Emerging Trends in Parking
The parking industry is constantly advancing, thanks to new technologies, innovative applications and the expertise of parking professionals. Here are a few trends:
- 2011 Emerging Trends in Parking: Report on a survey
conducted by IPI. The International Parking Institute
surveyed its members to determine emerging trends in parking. This report crystallizes the views of a
cross-section of these parking professionals.
- Sustainability. Parking facilities are
going green with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting that remains
brighter longer and provides enhanced security. Facilities
are also reducing power consumption with timers, photocell
receptors, and dimmers. Also, many new facilities are built
to the demanding standards of Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certification. These include
implementing recycling systems, such as rainwater recycling, using
local and recycled materials in construction, and installing
renewable energy technology such as photovoltaic, wind power,
bio-fuels and hydrogen fuel cells. Facilities also develop waste
management plans and dedicate areas of their facilities for storage
of recyclable materials.
- Use of Mobile Apps. The future is here in the
parking world, thanks to an explosion of new parking applications
for smart phones and mobile devices that enable you to find,
reserve and pay for parking. See
related news release.
- Improved traffic management. Traffic
flow is enhanced through wireless sensing devices indicate space
availability in parking facilities as well as with mapping devices
in cars that show parking locations.
- Parking access control. License plate
recognition (LPR) uses specialized cameras and software to
recognize license plates, capture tag images, and transform the
characters into a data stream. Municipalities, universities,
airports, medical centers, military bases and other sectors use LPR
to confirm authorized vehicle access to parking facilities.
- E-payment. The parking industry is
moving away from cash payment to e-payment. Increasingly, parking
operations accommodate credit cards and even cell phones that
access e-payment accounts or possess credit card capability with an
electronic chip on the subscriber identify module (SIM) card.
- Recharging stations for electric
vehicles. As the number of electric vehicles is
expected to grow, parking areas are installing recharging
stations.
- Integration of parking with planning.
Parking operators are increasingly recognized as able to bring
specialized expertise to urban improvement projects and economic
redevelopment. They need to have a seat at the table with
architects, engineers, developers, and planning officials.
- Anti-terrorism awareness training. IPI has helped develop First Observer™, a parking-specific training program that arms parking professionals with the skills they need to identify and address potential terrorism or security threats. First Observer™ is a national anti-terrorism and security awareness program that supports the National Preparedness Guidelines of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
