Parking Availability Research Articles

Accessibility Analysis of Urban Green Space: The Case of Erbil City

Urban green areas are open spaces in urban areas that are mainly covered by vegetation. They can be public or private urban green spaces that include parks, community gardens, forests, and nature reserves. Parks are an important component of urban quality of life if they are well designed and accessible. Accessible parks contribute to physical activity among urban residents. Therefore, the objective of the study was to identify the most significant main accessibility factors that discourage the use of public urban green areas, and examine the extent to which they influence the use of green areas in residential areas of the city of Erbil. This study was conducted in 2017 and 2020 to measure the accessibility of green spaces using network analysis with GIS for Erbil city. The present study represents the first known investigation regarding the accessibility of public green spaces within the city of Erbil. The results show that for community parks, 68% of the population has access with a travel time of 5 minutes, 99% of the population has access with a travel time of 10 minutes, and 100% of the population has access with a travel time of 15 minutes. For district parks, 70% of the population had access with 5 minute drive time. With 10-minute drive time, 96% of the population had access and 100% of the population had access with 15-minute drive time. For neighborhood parks, the results show that 43% of the population had access with 5-minute walk and, 71% of the population had access with 10-minute walk. At 15-minute walk time, 80% of Erbil residents had access to neighborhood parks. Mini parks were accessed by 22% of the population with a 5 minute walk and they were accessed by 52% of the population with a 10 minute walk. With a 15 minute walk, mini parks were accessible to 70% of the population.

A machine learning and simulation-based dynamic parking choice model for airports

Parking choice models have been developed in previous works with certain limitations, such as fixed demand, lack of real-time knowledge of parking availability at the parking facilities, and fixed parking duration, to name a few. Furthermore, such models when developed using mathematical optimization approaches, suffer from computational complexity that limits their practical applicability. This paper proposes a machine learning and simulation-based dynamic parking choice model for airport parking. It considers real-time variable parking demand, which influences access time and parking cost to various parking lots. Drivers ultimately decide to seek a parking lot depending on: (1) their value of time; (2) parking duration, and (3) availability of a parking lot. The model uses a Random Forest classifier to predict a driver's choice of a parking lot. The results, based on some empirical data, show that parking demand is highly correlated with a driver's decision to choose a parking lot, followed by parking duration and the driver's value of time. The model's accuracy in predicting a driver's parking choice is found to be 99.6%. The model provides real-time parking occupancy and can be very useful for managing airport parking. The model can be used for seeking a parking space by connected vehicles enabled with real-time information on parking availability at various parking locations (or garages). Future works may include extending the method for autonomous vehicles parking allocation and building a user-friendly dashboard with real-time traffic information for automated ground vehicle systems.

Estimating the electric vehicle charging demand of multi-unit dwelling residents in the United States

Early battery electric vehicle (EV) adopters can access home chargers for reliable charging. As the EV market grows, residents of multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) may face barriers in owning EVs and charging them without garage or parking availability. To investigate the mechanisms that can bridge existing disparities in home charging and station deployment, we characterized the travel behavior of MUD residents and estimated their EV residential charging demand. This study classifies the travel patterns of MUD residents by fusing trip diary data from the National Household Travel Survey and housing features from the American Housing Survey. A hierarchical agglomerative clustering method was used to cluster apartment complex residents’ travel profiles, considering attributes such as dwell time, daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT), income, and their residences’ US census division. We propose a charging decision model to determine the charging station placement demand in MUDs and the charging energy volume expected to be consumed, assuming that MUD drivers universally operate EVs in urban communities. Numerical experiments were conducted to gain insight into the charging demand of MUD residents in the US. We found that charging availability is indispensable for households that set out to meet 80% state of charge by the end of the day. When maintaining a 20% comfortable state of charge the entire day, the higher the VMT are, the greater the share of charging demand and the greater the energy use in MUD chargers. The upper-income group requires a greater share of MUD charging and greater daily kWh charged because of more VMT.

Associations between residential greenspace exposure and mortality in 4 645 581 adults living in London, UK: a longitudinal study

Urban greenspaces could reduce non-communicable disease (NCD) risk. The links between greenspaces and NCD-related mortality remain unclear. We aimed to estimate associations between residential greenspace quantity and access and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, respiratory mortality, and type 2 diabetes mortality. We linked 2011 UK Census data of London-dwelling adults (aged ≥18 years) to data from the UK death registry and the Greenspace Information for Greater London resource. We calculated percentage greenspace area, access point density (access points per km2), and distance in metres to the nearest access point for each respondent's residential neighbourhood (defined as 1000 m street network buffers) for greenspaces overall and by park type using a geographic information system. We estimated associations using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for a range of confounders. Data were available for 4 645 581 individuals between March 27, 2011, and Dec 31, 2019. Respondents were followed up for a mean of 8·4 years (SD 1·4). All-cause mortality did not differ with overall greenspace coverage (hazard ratio [HR] 1·0004, 95% CI 0·9996-1·0012), increased with increasing access point density (1·0076, 1·0031-1·0120), and decreased slightly with increasing distance to the nearest access point (HR 0·9993, 0·9987-0·9998). A 1 percentage point (pp) increase in pocket park (areas for rest and recreation under 0·4 hectares) coverage was associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality risk (0·9441, 0·9213-0·9675), and an increase of ten pocket park access points per km2 was associated with a decreased respiratory mortality risk (0·9164, 0·8457-0·9931). Other associations were observed, but the estimated effects were small (eg, all-cause mortality risk for increases of 1 pp in regional park area were 0·9913, 0·9861-0·9966 and increases of ten small open space access points per km2 were 1·0247, 1·0151-1·0344). Increasing the quantity of, and access to, pocket parks might help mitigate mortality risk. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that could explain these associations. Health Data Research UK (HDRUK).

