Modern parking systems are no longer just simple gates. Today they combine license plate recognition, barrier or ground lock control, payment terminals and cloud-based management. In many cases, a compact touch screen HMI is the main interface between drivers and the parking system. However, this HMI must work reliably in outdoor or semi-outdoor environments, often on low power or even solar power.
This article looks at real pain points from the parking system industry and explains ten practical engineering improvements for the touch screen HMI. Each section links the problem, the design change and the result. If you are new to industrial HMI projects, it is helpful to read this guide together with our Industrial Touch Screen Buyer’s Guide. For projects that run outdoors, you may also want to review our outdoor touch screen solutions for kiosks and charging stations.
1. Fast Response for License Plate and Gate Control
Pain point
Parking systems need fast response. Drivers expect the gate or ground lock to open quickly after license plate recognition or ticket scanning. If the HMI is slow, the whole system feels unresponsive and queues build up at the entrance.
Engineering improvement
A good starting point is to use a low-power projected capacitive (PCAP) touch screen with a fast controller and simple, clear UI. The touch layer should support quick taps and swipes with low latency. At the same time, the system should be tuned so that key functions such as “Open Gate”, “Confirm Payment” and “Get Ticket” require only one or two clear steps. You can find more ideas on reducing touch delay in our article on touch latency and user experience in industrial systems.
Result
As a result, the parking system reacts faster to driver input, and waiting time at the gate is reduced. The entire entry and exit process feels smoother, which improves the user experience and traffic flow.
2. Low Power Consumption for Battery and Solar Operation
Pain point
Many parking terminals run on battery or solar power, especially at remote lots or outdoor parking spaces. If the touch screen HMI consumes too much power, the battery discharges quickly and solar panels must be oversized.
Engineering improvement
To solve this, use a low-power PCAP touch module and an efficient driver board. The touch controller should have a sleep mode and a very low working current (for example, under 5 mA in idle). In addition, the backlight, processor and communication modules should be chosen with power saving in mind. These ideas align with general low-power design methods described in our industrial touch screen buyer’s guide.
Result
Thanks to lower power draw, battery life is extended and charging frequency is reduced. This allows smaller batteries or solar panels and lowers both equipment and operating cost.
Many parking terminals follow low-power design ideas similar to outdoor IoT devices,
as described in various
low-power IoT design resources .
3. Wide Temperature Range from -20 °C to 50 °C
Pain point
Parking terminals are often installed in open-air lots, parking garages and roadside spaces. They must work in winter cold, summer heat and rapid temperature changes. Standard consumer displays and touch panels may fail or respond slowly in such conditions.
Engineering improvement
The touch screen HMI should use a wide-temperature LCD and PCAP sensor rated from at least -20 °C to 50 °C. Components such as drivers, power modules and cables must also meet this range. Furthermore, the mechanical design should allow for expansion and contraction without stressing the glass. In sunlight or semi-outdoor locations, it is wise to combine this with a high-brightness backlight, as outlined in our sunlight readable display guide.
Result
With these choices, the parking system can operate stably under extreme temperatures. The HMI remains readable and responsive in both hot and cold weather, which protects uptime in all seasons.
4. Strong Anti-Interference to Avoid Misoperation
Pain point
Parking systems may be installed near power distribution rooms, elevators or other sources of electromagnetic noise. Poor EMC design can cause ghost touches, unresponsive regions or resets when motors and relays switch.
Engineering improvement
A better design uses proper shielding and grounding. Add a metal shield around sensitive circuits, use shielded cables and define a clear grounding strategy between the touch module, mainboard and power system. The PCAP controller should be tuned for high noise immunity, following the guidance in our touch screen structure and bonding guide.
Result
After these improvements, the HMI is much more stable in electromagnetic interference environments. Mis-touches and resets are reduced, and the system behaves reliably even during power surges or motor starts.
5. Support for Multiple Payment Methods
Pain point
Drivers may use different payment methods depending on region and habit. Some prefer mobile QR payment, some use NFC cards or bank cards. A parking system that supports only one method limits convenience and usage.
Engineering improvement
Therefore the touch screen HMI should support several payment interfaces. It can integrate QR code scanning, NFC, contactless bank cards and even license plate based account payment. The enclosure should reserve space for these readers, and the UI must guide users clearly through each method. This multi-payment concept is similar to the design we use in our application-based touch screen solutions.
