The Future of Smart Parking is Shifting Towards Automation
Technological advances and innovation influence nearly every facet of our daily routine, making it easier, safer and more efficient.
Why Should Parking Be Any Different
Innovations in vehicle parking have offered the user increased visibility when searching for and maneuvering their vehicle into an empty parking spot. Yet, little has been accomplished in traffic congestion, inadequate parking availability, and navigational challenges.
This is particularly true when attempting to park in spots adjacent to poorly parked vehicles.
The demand for technological advances in parking is growing, and the future of smart parking is shifting toward automation.
Fully automated parking systems are at the forefront.
The World Is Changing, So Are Cars
With changing times come changing needs. Here are some global trends that will soon affect the way people use cars.
1. THE POPULATION IS URBANIZING
The United Nations in 2009 and the International Organization for Migration in 2015 both estimated that roughly 3 million people move to cities every week. Today, approximately 54 percent of the world’s population lives in cities.
Educated millennials, members of the nation’s largest generation population, prefer living in big cities over suburban areas. Cities are also making great efforts to attract this population.
2. LAND IS SCARCE DOWNTOWN
As Mark Twain advised, “Buy land. They’re not making it anymore.”
Some cities are already reducing allocated parking areas to free up more land for development.
3. CAR OWNERSHIP IS CHANGING
More people are already turning to ride-share options to make transportation more efficient, and convenient than traditional public transportation methods.
Millennials show a clear preference for ride-sharing or even short-term renting over vehicular ownership.
In 2015 alone, use of ride-sharing services jumped from just 5 percent to 18 percent.
Data indicates that by 2040, the number of two-car households will decrease from the current 57 percent to roughly 43 percent — and continue declining.
Automated Parking and Autonomous Vehicles
Here are a few ways automated parking will embrace and lead the evolution of parking and real-estate development.
1. CAR-AS-A-SERVICE
The increased use of autonomous-vehicle-based car services will decrease the need to own a car. AVs will run in routes, allowing people to summon them for a ride or perform deliveries.
Automated parking systems located along the routes will serve as micro parking hubs for AVs that need to be charged and stored near their routes at off peak hours.
2. ADAPTIVE REUSE AND REPURPOSING OF AUTOMATED PARKING GARAGES
In a world where autonomous cars remove people from the driving and parking equation, a parking structure’s footprint can be downsized and streamlined.
Automated parking systems are perfectly positioned for future repurposing and adaptive re-use. By removing ramps and sloped surfaces, they provide surfaces fit for any future use.
Building a steel internal parking structure allows for easy redesign options. AVSRS allows for gradual conversions of parking structures into residential, office, retail, or any other use.
3. PARKING IN DENSE AREAS
The future of autonomous driving will resolve the challenges of parking in dense and expensive downtown areas.
The need for parking in costly downtown areas will be significantly reduced. Individuals will be dropped at their workplace, a shopping center, or any other location by their AV.
The car then drives itself away to a remote automated parking hub and parks independently. The owner will summon the AV to the pick-up point, using a mobile application to communicate with the car and the automated parking system.
An automated vehicle storage and retrieval system (AVSRS) will retrieve the vehicle and send it to the requested location. The app will communicate the car’s health and enable the vehicle to charge and autonomously pay for parking.
Design Today a Future-Ready Building
Automated parking systems offer an innovative approach to transforming parking into an amenity by providing superior user experience and control over the parking process.
These systems also serve as a tool for designers seeking a more efficient and distinctive building layout. This approach is highly beneficial in the here-and-now, while also paving the way for adaptive reuse and repurposing for potential future needs.
The key to a successful automated parking system depends on early design that integrates the parking solution into the building’s flow. Add an experienced automated parking provider to the mix, and you have a winning formula for an innovative, future-ready building.
This article was written by Yair Goldberg and originally published in NPA magazine.
featured blog articles
Parking 
