The automotive and transportation industry is ever-evolving, and the parking industry will need to continue to grow with all these evolving technologies and needs. That is why smart parking solutions that future-proof the parking industry are more critical than ever. With autonomous vehicles (AVs) becoming more than just a buzzword, smart parking solutions like ParqEx will be uniquely positioned to support growing AV needs coupled with the needs of urban cities. Read more about The Future of Parking: ParqEx’s Smart Parking Technology and Autonomous Vehicles.

What are Autonomous Vehicles?

If you are saying, “Hold up! What are AVs? Do they mean EVs?” Yes, we meant to say AV! AVs (Autonomous Vehicles) are the future of the automotive industry as they are self-driving or driverless vehicles. Using advanced technology such as sensors, cameras, radars, and artificial intelligence (AI), AVs can take note of their surroundings and make data-informed driving decisions. As of now, autonomous vehicles face challenges. The main challenges faced by AVs are various technological limitations, different regulations, and overall public acceptance. Despite its challenges, the overarching goal of AVs is more powerful. With more AVs on our roads, the overriding goal is to improve road safety and decrease traffic congestion. With six levels of automation, from 0 with no automation to 5 with full automation, it is clear that the automotive industry is evolving rapidly, and the parking industry must follow suit. Thankfully, ParqEx’s smart parking services have been creating innovative future-proofing solutions for the last ten years and continue to build out all platforms to include new necessary features to accommodate evolving technology. Here is how ParqEx will continue to be of service in an autonomous vehicle-dominated landscape.

The Future of Parking: ParqEx’s Smart Parking Technology and Autonomous Vehicles

Software Integrated with Autonomous Vehicles

An integral aspect of ParqEx’s solutions is that they are highly adaptable. Today, ParqEx’s parking management software can be seamlessly integrated into any existing property management system, security system, towing platform, booting enforcement software, etc. Tomorrow (not the real tomorrow, the future tomorrow), ParqEx’s software can seamlessly integrate with autonomous vehicles. Through ParqEx’s use of AI and IoT (Internet of Things), ParqEx’s smart parking platform allows for real-time communication. This means that ParqEx’s parking platform can communicate between AVs and parking infrastructure in real-time when AVs transition to dominating our roads. This real-time communication will ensure that autonomous vehicles can easily, quickly, and seamlessly find their desired parking space, reserve that parking spot, and access it without human help.

Heightened Efficiency

A key benefit of ParqEx’s smart parking solutions is its prioritization of optimizing parking space utilization. With pricing models like AI-enhanced dynamic and predictive pricing coupled with real-time availability features, ParqEx ensures all existing parking spaces are optimally used. In terms of how the efficient use of existing parking spaces affects AVs, this feature is significant as AVs, with the help of AI and software, can be programmed to park in less congested parking areas. This effectively uses existing parking spaces and helps reduce traffic congestion as fewer vehicles are left searching for parking.

Improved Security

Security will always be a concern, whether humans drive vehicles or vehicles are entirely autonomous. Thankfully, ParqEx’s Access+ and Access + Premium License Plate Recognition technology continues to evolve to meet technological demands. Today, through access control and AI, ParqEx’s property technology helps ensure that only authorized vehicles can access parking facilities or parking zones. This aspect of ParqEx’s access control is critical for autonomous cars, which will rely on secure and reliable parking solutions to safely operate and find parking that ensures peace of mind for the owners of the AVs.

In line with Smart City Initiatives

Bustling urban cities all have their smart city initiatives. As cities become smarter and continue to rely on innovative technologies, smart parking solutions will play an even more significant role in urban planning regarding the integration of AVs. By providing urban planners and city officials with data-proven insights and analytics, ParqEx’s robust smart parking solutions platform can help reduce traffic congestion, optimize traffic flow, and, dare we say, improve the overall quality of life of city residents with less polluted city streets.

Future-Proofing Parking

As we keep reiterating, ParqEx is committed to staying ahead of the curve and future-proofing its technology. By constantly innovating and integrating new technologies into its platforms, ParqEx’s solutions are and will continue to be effective smart parking solutions as the transportation and automotive industries evolve. Such a forward-thinking mindset also encourages cities and businesses to stay ahead of the curve and embrace smart parking solutions and the future of AVs.

That’s a Wrap!

