Dubrovnik is introducing a new digital parking-control system designed to make checks faster, more accurate and more efficient across the city’s public parking areas.
As part of the continued modernisation of municipal services, Sanitat Dubrovnik is launching “Scan a Car”, a specialised vehicle equipped with advanced cameras and technology capable of checking parked cars within seconds.
How the New System Works
The vehicle will be fitted with high-resolution cameras, an automatic number plate recognition system known as ANPR, GPS technology and an onboard computer connected directly to Sanitat’s parking-management system.
As the vehicle passes through a parking area, the system automatically reads licence plates and records the location and time of each check. It then verifies whether the vehicle has a valid parking ticket, resident permit, subscription or another authorised parking right.
The technology will allow Sanitat to inspect considerably more parking spaces than was possible through traditional controls, while improving accuracy and reducing the time needed to complete each inspection.
According to Sanitat, this should also help make parking spaces more readily available to drivers who pay for parking correctly and contribute to a more efficient turnover of parked vehicles.
Technology Supporting Parking Officers
The new system will not replace Sanitat employees. Instead, it is intended to support their work by automating routine checks.
This will allow parking officers to dedicate more time to communicating with residents and visitors, handling specific situations in the field and improving the overall quality of the service.
Advanced image-processing algorithms and artificial intelligence will enable the system to operate in different weather conditions, during both day and night, and at various driving speeds.
Each check will be recorded electronically, providing a transparent and traceable record of the controls carried out.
Sanitat has also emphasised that the system will process only the information required for parking enforcement. Personal data will be handled in accordance with GDPR requirements and Croatian legislation.
The total value of the specialised vehicle, equipment and installation is €150,315 excluding VAT.
With the introduction of “Scan a Car”, Dubrovnik joins other Dalmatian cities that have recently turned to smart technologies to improve parking management. The project represents another step towards the development of digital infrastructure and smarter municipal services in the city.
