PRECISION PARKING: SMOOTHER TRAFFIC FLOWS WITH PERSONAL SPACE GUIDANCE

Lack of guidance information within car parks can seriously affect their traffic flow. Drivers tend to block entrances and exits while waiting for nearby spaces to become available; this can even lead to parking queues entering main roads outside the park. The Signal-Park system, developed by Schick Electronic SA in Switzerland, uses a small, ceiling-mounted device for use in parking garages, that has been developed to smooth the flow and efficiency of car-park operations. This unit is fitted above an individual parking space, and uses an ultrasonic detector to check space occupation. The unit's front has coloured light emitting diodes (LEDs), which display directions to drivers and identify vacant spaces. The LEDs can give a choice of messages: (1) a floor level with a vacancy; (2) a particular lane; or (3) an individual parking space. The ceiling units can be programmed to flash green above the nearest available space, and show red for occupied or reserved spaces; an orange LED can show a space occupied beyond its time limit. The lights are visible from over 100m, and operate for several years with minimal maintenance. The system is especially good in large multistorey car parks, but is also suitable for car parks with as few as 20 spaces. The car park has more traffic flow and throughput, and better customer service.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13569252
• Corporate Authors:

  UK and International Press

  Abinger House, Church Street
  Dorking, Surrey  United Kingdom  RH4 1DF
• Authors:
  • Schick, P
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 126-7
• Serial:
  • TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL '99
  • Publisher: UK and International Press
  • ISSN: 1356-9252

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detection and identification; Detectors; Driver information systems; Economic efficiency; Equipment; Green interval (Traffic signal cycle); Improvements; Information display systems; Multistory structures; Parking facilities; Parking garages; Queuing; Red; Red interval (Traffic signal cycle); Traffic flow; Ultrasonics; Visual display units; Yellow; Yellow interval (Traffic signal cycle)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Visual display
• ITRD Terms: 559: Amber light; 916: Car park; 9115: Detection; 5911: Efficiency; 3674: Equipment; 599: Green light; 9108: Improvement; 924: Multi storey parking garage; 975: Parking place (one veh only); 6594: Queue; 539: Red light; 671: Traffic flow; 6739: Ultrasonic; 8630: Visual display
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00768609
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 10 1999 12:00AM