record

Thesis Info

LABS ID
00827
Thesis Title
A design exploration of an IoT based smart parking prototype with stakeholders by user-centred design
Author
Muftah Fraifer, PhD
2nd Author
3rd Author
Degree
Ph.D
Year
2019
Number of Pages
190
University
University of Limerick
Thesis Supervisor
Dr.Mikael Fernström
Supervisor e-mail
Mikael.fernstrom AT ul.ie
Other Supervisor(s)
Language(s) of Thesis
English
Department / Discipline
Faculty of Science and Engineering-CSIS department
Copyright Ownership
University of Limerick
Languages Familiar to Author
URL where full thesis can be found
uol.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991003914296303496&context=L&vid=353UOL_INST:353UOL_VU1&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=TAB1&query=any,contains,fraifer&sortby=rank
Keywords
IoT, Smart Parking, UCD, Stakeholders
Abstract: 200-500 words
This research explores design issues for an IoT-based smart parking system and uses it as a case study for stakeholders. It also describes a proposed plan for the deployment and evaluation of this system’s effectiveness in facilitating an enhanced parking experience as a consequence. The methodology for accomplishing this has been to work in the context of applying User-Centred Design (UCD) to help us to understand and to examine how to support the development of IoT-based smart parking system prototypes. The thesis reports empirical work, applying a UCD approach with a diverse group of participants (e.g. staff members, visitors, students). In this thesis, 4 phases with 2 iterations of UCD were carried out. It began with identifying the requirements to understand the needs of drivers and then with applying the next phases, which are design, prototype and evaluation respectively. Involving users at the early stages of the development, applying UCD, helped to address issues that seem particularly problematic with a smart parking system. This process also showed the current limitations of traditional parking systems. In addition, it highlighted what kind of system might work better to meet the needs of all stakeholders and the issues experienced by users who commute daily using their private cars. Therefore, this supported the justification of users’ needs and perspectives allowing for the identification of an area of potential intervention. The work reported in this thesis is a proposition, design, prototype and implementation of an IoT-based smart parking system which facilitates finding parking spots for the user. This process included observations, diaries and in-depth interviews with stakeholders (ranging from the parking users to system operators). Based on empirical results, which focused on stakeholders and their role in designing an IoT parking system, the research contributes knowledge about how to address stakeholders’ needs, by including them and their preferences in the development of initial prototypes of a smart parking technology, onto the generation of ideas and to a final prototype.