We are not in charge of when, how, or where AVs will make their mark, but the rise of autonomous vehicles will soon affect us all. With AVs’ challenges, there are also incredible opportunities not just for autonomous vehicles and industry. We proudly state that ParqEx will be ready to meet all challenges head-on, provide seamless integration, heighten efficiency, improve security, support existing and future smart-city initiatives, and continue future-proofing the parking industry. As AVs flow into our streets, ParqEx will adapt and ensure parking becomes even more seamless and efficient for everyone involved. We are committed to leading the way in the parking industry’s evolution!

Thanks for reading “The Future of Parking: ParqEx’s Smart Parking Technology and Autonomous Vehicles.” If you want to start future-proofing your parking infrastructure, look no further! Contact a ParqEx sales representative today.

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Vending Machine Parking

If Carvana‘s new concept of car-buying turns into a great success, parking garage companies may capture one aspect of their success: modeling how cars are parked and stored. Automated glass towers that spit out a selected car is the basic idea of the Carvana model. If you have ever slipped a dollar into a vending machine and punched in your selection of snack chips or a candy bar, then you’ve got the skills to buy a car from Carvana.

Car buyers can visit their website to browse their selection of automobiles for sale and find their dream car. Next, loan terms are determined. Buyers can even sell or trade their current car. Carvana boasts a hassle-free trade-in experience requiring no photos or inspections. In less than 2 minutes customers get confirmation of when their trade-in will be picked up by a Carvana representative. Once all the transaction details are squared away, purchasers then visit the Carvana vending machine location where the car of their dreams is parked and stored or a company representative will deliver it.

What makes this car-vending model the perfect solution for parking problems? In urban areas space is critical. Traditional parking garages require necessary space for safe pedestrian traffic as well as for cars to navigate ramps to other levels. With a vending machine model, a car is parked onto a loading ramp that automatically delivers it to a designated space. No interior driving. No interior pedestrian traffic. No extra space for opening and closing doors. A vending machine modeled parking garage is incredibly space-efficient. And, as for capacity, the sky is literally the limit. Although Carvana’s car park and storage vending machines tout a 20-car capacity within 5-story gleaming glass towers, other robotic systems are incredibly expansive.

Robot Valets

Robotic Parking Systems Inc. is an ISO certified designer and builder of robotic parking systems that put traditional valets out of business. No longer do drivers need to leave a key with uniformed parking clerks who bring their car round when called. Instead, car parking is managed by a sophisticated software system that receives a vehicle at an entry bay, transfers it to a designated space then returns it to the terminal upon demand.

In 2000, Hoboken, New Jersey boasted of the first fully-automated robotic garage in the U.S. In 2016 it upgraded its system and added more than 370 additional parking spaces. In 2009, Dubai had an automated parking system up and running. Its first test run reported reliable delivery of more than 250 cars per hour. However, there are systems capable of managing 500 cars per hour. Dubai is now home to the largest automated parking system in the world and the city-state wants more.

A Glimpse Of Success

Looking to Dubai’s success, why is it that they want even more when it comes to automated parking garages? Dubai is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This easily makes it the most principle city in the Middle East for business and travel. However, it is also one of the most important trading hubs in the entire world. That means Dubai’s streets are filled with traffic whether it be locals, business professionals or tourists.

The city has suffered with acute shortages of adequate parking for commercial and residential interests. One strategy to solve this problem has been to aggressively promote the use of public transportation. However, in this glamorous metropolis, as in any other, a car is often a status symbol. It can be very difficult to get the public to give up their cars. That makes a multi-pronged solution necessary to address the city-state’s parking challenges. And Dubai has hit a home run with automated parking systems.

A key Dubai developer explains that automation is cost effective and safe. With plans producing expectations to free up as much as 50% more space, a parking garage company can actually increase capacity, thus revenue, with less space. In other words, a high-rise automated garage can house twice the number of vehicles than a traditional parking garage and require half the space. As of now Dubai has more than 100,000 parking spaces and city planners and developers want more and more of them featured in robotic garages.

Why Robots & Vending Machines Are The Answer

What makes robotic or vending machine style parking garages the solution for parking? What are the real challenges for modern parking demands?

• Fewer licensed drivers today: Millenials prefer ride-share options and public transportation to private car ownership. This preference is significant, resulting in as much as a 47% drop in the number of teens as licensed drivers.
• Increased use of public transportation and other ride options: Shared mobility is the wave of the future which will mean fewer cars on the road. This is inspired by green lifestyle principles. These same principles prefer parking towers that use less green space to sprawling asphalt lots and concrete garages of traditional construction methods.
• Developers and multi-dwelling residences have decreased demand for parking space. If parking space moves upward, usable space can be developed to provide more lifestyle features for property users. This enhances the bottom line for property owners and developers who can create a more valuable consumer product.

