TORONTO -- The Toronto Parking Authority has increased revenue by 60 percent since the 1999 installation of Web-based, wireless-powered Pay and Display parking terminals from SchlumbergerSema. The parking authority can track meter status and use the system's Web-based communications capabilities to keep equipment operational and minimize down time associated with maintenance.

The authority is able to evaluate the status of an on-or off-street terminal through a Web site connection. The technology determines the status of each machine by assessing its condition, the amount of funds that have been collected and whether funds need to be emptied from the terminal.

The terminals can also accumulate credit-card security and statistical data. The parking Authority has been able to decrease the amount of support staff needed to maintain the parking terminals because of the increased efficiency.

"Cities require advanced methods today to manage on- and off-street parking," said Maurice Anderson, president of the Toronto Parking Authority. "The day of walking to a meter to obtain information is in the past."