By Andy Roberts @INQ_Property
When thinking about the core elements of a residential property development, the mind typically wanders to the more glamorous areas—the pool and amenities, the hardwood flooring, the lush balcony views.
Yes, these are important. But one area that often doesn’t get enough thought is the parking area.
Aside from some developments that use vertical parking systems, the garage hasn’t seemed to change a great deal over the last 20 years. It is usually the least glamorous part of a property development. However, this is about to undergo a radical restructure over the next decade with new technology completely revolutionizing the humble parking garage.
IoT sensors and smart parking apps
In parking lots, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors will monitor parking space availability in real time. Residents will be able to identify and book parking spaces before arriving at the apartment complex, minimizing the time spent looking for non-designated parking.
For example, residents will utilize a smartphone app to check parking space availability, reserve a spot, and receive navigation instructions. They may even be able to book for guest parking. This also means that people with disabilities can be given priority parking slots closer to elevators and service lifts.
Autonomous shared vehicles
The rise of self-driving cars will inevitably cause a shift in car ownership trends. Instead of each person owning a car, apartment buildings may feature shared autonomous vehicles available for residents to use on-demand. This would reduce the number of cars that are permanently parked on the site, making room for other facilities.
For example, residents will use a smartphone app to summon a nearby autonomous vehicle whenever they need to travel, removing the requirement for each resident’s car to have its own parking space.
Another note on this is that vehicles that are suited for people with disabilities can be set on-call or booked well ahead for trips, ensuring that everyone is safe and catered for.
Electric vehicle chargers and infrastructure
As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain mainstream acceptance, parking spaces in apartment buildings will be outfitted with advanced EV charging infrastructure. These chargers may also be connected to solar infrastructure on the roof and surrounding areas—a real bonus for energy efficiency.
For example, each parking space will feature an EV charging station, allowing homeowners to charge their electric vehicles while they are parked overnight or during the day.
Robotic parking systems
Now this is what I’m really looking forward to—robots! Apartment buildings may progressively employ automated parking systems that use robotics and artificial intelligence to efficiently park and retrieve vehicles during the coming decade. Because they can stack and organize cars more efficiently, these systems will maximize space use and decrease the need for traditional parking facilities.
The theory is, when a resident enters the apartment complex, a robotic arm will park their automobile in a designated parking place. When a resident requests their vehicle, the system will quickly retrieve it and transport it to the pick-up location. It’s like a valet, but only cooler.
These are just a few examples from many different ideas on how to revolutionize the parking space. The main factors seem to be saving time and space while focusing on sustainability, efficiency and accessibility. Some other concepts include rooftop green parking gardens, drone integration and auto-servicing to name a couple.
What would you like to see added to your apartment parking garage? Let us know.
(The author is the COO and digital co-founder of PropertyAccess)
