Parking Lot Design - Case Study Example

Running Head: CAR PARK DESIGN Car Park Design 353619 Car Park Design Basic Issues While looking for a convenient design for car park, one has to consider factors such as reduced maintenance and running expenses, a long term and improved facility appearance and an environment which is attractive and inviting. In addition to these the designs should be promoting access by the institution’s society, consider overall colour, shape and building forms. The designs for the car part should also look into the sustainability issues of the car part (Cormaic, 2009). The potential range as well as the kind of people who will be parking there must be evaluated strategically before laying out the design. People to consider include the university’s lecturers, administration, visitors and other academicians. The site for the car park should have enough space for the facility as well as for future expansion; the facility should have access for service and emergency cars. The design for the car park should have met the local authority requirements and potential overflow standards. The design of the facility has to follow some specific car parking standards like good indication of requirements of the parking provision which include the required parking and turning space for cars and coaches. The facility might need occasional demands for overflow car parking in cases of special events or rush hours to classes and offices. Also basic for the facility design include layout and visibility traffic speed which must be controlled by facilitate s such as speed bumps that has to be encompassed(Cormaic, 2009). Landscape Design The facility would need to address the abilities of several people; therefore it will need to have smooth but hard surfaces which are not bound by gravel. The parking bay would include minimum standards reserved for disabled individuals within the society. This implies that it will need to have 10% of the total space reserved for this people. The bays must be well labeled and identified on the surface of the bay. This is usually done with the use of vertical sign which is placed adjacent to the specific bay. Signage In car parking facility, signs come out as an important information source to the facility users and reinforce the facility’s image. The sings should be part and parcel of the system of comprehensive signage which must be ensure clear, logical and simple, non-reflective and carefully situated with less clutter. Lighting Lighting would be essential for car parks and footpaths as well as flood-lighting pitches. Light pollution should be avoided at all costs and so is sodium light which are usually yellow in colour. The fittings for the light bulbs should be appropriate in order that they direct the light down to the required places. Floodlighting would be directed away from the residential buildings. This can be achieved with the help of planting of trees which assist in reducing reflected glare from big pavement areas. The lighting system would also be essential for security and safety purposes (Planning Policy Hull development framework supplementary planning guidance, 2009). The illumination should avoid the presence of contrasting pools of light as well as darkness. The pedestrians routes should have dropped kerbs which are situated some distance from the near by building to the car park. Also to be provided in the design is the access way to deliveries, emergencies and servicing buildings. There should be safe access across and within the car park itself (The Institute of Civil Engineers, 2008). Security The Institute of Civil Engineers (2008) asserts that there is need to safeguard the facility, parked cars and their users from abuse, vandalism and misuse. Some of the suitable security issues for the site include: Good visibility in and out of the facility site and within the site as well as passive use of supervision. This should also overlook reception for the car park and areas for service. There should be adequate lighting of the major routes within the car park site, good location and planting heights which would be used for providing shade and protection from the sun light and good ambience within the car park facility(Planning Policy Hull development framework supplementary planning guidance, 2009). The facility should also be designed in a manner that its buildings and external layout should be avoiding sharp corners which can conceal individuals both in the day and at night. Foundation and Pavements This would include building of outdoors such as paving, roads, steps and walls within the facility. This has to be based on engineering and aesthetic qualities. It also has to consider successful application. Loose cobbles and stones which can easily be removed should be avoided as they would inhibit good access for the facility by people who are disabled. Materials to be used Clay/brick paving. The institution would need to use the facility for long and there fore the material needs to be reliable. Clay/brick paving is good material for footpaths, roads and cycle paths hence an appropriate material for the facility. It has a very good visual appearance and its maintenance costs are quite low as compared to other materials although quite expensive during installation. Pavement Design. According to Cormaic (2009), the base of the pavement construction would be the formation of sub-grade level. This layer would be overlain by the several pavement layers such as the capping layer in case the ground is not strong enough to contain exceptional forces or happens to be some point below the actual formation level indicated. Capping layers include layers of fill materials which are usually crushed rock which are placed inlayers that are not more than 225mm and which are compacted well before putting another layer in the layer up to the layer of sub-base. CBR and Sub-grade Strength The California Bearing Ration (CBR) is a test employed in examining the sub-grade strength. It would include standard plunger which would be forced into the sub-grade that is being examined at some rate: 1 mm per min. The soils moisture content would have some impact on the idea Value of the CBR. This also would be put into consideration. The below table would help in getting typical measures for the sub-grade strengths which would be encountered in the soil. Higher CBR would mean stronger soil or a sub-grade(Cormaic, 2009). Types of Soil CBR (25%) Plasticity Index Heavy Clay Silty Clay Sandy Clay Sand(poorly graded) Sand (Well graded) Sand/Gravel Depth of water table below formation level Drainage When planning the car park facility, one must consider water resource management. There is need to find out the location where services would be entering the site in the early stages of planning. One should also avoid underground drainage system which can proof to be quite expensive as well as lengthy pipe works. All possible water run-offs which comes from paving, pitches and roofs needs to be directed to soak-ways, existing water courses and balancing ponds (Planning Policy Hull development framework supplementary planning guidance, 2009). Design Layout: The Modes of Parking The Facility will include Angle parking mode where cars are arranged at a particular acute angle to the aisle with the approach direction. There would be easier and quicker parking, narrower aisles hence higher density due to gentler turn. The aisles would be wide enough to give chance for passage of at least two cars to move around slowly in case the parking drivers move down the aisle in the incorrect approach. For the case of tracks, the space would be in perpendicular form. The standard dimensions for a car’s parking space would be 5600 x 2600 mm for the personal cars. The long distance would be a bit extended by 5000 mm in case the car enters the space from the sides. For the lorry, the space for parking would be 6500 x 5600 mm. Conclusion Implementation of these designs would help establishment of a suitable Car park facility which supports all users and fulfils the aspired needs. The design of the facility fulfils the specific car parking standards like good indication of requirements of the parking provision which include the required parking and turning space for cars and coaches. The facility might need occasional demands for overflow car parking in cases of special events or rush hours to classes and offices. It would also cater for special needs of the disabled persons. References Cormaic. (2009). Designing flexible pavements for highways and commercial applications. Retrieved on Jan 21, 2010 from http://www.pavingexpert.com/blokroad.htm The Institute of Civil Engineers. (2008). ACPO ‘Secure Car Park’ Guidelines. Retrieved on Jan 21, 2010 from http://www.slideshare.net/ParkingConsultants/car-parking-guidance-systems-1868308 Planning Policy Hull development framework supplementary planning guidance: Car Park Design.2009. Retrieved on Jan 21, 2010 from http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZHkPfe4KtxkJ:www.hullcc.gov.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/HOME/PLANNING/PLANNING%2520POLICY/HULL%2520DEVELOPMENT%2520FRAMEWORK/SUPPLEMENTARY_PLANNING_GUIDANCE/SPG16.PDF+CAR+PARK+DESIGN-signs,lightings,+security+notes&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShyGMsgfd8wpuiur8A7kgXYes6qoxSYf1A_Xe08jB4yCkRrGS2C2DxYsqUye-7Pn0ND4ODxE7xUrauD_TZvv4mPASpSO2hAJ9NylICC6AsTsko2690KNjIT_FsStnnEbfaLEkgd&sig=AHIEtbQSVFWO6Q1i2Cp1EWF38OWM_cDsOw Read More

