The curbside was once an overlooked stretch of asphalt, butr that is rapidly changing as cities and citizens realise how important it is to the flow and health of cities.

Yet while awareness is growing, many cities are operating in the dark, making critical decisions about parking, enforcement, and mobility without real-time data. The result? Congestion, lost revenue, and a frustrating urban experience for residents and businesses alike.

But what if we told you that the data you need is already there, waiting to be unlocked? By leveraging AI-driven curbside analytics with solutions like what SenSen and Turnstone collaborate to deliver, cities can transform disorder into efficiency, complexity into clarity, and lost opportunities into smarter urban mobility solutions.

For years, cities have relied on guesswork and outdated reports to make decisions about curbside management. Without precise, real-time insights, they struggle to optimise space, enforce regulations effectively, and adapt to changing urban dynamics. The economic impact of this blind spot is staggering: lost revenue from underutilised spaces, excessive congestion harming local businesses, and inefficient enforcement that fails to drive compliance.

Consider a simple yet fundamental question: How many parking spaces does your city actually have? If the answer is “we’re not sure,” then you’re not alone. Many cities operate with rough estimates, leading to misallocations, unpredictable pricing outcomes, and inefficiencies that ripple through the entire transport ecosystem. But those who treat data as their ally are uncovering powerful hidden patterns that are reshaping urban planning.

The advent of intelligent curbside data collection is reshaping the way cities operate—and by intelligent, we mean the use of statistical models, algorithms, and AI tooling that goes beyond large language models. Advanced sensors, automated enforcement tools, and real-time analytics provide a continuous, dynamic picture of urban mobility—allowing cities to make informed decisions based on reality, not assumptions.

Here’s what AI-powered curbside analytics can reveal:

• Parking duration trends: How long vehicles typically stay parked and where adjustments can improve turnover.
• Price elasticity: How changes in parking fees impact behaviour, ensuring revenue models remain effective.
• Mobility patterns: Uncovering surprising correlations between congestion, pricing, and overall curbside efficiency.

For just one example of the impact these solutions can have: When a city increased parking rates, occupancy remained stable, but the average duration of each parking session dropped. Instead of deterring visitors, the price shift encouraged turnover, increasing accessibility without reducing revenue. These are the kinds of insights that AI-driven data can uncover—insights that cities need to build more liveable and efficient urban environments.

Cities that have embraced AI-powered curbside data collection are already experiencing transformational improvements in urban efficiency. Here are some use cases:

City 1: Smarter Enforcement, Better Compliance

The adoption of AI-driven curbside monitoring has led to more effective enforcement and a fairer distribution of parking spaces. With real-time license plate recognition, enforcement officers can now track compliance with unmatched precision, reducing manual labour costs and boosting compliance rates.

City 2: Eliminating Inefficiencies, Building Public Trust

A deep dive into meter data exposed inefficiencies in overnight pricing policies—some meters were incorrectly charging fees during off-hours, frustrating drivers and leading to unnecessary fines. By analysing AI-powered data, the city corrected its pricing model, enhancing both fairness and efficiency.

City 3: Discovering Data They Didn’t Know They Had

Officials were unaware of just how much curbside data they already had at their disposal. A closer look at existing digital meters revealed hidden mobility trends, enabling smarter space allocation and policy adjustments. For many cities, the first step isn’t collecting more data—it’s recognising the untapped potential of the data they already have.

Traditionally, cities have focused on occupancy rates as the primary metric for curbside management. But this singular focus is limiting. Instead of asking, “How full is the street?” cities should be asking, “How many people are we serving?”

By shifting the focus from static occupancy to dynamic efficiency, cities can:

• Improve business access by encouraging higher turnover where needed.
• Reduce congestion by strategically adjusting pricing and enforcement.
• Enhance public transport integration by better coordinating curbside space usage.

The key is understanding curbside space as a flexible, strategic asset rather than just a fixed area for vehicles to park.

As cities embrace AI-driven insights, the question of privacy remains critical. Data collection must be transparent, compliant, and focused on community benefits. The best approach is one that prioritises anonymity, ensures data security, and actively engages the public in discussions about how curbside insights are used.

Best practices include:

• Anonymising data to focus on trends rather than individuals.
• Implementing strict access controls to protect against misuse.
• Communicating clearly with the public about the purpose and benefits of data collection.

When handled responsibly, AI-powered curbside data can improve city life while maintaining public trust.

For cities still relying on gut feeling and outdated reports, the transition to AI-driven curbside management may seem daunting. But the reality is, that embracing data isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a necessity. The future of urban mobility depends on harnessing real-time insights to create liveable, efficient, and accessible cities.

By leveraging AI and analytics, city leaders can unlock the hidden patterns shaping urban life, make data-driven decisions with confidence, and redefine the possibilities of what curbside management can achieve.

Join us at the upcoming webinar: Hidden Patterns: How Curbside Data and AI are Transforming Smart City Management, hosted by Turnstone and SenSen, to learn how AI-driven curbside data is already transforming cities: Register Here