Result
Users can choose the payment method they trust, which improves convenience. At the same time, the operator can connect to more partners and payment platforms, increasing overall adoption and revenue.
6. Remote Monitoring and Management
Pain point
Parking operators often manage many sites across a city. Without remote access, staff must visit each terminal to check status, clear faults and collect usage data.
Engineering improvement
To improve this, the HMI or controller should integrate 4G, Wi-Fi or Ethernet modules. The system can send live status, fault codes, income reports and usage statistics to a central platform. In addition, firmware updates and configuration changes can be pushed remotely when allowed. This remote management approach is already proven in our other industrial touch screen solutions.
Result
With remote monitoring in place, operators can see the health of all parking sites in one dashboard. Operating efficiency increases, and problems can be handled faster, often before users notice them.
7. Mis-Touch Prevention for Better Safety
Pain point
Parking HMIs are used by many different people every day. Accidental touches, double taps or confused use can cause incorrect operations, such as opening the wrong gate, cancelling a payment or changing settings.
Engineering improvement
A robust parking HMI uses advanced algorithms for precise touch and mis-touch prevention. This includes tuning thresholds, applying palm rejection and adding a confirmation step for critical actions. From a UI perspective, large buttons, clear labels and structured steps also help. These principles are similar to those described in our article on design principles for intuitive touchscreen interfaces.
Result
Mis-operations are reduced and safety during use is improved. Drivers have a more predictable experience, and sensitive actions like “Open Gate” or “Refund” are harder to trigger by mistake.
8. Compliance with Safety and EMC Certifications
Pain point
Parking equipment is often installed in public spaces and must follow local safety and EMC rules. If the HMI electronics are not designed with these rules in mind, certification can become slow and costly.
Engineering improvement
From the design stage, choose components and layouts that support CE, FCC and other required certifications. Plan EMC, surge and safety tests early, and follow good practice for isolation, creepage and clearance. Documenting these design decisions also makes final system certification easier.
Result
Consequently, the parking system passes regulatory checks more smoothly and with less rework. This improves time-to-market and gives operators and city authorities more confidence in the solution.
Public parking equipment must meet local safety and EMC rules such as
FCC equipment authorization
or CE marking requirements in Europe.
9. Modular Design for Easy Maintenance
Pain point
Parking terminals are spread across many sites. When one part fails, it is costly to bring the entire unit back to the workshop. Field maintenance should be as quick and simple as possible.
Engineering improvement
To make service easier, design the touch screen HMI as a set of modules: front panel (PCAP + glass), controller board, communication module and power module. Each module should be easy to remove and replace with basic tools. Connectors and cables should be keyed and clearly marked.
Result
Maintenance time and cost are reduced. Technicians can replace only the failed module on-site, and the parking system returns to service quickly. Overall availability of the equipment increases.
10. Multi-Language Support for International Use
Pain point
Parking systems are used by local drivers, tourists and business visitors. In many regions, a single language interface is not enough to provide a good user experience.
Engineering improvement
The HMI software should include a built-in multi-language system. Users can select their preferred language with one tap, and all main screens, messages and error prompts update immediately. The design should reserve space for longer text strings and right-to-left languages where needed.
Result
With clear multi-language support, international drivers can use the parking system with confidence. This improves the global usability of the equipment and makes it easier to deploy the same design in different countries.
Conclusion: Building a Robust and Smart Parking System HMI
Designing a successful parking system is not only about cameras, barriers and billing. The touch screen HMI is the key point where drivers interact with the system. It must support fast license plate control, low power operation, wide temperatures, strong EMC performance, multiple payment options, remote management, mis-touch protection, certifications, easy maintenance and multi-language use.
By addressing these ten pain points with thoughtful engineering, you can build a parking system touch screen HMI that is both robust and user-friendly. For more ideas on how these principles apply to other industries, please visit our industrial touch screen solution page and the touch screen solutions by application hub.
Next step: discuss your parking system HMI project
If you are planning a new parking system or upgrading an existing one, you are welcome to share your screen size, mounting method, power source and certification needs with our engineering team. We can help you choose the right PCAP touch screen, display module and housing to reduce failures and improve user experience. You can reach us through the inquiry form on our Contact Us page.
