Abstract: A real-time vehicle parking guidance system includes a plurality of wireless sensor nodes distributed in a parking area for detecting the presence of vehicles in parking spaces in the parking area, wherein the wireless sensor nodes transmit vehicle detection information through a hybrid communication method that uses optical wireless communication along with a backup radio frequency (RF) transmission; and a wireless hub communications unit including a programming element and a data module, for receiving the vehicle detection information from the wireless sensor nodes and transmitting the vehicle detection information to a processor for updating a corresponding display of the real-time vehicle parking on a computer or mobile device.