Have you ever wondered why most parking structures are able to determine if it has available spaces but it could not tell you where? Have you ever felt annoyed at driving in circles knowing that there is an available spot, somewhere, but could not seem to find it quick enough? Just image how frustrated it can get trying to find a parking spot while catching a flight at the busy airport like LAX or Laguardia.
A solution is to install an LED sign at the entrance of each floor that indicates its availability. The driver would simply follow the sign and move on to the next available floor. On each floor, an LED sign is mounted prominently at the ceiling beam of each section or wing, indicating its availability and the number of available spaces in that section. Instead of making fruitless turns scouting for a space, the driver would follow the sign to the closest available space. Achieving the solution entails employing a readily available sensor technology such as those found at traffic lights to identify a presence of a car waiting to make a turn. An object sensor device is mounted on the ceiling under each parking space. When a vehicle or an object is parked under it, the sensor would register the spot unavailable. Just imagine how much time we could save looking for a parking spot.
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Great idea! They have this at The Grove!
Sounds promising...I expect that this would cost some money, so I wonder how the owners of the garage would recover their costs.
I expect that the lot would have to charge drivers directly. I doubt that there would be much ability to draw new customers to the garage because the garage is already near capacity and the time saved in parking would have to be greater than any additional time needed to walk to a further garage.
So, this would basically have to be funded by increasing the fare charged to the drivers. It would work best in an environment where the drivers are in a hurry and have money to spend to save time.
This is a great idea. To minimize the cost the garages could use their in place camera security systems. If there were enough cameras, computer vision software could be written to determine the available spaces. This would be especially easy if the cameras are stationary, there are enough of them and they are high enough.
This is a great idea, but to make it easier, instead of a LCD screen where you need to read a map and find the free space I would have flashing lights over the free parking spaces. Just look at the ceiling and head toward the green flashing lights.
this would be very cost efficant led bulbs cost like 10cents per like week so the thought of them loseing money is just silly... <B> HEHEHE silly
Or have the lot direct traffic itself, with green arrows lighting up to point out floors with free spaces. A scanner at the entrance could identify larger vehicles and route them to different areas, while compacts squeeze in where they can. Also, this would improve the accuracy of "LOT FULL" signs.
a similar method is used all over india for years, each and every floor has a LED board that shows the availability on that floor and a LED device similar to the ones that is installed on roads as lane distinguishers (for better view at night)is installed in front of each bay, and glows if the bay is empty... the floor has infrared sensor can sense the car which inturn activates and deactivates the light in front of the bay. and also the availability on the floor is taken care by these sensors.
Or why not tie this idea in with GPS technology. Current GPS navigators already help you find Parking Lots, why not add this refinement of locating empty parking spots.
Sybillesybille.webmaster@GoGPSDirected.com
Great Idea!
Problem
What if 5 cars are after the same parking place? Or what if you follow the red leds and just a 20 m. before you reach the desired spot you see a car, whose driver spoted it first?
Solution
A simple solution, I think, may be a translation from the Cinema. You pick your spot on a Touchscreen display at the entrance of the parking. That way you have the spot reserved for you and of course - you could pick the best spot (according to the desired exit or location).