As the number of licensed drivers drop from the road, consequently there will be fewer cars. This has led many developers and residential property managers to see parking areas become underused, wasted space not meeting its potential. Yet many municipalities have zoning regulations that require a certain number of parking spaces that correspond to living units. An automated hi-rise garage can make better use of land space while still meeting municipal requirements. By parking “up”, minimizing ground space usage, developers and residents can enjoy transforming what would have been parking areas into more useful, functional spaces.

What Communities Are Saying

When developers integrate automated parking systems, the respective communities have been quick to respond with their feedback. By and large, the response has been positive. Local residents realize a number of enhancements to the quality of life in their neighborhood while developers tend to enjoy financial benefits:

• Automated garages free up more profitable space for developers.
• Gained space can be converted to green space for residents and also satisfy Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards (LEED).
• Emissions contributions are reduced because automation takes considerable less time to park a car than driving through a traditional ramp-style parking garage.
• Security is enhanced for drivers. One in 10 property crimes occur in parking lots or parking garages. More than 7% of personal crimes are committed in parking garages or parking lots. Eliminate vulnerabilities of being alone in a dimly lit, enclosed space alone by opting for automation in parking.
• Flexible designs can create automated parking garages that blend seamlessly with urban areas, apartment complexes or local residential neighborhoods.
• An automated parking garage can reduce traffic congestion caused by cars driving around looking for a parking space. In areas where parking space is in short supply, by building up, a community can meet any demand for parking space.

Other parking providers see the eco-friendliness of design as a major selling point. Robotic technology requires less when it comes to natural resources for construction. It covers less space, thus minimizing impact on green space. And what’s not to love about reduced carbon emissions?  For more information on the future of parking, please contact us to develop a new parking strategy for your property assets.

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Automation

Believe it or not, back in the 1930s parking garages were equipped with lifts which allowed cars to be parked in stacks. Based on hydraulics, ramps and the need for parking lot and garage owners to get more bang for their buck, these garages were quite popular. Times change and old ideas fade only to reemerge generations later complete with technological improvements.

One flaw parking garages of the 1930s endured was that ramps and people take up space. When cars are able to drive themselves, and when technology is capable of transporting cars seamlessly across spaces where humans fear to tread, then stacking cars becomes far more practical. Companies from Boulder to Brooklyn are employing laser scanners, plasma screens, sensors and mirrors to rapidly determine a vehicle’s dimensions, place it in the correct position and then transport it, via robotic dollies, into a tight space.

Pods and Tunnels

What works above ground can work below ground. Underground garages are nothing new, but they can be utilized to their full potential when the automated systems outlined above are put into place below ground. But why stop there? Elon Musk, famous for his tunnels, envisions an urban street where drivers pull into a spot, exit the vehicle and then watch while the vehicle descends into an enormous automated, underground network of spaces. These elevators, or pods, will manage vehicles and facilitate a quick and accurate return, once the owner is done taking a hyperloop train to San Francisco.

It may seem far-off, but once Musk obtains permits and the tech conforms to regulations, the parking problem in Los Angeles could be eradicated.

Multi-Purpose Space

Suburban planners are in a conundrum over vacant shopping malls. When Elon Musk’s underground parking network becomes a reality, urban planners might be faced with a surplus of empty garages or parking lots. While vacant malls are transforming into trampoline gyms, laser tag arenas and warehouses, parking lots and garages in the center of urban areas are being transformed into hybrid entertainment/parking spaces. Rooftop bars are finding space atop parking garages, where clients park and walk up to take in the view and a beverage. Art galleries, theater spaces, and music venues are also taking advantage of former parking spaces.

User Experience

Parking garages are rarely depicted as pleasant locations. From crime thrillers to political espionage, those dark empty places are the perfect setting for a chase or clandestine meeting. If you aren’t that kind of user, then the parking garage experience isn’t exactly tailored for you. Planners and designers are working on that.

Reinvented parking garages and lots are now home to solar panel canopies, porous asphalt that filters runoff into underlying soils, high-tech lifts and shiny exteriors. The user likely will never have to go inside those car storage units. Simply slip your vehicle into a clean pod, collect a receipt or a coin, then place the card or token into a machine which will initiate the process of returning your pod, and vehicle, back to you. No tipping. No questionable valet. No walking across dimly lit concrete paths and no confusing, twisty, exits.

If you are interested in learning more about the future of parking, or if you simply need to find a space, then please contact us.

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