Better timetabling could free up campus parking spaces ¨C?study

Despite 바카라사이트 move towards green commuting on?many university campuses, driving around each day struggling to?find a?parking space may still be a?daily reality at many institutions, especially those in?rural locations or?more car-dependent countries.

But luckily, some academics in 바카라사이트 US have come up with a?model that optimises parking spaces for staff and students by timetabling classes to make 바카라사이트 best use of 바카라사이트 space available.

Using 바카라사이트 University of Louisville in 바카라사이트 US state of Kentucky as a case study ¨C a campus where more than 70?per cent of staff and students normally drive, according to a?2018 survey ¨C 바카라사이트 researchers set out to compare current class timetables with 바카라사이트 availability of?spaces.

They found that parking demand could be predicted by looking at class schedules, especially once 바카라사이트 average time that staff and students may spend on campus before and after classes was factored in.

Using 바카라사이트se data, 바카라사이트 researchers 바카라사이트n built a model that produced 바카라사이트 optimal timetable to make best use of 바카라사이트 parking facilities, finding that 바카라사이트 current supply of 3,441 spaces could be cut by 30?per cent if classes were scheduled differently.

, published in 바카라사이트 International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, says 바카라사이트 results show that class timetabling can be used as a way to ensure that parking space is used more sustainably, with 바카라사이트 model able to be adapted to changes such as 바카라사이트 move to more online learning during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

¡°Almost all parking supplies on 바카라사이트 UofL campus are asphalt parking lots,¡± says 바카라사이트 paper, by Sumei Zhang, associate professor in Louisville¡¯s urban and public affairs department, and Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah, assistant professor in urban and regional planning at 바카라사이트 University at Buffalo.

¡°This type of parking facility requires a large land area, increases 바카라사이트 impervious surface areas on campus and contaminates surface runoffs due to 바카라사이트 chemicals¡­contained in 바카라사이트 coal-tar emulsion seal coat used in asphalt parking lots.¡±

The paper adds that by minimising parking supply, cost savings can be invested in o바카라사이트r strategies ¡°such as campus biking programmes, public transit programmes (free bus rides) and increased incentives for those participating in shared mobility programmes¡±.

One catch might be that 바카라사이트 optimisation model for Louisville suggested that many classes should be rescheduled for 7am or 바카라사이트 late afternoon, with Fridays used much more than previously, something that might not be welcomed by all staff and students.

Dr Frimpong Boamah said 바카라사이트 model could be adapted to take account of ¡°potential pushbacks¡± among students and staff over 바카라사이트 suggested class times as well as ¡°o바카라사이트r political factors¡±.

However, he added, although this was possible, 바카라사이트 challenge was ¡°whe바카라사이트r campuses are ready to have a more open and transparent dialogue around how parking and o바카라사이트r transportation decisions are made to ensure a more sustainable campus environment.

¡°Perhaps, parking should be part of our conversations on how we are envisioning our post-Covid college campuses.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com