Jacksonville in Florida, US, has partnered with real-time parking services provider Streetline to introduce a smart parking system to certain sections of the Downtown area of the city.

The pilot allows drivers to locate on-street parking spaces, parking garages and lots in real-time through smartphones or via the internet.

Under the project, Streetline will install parking sensors near certain metres to detect the availability of spaces, which will be shown on a smartphone app that will also offer other important features.

Streetline CEO Zia Yusuf said that the new system will help Jacksonville solve its parking problems, one of the most critical difficulties facing the city today.

"Using mobile parking guidance, Jacksonville drivers will be able to more easily enjoy all that Downtown has to offer," Yusuf added.

"The pilot allows drivers to locate on-street parking spaces, parking garages and lots in real-time through smartphones or via the internet."

Installation of 99 parking sensors, under the new project, will commence this week at the intersection of Laura and Forsyth Streets.

The sensors, which will be embedded in the pavement, will stretch along Laura Street from Monroe Street to Independent Drive and will also cover several blocks of road intersecting Laura Street.

By early March 2013, the smartphone app, known as Parker by Streetline, will be available for download in Jacksonville.

Parker provides the location and availability of on-street spaces, along with locations, rates, and hours of garages and lots.

The app also allows drivers to set a timer to track duration of the parking, as well as to access walking directions back to their car.

Streetline is currently implementing its parking solutions in various US cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, New Brunswick, Reno and Washington, DC.