data is updated in real-time for all users.

 Potential Challenges
• Concurrency Issues: Multiple users trying to reserve the same parking spot at the same time.
• Payment Failures: Handling situations where the payment fails or is interrupted.
• System Downtime: Ensuring that the system remains operational in case of technical failures.

 Conclusion
The Spot Finder Parking Management System aims to simplify the process of parking spot reservation and
payment for users while allowing administrators to effectively manage parking lot resources. By incorporating
real-time data tracking, payment integration, and an intuitive interface, it provides an efficient solution for both
users and administrators.
1. Traffic Congestion Reduction
• Problem: In busy urban areas, finding a parking spot can be time-consuming, contributing to unnecessary traffic
congestion. Drivers often circle around looking for a spot, which increases overall traffic on roads.
• Need: A spot finder system helps reduce the time spent searching for parking by showing available spaces,
thereby reducing traffic and congestion.
2. Optimization of Parking Spaces
• Problem: Many parking lots are under-utilized or poorly managed, leading to inefficient use of available space.
• Need: A parking management system can monitor and optimize the use of parking spaces, ensuring that each
spot is occupied appropriately and reducing wastage of parking area.
3. Improved User Experience
• Problem: Drivers experience frustration, stress, and time loss while searching for parking spots.
• Need: The system offers real-time availability updates, helping drivers find spots quickly, reducing frustration,
and improving their overall parking experience.
4. Environmental Benefits
• Problem: Excessive circling and searching for parking results in higher fuel consumption and unnecessary
emissions.
• Need: By reducing the amount of time spent searching for parking, the system helps decrease fuel consumption
and the carbon footprint, contributing to environmental sustainability.
5. Increased Parking Lot Efficiency
• Problem: Manual or traditional parking systems often fail to effectively manage the flow of vehicles in and out of
parking areas, leading to inefficiencies.
• Need: Automated parking management, such as a spot finder system, ensures smooth entry and exit, minimizing
delays and making the best use of available spaces.
6. Enhanced Revenue Generation
• Problem: Parking lots that are poorly managed may not maximize their revenue potential due to inefficient space
usage.
• Need: A spot finder system can assist in monitoring parking lot occupancy and usage patterns, enabling businesses to
optimize pricing and increase revenue.
7. Data Collection for Analytics
• Problem: Traditional parking systems do not gather useful data on usage patterns or space demand.
• Need: A spot finder system can collect data about parking space availability, peak hours, and usage trends, which can
be used for future planning, pricing strategies, and expansion.
8. Safety and Security
• Problem: Parking lots can be dangerous, especially in poorly lit areas, and can attract criminal activity.
• Need: A system that helps guide vehicles directly to available spaces can reduce the time spent in parking areas,
improving overall safety and security for drivers and their vehicles.
9. Cost-Effectiveness for Parking Lot Owners
• Problem: Traditional methods of parking lot management may require significant human resources and manual
monitoring.
• Need: An automated parking management system reduces the need for staff and manual intervention, leading to cost
savings and more efficient operation.
10. Compliance with Smart City Initiatives
• Problem: As cities evolve into "smart cities," they need innovative technologies to improve urban mobility.
• Need: A Spot Finder Parking System fits within the framework of smart city initiatives by leveraging IoT (Internet
of Things) and sensor technology to improve parking management and urban mobility.

Conclusion:

A Spot Finder Parking Management System is a solution driven by the need for smarter, more efficient urban
mobility. It addresses the challenges of parking congestion, inefficiency, user frustration, and environmental
concerns, all while contributing to improved city planning and resource management.
 Preliminary investigation
A preliminary investigation of a Spot Finder Parking Management System involves understanding the key concepts, the
requirements, and how the system can be developed. Below are the essential aspects of the investigation, focusing on
the objectives, functionality, and potential challenges.

1. Introduction
A Spot Finder Parking Management System aims to help users find available parking spaces in real-time. This system
can be implemented for various parking lots, such as malls, office buildings, and public parking spaces. The primary
goal is to make parking more efficient by reducing the time spent searching for available parking spaces.

2. Objectives
• Real-time Parking Spot Detection: Detect available parking spaces in a lot and provide the status (vacant/occupied).
• Efficient Allocation: Guide users to the nearest available parking spot.
• User Interface: Simple and clear interface for parking spot status, navigation, and updates.
• Data Storage: Store the status of all parking spots and update them in real time.
• Optimization: Reduce traffic congestion and search time for parking spot
3. System Requirements

 Hardware Requirements:
• Parking spaces equipped with sensors or cameras (e.g., infrared or ultrasonic sensors) to detect whether a space
is occupied.
• A central server to manage the status of parking spots.
User devices (smartphones, etc.) to access the parking status information.