Foundation and Pavements This would include building of outdoors such as paving, roads, steps and walls within the facility. This has to be based on engineering and aesthetic qualities. It also has to consider successful application. Loose cobbles and stones which can easily be removed should be avoided as they would inhibit good access for the facility by people who are disabled. Materials to be used Clay/brick paving. The institution would need to use the facility for long and there fore the material needs to be reliable.

Clay/brick paving is good material for footpaths, roads and cycle paths hence an appropriate material for the facility. It has a very good visual appearance and its maintenance costs are quite low as compared to other materials although quite expensive during installation. Pavement Design. According to Cormaic (2009), the base of the pavement construction would be the formation of sub-grade level. This layer would be overlain by the several pavement layers such as the capping layer in case the ground is not strong enough to contain exceptional forces or happens to be some point below the actual formation level indicated.

Capping layers include layers of fill materials which are usually crushed rock which are placed inlayers that are not more than 225mm and which are compacted well before putting another layer in the layer up to the layer of sub-base. CBR and Sub-grade Strength The California Bearing Ration (CBR) is a test employed in examining the sub-grade strength. It would include standard plunger which would be forced into the sub-grade that is being examined at some rate: 1 mm per min. The soils moisture content would have some impact on the idea Value of the CBR.

This also would be put into consideration. The below table would help in getting typical measures for the sub-grade strengths which would be encountered in the soil. Higher CBR would mean stronger soil or a sub-grade(Cormaic, 2009). Types of Soil CBR (25%) Plasticity Index Heavy Clay Silty Clay Sandy Clay Sand(poorly graded) Sand (Well graded) Sand/Gravel Depth of water table below formation level Drainage When planning the car park facility, one must consider water resource management. There is need to find out the location where services would be entering the site in the early stages of planning.

One should also avoid underground drainage system which can proof to be quite expensive as well as lengthy pipe works. All possible water run-offs which comes from paving, pitches and roofs needs to be directed to soak-ways, existing water courses and balancing ponds (Planning Policy Hull development framework supplementary planning guidance, 2009). Design Layout: The Modes of Parking The Facility will include Angle parking mode where cars are arranged at a particular acute angle to the aisle with the approach direction.

There would be easier and quicker parking, narrower aisles hence higher density due to gentler turn. The aisles would be wide enough to give chance for passage of at least two cars to move around slowly in case the parking drivers move down the aisle in the incorrect approach. For the case of tracks, the space would be in perpendicular form. The standard dimensions for a car’s parking space would be 5600 x 2600 mm for the personal cars. The long distance would be a bit extended by 5000 mm in case the car enters the space from the sides.

For the lorry, the space for parking would be 6500 x 5600 mm. Conclusion Implementation of these designs would help establishment of a suitable Car park facility which supports all users and fulfils the aspired needs. The design of the facility fulfils the specific car parking standards like good indication of requirements of the parking provision which include the required parking and turning space for cars and coaches. The facility might need occasional demands for overflow car parking in cases of special events or rush hours to classes and offices.

It would also cater for special needs of the disabled persons.

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