Rise of the robot parking valets

Rise of the robot parking valets

With space dwindling in Bangkok, automated systems can ease the problem of where to put your car

KNOW YOUR PLACE: Areeya Property has an automated parking system at A Space Me condominium In On Nut. Photos Courtesy of Areeya Property
KNOW YOUR PLACE: Areeya Property has an automated parking system at A Space Me condominium In On Nut. Photos Courtesy of Areeya Property

Automated parking is a technology that has been used in many countries and has proved to be safe for both drivers and vehicles. The technology is generally used when space is at a premium and the cost of land and construction outweighs the cost of implementing such a system.

In the past few years, Bangkok has grown denser with land becoming scarcer than ever, which has dramatically increased land prices and cost per square metre for saleable space. Automated parking will help to increase the sellable area for new developments.

Some of the first notable projects using automated parking locally include the EmQuartier shopping centre and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at the MahaNakhon tower. More than 50% of new downtown condominium projects planned after 2017 will use automated parking. Some will have a mix of both conventional and automated car parking depending on usage requirements.

Most people have had a negative reaction to automated car parking, either because they are not familiar with the system or they have limited information on how it operates. Some are worried about waiting times and many do not like it as they believe it presents certain inconveniences when compared with conventional parking. For example, if you left something in your car, that would mean calling it back down and returning it to its space again once you get your things.

One of the advantages of automated parking is its ease. The process of automated car parking is not that different from how you would use a normal passenger lift. Drivers do not have to spend time driving around a parking structure to get to their spot, and that saves time both for parking and for leaving. In terms of security, vehicles and their contents are more secure as there is no public access to parked cars.

The real advantage of automated parking is space saving. The average system can save up to 50% in parking space, giving buildings 40-50% more parking space as whole. By eliminating ramps and driveways, developers can utilise the space to fit extra cars into the parking structure. A conventional parking building uses an average of 25-30sq m of built area including circulation per parking spot, whereas an automated solution only uses 12.5 to 15 sq m per vehicle depending on the size and type of space.

The technology: There are basically two popular automated parking systems: puzzle parking and stacked parking. The puzzle method is a semi- and/or fully automated stacker that allows each space to be independently accessed and, in most cases, does not require an attendant. Most systems in Bangkok use a form of "puzzle parking" as the base technology. Implementation methods vary.

Stacked parking is a method in which cars are usually stacked two cars high. It is suitable for smaller spaces, such as small office buildings or residences, and is a manual method which means that the bottom car must be moved or backed out before the car above can be lowered and retrieved.

The exact setup will depend on the development design and space restrictions. For example, if there is a single entrance and exit, the developer may have to include a rotating cart or platter in the lift to rotate the car so drivers do not have to back out of the lift. But if there is enough space and the building design allows it, the lift room can have a door installed at both ends of the lift so that the car can be pulled in head first, stored, retrieved and, when brought back down, can be driven out of the lift on the other end without the need to be rotated.

Safety: As it is a relatively new system in the early stages of mass adoption in Bangkok, some people may still have reservations about personal safety while using the lift system and for the safety of their vehicle.

At the ground level, every lift has sensors both inside the lift and in front of the lift room to detect when a car is present. Once a vehicle is inside, other sensors will measure the height and length to determine what size the car is. As for driver safety, the elevator has stop and go lights to warn the driver when to stop when pulling in, and when it is safe to leave when exiting.

The lifts also have backup generators in case the power goes out. As well, safety systems are built in to the actual lift to lock it in case of a power outage emergency during operation.

Automated parking is not the end-all solution and it does have its problems. These usually arise in three main areas that lead to frustration and other issues which include bad planning, technical problems, and parking customers themselves.

In conclusion: Automated parking is an effective method of addressing the shortage of parking space and achieving overall space saving, but it is not the best option in every use case. A full study should be completed prior to implementing an automated parking system in any development to ensure that it is the best option, given that it is more expensive than a conventional parking structure.

From the perspective of property buyers, the advantage they will see for an automated car parking system is that it can allow a developer to provide a higher ratio of car parking space than conventional parking structures. n


Aliwassa Pathnadabutr is managing director of CBRE Thailand. She can be reached at bangkok@cbre.co.th; Facebook: CBRE.Thailand; Twitter: @CBREThailand; LinkedIn: CBRE Thailand; Website: www.cbre.co.th

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