Airport Business

AUG-SEP 2014

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August/September 2014 airportbusiness 39 PARKING TECH Parking facilities typically are the first or second in line of revenue producers at an air- port, a fact that surprises many people, espe- cially the general public, says Frank Flanagan, principal of Sentry Control Systems,a Frederick, MD-based parking solutions provider. He explains while other parking garages empty each night, the same can't be said for airports. For a longer stay at a metropolitan airport, a parking receipt can easily be $100 to $200 per vehicle, and this adds up quickly. While my current home isn't yet my "dream" home, I've come a long way from my early col- lege days, and parking garages have evolved over the years too. They are no longer sustain- ing on basic Ramen, but giving passengers (and airport directors) much to be thankful for in terms of efficiency, affordability and of course, the many tiers of technology. Airports realize money spent on a dream parking garage comes with a significant return on investment. "12 SPACES REMAINING" A top item on a dream parking garage list is a guidance system, says James E. Maglothin, director of Car Park Management Systems at Walker Parking Consultants. He says five years ago airports were interested in them, but fund- ing was an issue. "Today, airport competition is a big driver," he says. "More of these projects are being funded. Peer airports see that and obviously want to compete and provide the same level of customer service." There are a variety of wayfinding levels for airports to invest in, Maglothin adds. The fur- ther from the airport, the information is simpler, but as a driver comes closer, the wayfinding becomes more detailed. A recent project at San Antonio International Airport is a good exam- ple. The parking guidance system directs an arriving driver where to go for each parking need (long-term, hourly, etc.), then how many spaces are available on each level of the garage, and finally, directs to the single, open space. A green or red sensor above each spot lets drivers know further down an aisle where that open space is located. "It helps them park a lot quicker and reduc- es emissions on circulating vehicles," says Maglothin. "It also allows an airport to utilize 100 percent of the spaces, whereas in a normal facility a level might be shut down when it's Members of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport's gold parking lot pay an annual fee to park in a premium spot.

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