This article describes the advanced automated parking installation at the largest car park system in the Americas, at the Morumbi shopping complex at Sao Paolo, Brazil. The shopping area covers 46,000 sq.m. and has over 400 retail shops and 3800 parking places that receive an average of 22,000 vehicles per day. 44 different access and revenue control sites have been installed there to manage the whole complex. The automated, machine-readable system has strategically placed plazas with 11 entry lanes and 13 exit lanes, to control traffic flow. It also has 21 conveniently located stations to pay parking fees. The automated system was designed to avoid the extensive abuse that occurs with manual systems, in the form of cashier indiscretion and drivers' use of illegal tickets. Each of the system's intelligent barrier gates has a built-in logic controller, with: (1) dual self-tuning vehicle sensors; and (2) integrated counting packages that include totalling counts, differential counts, hourly counts, and many statistical counts. Automated parking at Morumbi has already been so successful that there are plans to expand it, including plans for further automation with: (1) pay-on-foot stations; and (2) a vehicle recognition system to prevent car theft. The system also provides CCTV cameras to increase personal security.
Abstract