 Software Requirements:
• Operating System: The system should run on a platform that supports C programming (e.g., Windows, Linux).
• Data Management: Use a simple data structure (e.g., an array or a linked list) to manage parking spots and their
statuses.
• Communication: Communication protocol between user devices and the server, possibly through a local network
.
4. Functionalities
• Spot Status Monitoring: The system will continuously monitor parking spots to detect whether they are occupied or
vacant.
• User Query: A user can request the nearest available parking spot.
• Parking Spot Allocation: Once a user selects a spot, the system updates the status of that spot to "occupied."
• Spot Release: When a user leaves the parking spot, the system will mark it as "vacant."
5. System Design

 Data Structures:
• Array of Spots: Each parking spot can be represented as an element in an array. Each element will store the status
of the spot (vacant/occupied) and possibly a timestamp for parking duration.
• Linked List: A more dynamic structure where spots can be added/removed efficiently.
 Algorithm:
• Spot Availability Check: Traverse the array or linked list to check for vacant spots.
• User Request Handling: Upon receiving a user request, find the nearest available parking spot, allocate it, and
update the status.
• Spot Update: Continuously update the status when a parking spot is occupied or vacated.
• Communication: The system would use a communication protocol to send updates to a server or directly to user
devices.
6. Challenges
• Real-Time Data: Ensuring real-time updates for parking spot status is critical. Delays or errors in updates could lead to
inefficiencies.
• Scalability: The system should handle a large number of parking spots, especially for large parking lots or multi-floor
buildings.
• Accuracy of Spot Detection: Sensors or cameras may occasionally misidentify a parking spot’s status, leading to
errors in availability information.
• User Experience: Designing a user-friendly interface that can quickly guide users to the nearest available parking
spot.
7. System Workflow
orkflow of the system can be summarized as:
• Spot Monitoring: Sensors in each parking space detect whether a spot is occupied.
• Spot Status Update: The server updates the parking spot status (vacant or occupied).
• User Request: A user queries the system for the nearest available parking spot.
• Spot Allocation: The system identifies the nearest vacant spot and allocates it to the user.
• Spot Release: After the user parks and leaves, the spot is released and updated as vacant.

8. Technological Considerations
• Sensors: Parking sensors (e.g., ultrasonic sensors) can be used to detect whether a spot is occupied.
• Database: A simple array or database to store and retrieve spot status.
• Communication Protocol: A communication protocol for sharing the parking spot data in real time (e.g., HTTP or
MQTT).

9. Potential Improvements
• User Notifications: Implement a notification system that alerts users when a spot becomes available near their
location.
• Mobile App Integration: Develop a mobile app for users to interact with the parking system, check spot availability,
and make reservations.
10. Conclusion
The Spot Finder Parking Management System can provide significant benefits in terms of convenience and
efficiency for users. The preliminary investigation identifies the core functionalities, data structures, and
challenges that must be addressed to develop a successful system. With proper planning and consideration of
real-time data handling and scalability, the system can greatly reduce parking time and improve the overall
parking experience.
This system could be implemented in C with the use of basic data structures, algorithms for spot allocation, and
real-time status updates.
 Objective :-
 Effi cient parking spot allocation.

 Track available and occupied spots.

 Provide a simple interface for parking

management.

 Handle entry and exit of vehicles.

 (Image idea: Flowchart of car entering,

fi nding a spot, and exiting)

 System Requirements :

 Hardware Requirements

 Computer with a C compiler.

 Basic input/output devices.

 Software Requirements

 C programming language.

Code editor or IDE (e.g., Code::Blocks, Dev-C++).

 System Architecture

Main Modules:

1. Input handling (vehicle entry/exit).

2. Parking spot allocation.

3. Spot availability tracking.

( Diagram of system flow : vehicle entry spot allocation  vehicle

exit)
 Core Functions :

 Key Features of the System

 Add/Remove parking spots.

 Check availability of spots.

 Display available parking spots.

 User requests for specific parking needs.

 Working Mechanism :

Step 1: Input vehicle details.

Step 2: Check available spots.

Step 3: Assign a parking spot.

Step 4: Update the parking lot status.

Step 5: On exit, free the parking spot.

(Image idea: Simplified flowchart or process

diagram showing these steps)
 Code Structure :

 Main Componentsmain(): User interface and input

handling.

 Functions for adding/removing spots, checking

availability, and displaying spots.
 Testing and Results :

 Testing Scenarios

 Add spots and verify.

 Request spots and check output.

 Edge cases (full parking lot).

Expected Results :

• Correct allocation of parking spots.

• Accurate status updates for availability.

 DISADVANTAGES :
1. **Limited User Interface:**
- A console-based application may not be user-friendly compared to graphical interfaces, making it less appealing to non-technical
users.

2. **Complexity of Memory Management:**

- C requires manual memory management, which can lead to issues like memory leaks or segmentation faults if not handled carefully.

3. **Lack of Built-in Libraries:**

- C has fewer built-in libraries for high-level tasks (like network communication or database management) compared to higher-level
languages, potentially increasing development time.

4. **No Built-in Object-Oriented Features:**

- C does not support object-oriented programming natively, making it harder to implement complex data structures and behaviors in
an organized way.
 ADVANTAGES :
1. **Efficiency:**
- C provides low-level access to memory and system resources, which can make the application run faster and use
fewer resources, ideal for managing real-time data like parking availability.

2. **Control Over System Resources:**

- C allows fine control over system resources, which can lead to better performance, especially in systems with
limited hardware.

3. . **Security and Reliability:**

- By implementing your own logic, you can focus on creating a secure system, minimizing vulnerabilities associated
with third-party software.

4. **Structured Programming:**
- C supports structured programming, making it easier to design and manage the codebase for features like
reservations, cancellations, and availability checks.
 Conclusion :

The Spot Finder Parking

Management System

simplifies the task of

managing parking lots by

efficiently handling spot

allocation, freeing up spots

Thankyo
u **