Underground Parking

Underground Carousel parking has been one of the most common answers for urban development; it also serves as an area-saving and environmentally friendly solution for parking. Since cities are expanding day by day in their dimensions and many places are in need of parking, there is a pressing need to study the pros, designs, and challenges of underground parking for city planners, developers, and even the residents. It will come up with underground parking and the benefits along with types and design considerations will elaborate detail on maintenance and will summarize all the ideas into a tabular summarization.

What is Underground Parking?

This is one of the types of parking facilities that is constructed beneath the ground level of a building or site. However, at any given time, it can accommodate many vehicles and makes much less valuable use of its surface land, thus proving to be particularly advantageous in urban areas where there is usually a scarcity of space.

Advantages of Underground Parking

1- Optimal Land Use:

The first and most significant advantage of underground parking is that land is optimally used as the upper surface of the parking building can be fully utilized by the developers for green space, buildings, or any other facility.

 2- Aesthetic Revival:

Underground parking is beneficial in reviving the aesthetics of an area in a community. Urban communities can maintain aesthetic beauty without cars jamming the road.

3- Value of the Property:

Value of property whether buying or renting, for underground parking, will be higher because people are willing to pay that extra amount of money for added security and ease for themselves.

4- Security:

The car parking facilities are controlled; underground ones are also usually built with surveillance cameras and lights that increase security measures for automobiles, hence, there is an increase in the safety of people from acts of robbery or theft.

5- Environmental Benefits:

Underground structures reduce the extent of surface parking usage, and, therefore, they also function well in minimizing urban heat islands and are much more amenable to better stormwater management. Also, they can add electric-vehicle charging stations that support green transportation.

Different type of Underground parking

There are many types of underground parking systems; each has a particular design and operation methodology.

Considerations

This type of underground parking facility design requires much planning to provide the required safety, functionality, and efficiency. Some of the main considerations for such design include the following:

• Space Optimization:

To make use of the available space, a good layout and design are required because angled parking spaces or compact car spaces may help in optimizing usage.

• Ventilation:

The facility should be well-ventilated so that fresh air can circulate through the building. Exhaust fans and inlets for fresh air installed in the building will ensure proper ventilation by removing harmful gases.

• Lighting:

This aspect should also have proper lighting in order to create safety and security. A properly lit place disallows any form of criminal behavior and is meant to assist people in achieving a feeling of safety while utilizing the area.

• Access:

Access and egress must be clear. Ramps, elevators, and stairwells in the building allow access to the building.

• Drainage Systems:

Proper drainage does help in hand to curb runoff in the flood waters, especially at places where extreme precipitations occur in the region.

• Fire Safety:

Using fire suppression systems, alarms, as well as an emergency exit, does help to safeguard the user plus the car under parking.

Challenges involved in underground Parking

Even though underground parking is very benevolent to the developers and the city planners there are still lots of challenges faced by it such as follows

• High Construction Costs:

Underground parking costs more than surface parking since it requires digging, waterproofing, and structure.

• Soil and Geological Condition:

It would be very challenging to construct the underground parking beneath the soil and geological conditions atop. Underground parking facilities cannot be constructed if the cost goes high and the stability of the soil is poor.

• Water Infiltration Problems

Underground parking facilities are much more vulnerable to water infiltration that causes structural damage and molds. Waterproofing and drainage designs have to be designed in such a way that such risks are minimized.

• Maintenance Requirements

Underground parking facilities require constant maintenance to preserve their condition. This involves cleaning, inspection, and repair of lighting, ventilation, and security systems.

• User Acceptance:

Most of the users will deter themselves from using the underground car park since it would pose a myriad of problems in matters of safety and access. This can be offset through public education and sensitization programs.

Underground Car Parking Maintenance

There are so many essential maintenance activities undertaken at an underground car parking complex. The following;

• Structural integrity

drainage and ventilation for recognition of any disorder or defect at checking which is often carried out day-to-day

• Cleaning

Routine sweep and surface cleaning along with littering will be carried out constantly so that the users feel safe and uncomplicated

• Lighting maintenance:

check-up of all installed lights and exchange those which are suitable; the place is brightened and safe.

• Security checking:

ensuring that the security devices and their access controlling camera are working effectively, which enhances secure usage by every user.

Underground car parking is most suitable for densely populated urban zones where space continues to be repleted and wherein there is increasing vehicle ownership. With such multi-facets of advantages, it will undoubtedly have a continued shoot up. It will only come in its truest form if proper care is taken about designs, constructions, and challenges in maintenance. After all, the process whereby it comes forth has also gained complexity with underground Puzzle parking system solutions being integrated into urban plans and developments.

These will determine the proper form of underground parking to be observed for the purpose of society, as well as nature. For whatever a developer, city planner, or even end-user would need to find a way out through the jungles of complications to an urban transportation solution; underground parking brings one knowledge that makes a big difference.

Article Summary

Because of such underlying considerations in underground parking, stakeholders become capable of realizing its intricacies and, as such, reap the benefits of urban development.