A quasi-experimental study on the impact of park accessibility on the mental health of undergraduate students

Public mental health issues have gained growing attention from academics and policymakers due to their increasing prevalence and multiple adverse and severe consequences. Although some studies have supported the benefits of parks on mental health, the causal relationship between park accessibility and mental health remains unclear. By converting a large cross-sectional sample of 22,060 undergraduates nationwide in China into a quasi-panel dataset, this study untangled the causal impact of park accessibility on mental health benefits. We employed a quasi-experimental research design and used a difference-in-difference (DID) model to estimate the causal effects of park accessibility on depression symptoms within varying buffer sizes (i.e., 0.5 km, 1 km, 1.5 km, and 2 km). Furthermore, propensity score matching (PSM) and the Heckman selection model were employed to mitigate the selection bias caused by the prior differences of the treatment group and the control group. The results revealed that park accessibility had a positive effect on mental health and that its influence decreased with increased buffer sizes. Regarding the gender and living-cost differences, park accessibility within the 0.5 km and 1 km buffers had a greater mental health impact on females than on males, and it had a greater impact on high-living cost undergraduates than on low-living cost undergraduates. To increase the mental health benefits of undergraduate students, this study suggests that the provision of parks within a 1 km radius buffer surrounding the campus should be a priority to improve the mental health of undergraduates.

Parking Management System

Abstract: This research paper aims to a Parking Management System which is an online platform that enables users to reserve a parking spot in advance. The system works by allowing users to search for available parking spots, view prices, and book their preferred spot using a mobile app or a web interface. The system can be integrated with parking management systems, enabling parking providers to better manage their parking spaces and increase their revenue. Additionally, the system can provide realtime data on parking availability, reducing traffic congestion and improving overall parking efficiency. This abstract provides an overview of the Parking Reservation System and highlights its benefits for both parking providers and users.

Sustainability Analysis of Green Open Space Development of Kupang City Nostalgic Park

In the City of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province, the development carried out by the government continues. One of them is the construction of a park which is a green open space for the community. One of the parks which is very popular as a recreation area in the City of Kupang is the Nostalgia Park, therefore researchers are interested in conducting research on the sustainability of the construction of green open spaces in the City of Kupang Nostalgia Park.The method utilized in this study is a descriptive research method with a qualitative approach, conducted in Kupang City with a total of 15 informants, and data gathering procedures include observation, interview, and document search techniques. The acquired data is then examined using data analysis techniques developed by Creswell (2016: 264-268). The sustainability of the development The Methodology in Sustainable Development Indicators (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2001: 14) was used to analyze the green open space in Nostalgia Park in Kupang City, which is described in three aspects with the findings on; (a) the social aspect with the construction of the City of Kupang Nostalgia Park can provide a positive social impact but is still constrained by theft and destruction of park facilities and infrastructure while from an economic aspect the c The availability of city parks as the city's lungs has been fulfilled in the framework of the development of the Kupang City Nostalgia Park

Are the accessibility and facility environment of parks associated with mental health? A comparative analysis based on residential areas and workplaces

The spatial implications of urban parks for residents’ mental health have attracted significant attention in the context of rapid urbanization and spatial reconstruction. While previous studies have examined park access in residential areas and mental health, direct evidence on the impact of park features in workplaces has been limited. This paper focuses on the association between mental health and park features in residential areas and workplaces by combining park data and individual survey data from suburban Shanghai, China. Both street and comprehensive parks are measured in terms of accessibility and the facility environment. The facility environment includes sports facilities, open lawns, and blue spaces. The results indicate that the parks' facility environment shows more essential effects on residents' mental health than accessibility. For street parks, open lawns and better accessibility positively correlate with people's mental health, while these are not true for comprehensive parks. Additionally, residential parks show a more positive correlation with the mental recovery of suburban residents than parks in workplaces, and the benefits of parks are more pronounced when people live and work closer to the urban central area. The findings of this study suggest the importance of park facilities in both residential areas and workplaces.

Intelligent Short-Term Multiscale Prediction of Parking Space Availability Using an Attention-Enhanced Temporal Convolutional Network

The accurate and rapid prediction of parking availability is helpful for improving parking efficiency and to optimize traffic systems. However, previous studies have suffered from limited training sample sizes and a lack of thorough investigation into the correlations among the factors affecting parking availability. The purpose of this study is to explore a prediction method that can account for multiple factors. Firstly, a dynamic prediction method based on a temporal convolutional network (TCN) model was confirmed to be efficient for ultra-short-term parking availability with an accuracy of 0.96 MSE. Then, an attention-enhanced TCN (A-TCN) model based on spatial attention modules was proposed. This model integrates multiple factors, including related dates, extreme weather, and human control, to predict the daily congestion index of parking lots in the short term, with a prediction period of up to one month. Experimental results on real data demonstrate that the MSE of A-TCN is 0.0061, exhibiting better training efficiency and prediction accuracy than a traditional TCN for the short-term prediction time scale.

Shopping behaviour during the early vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Given the disruption to and rapid evolution of shopping behaviour due to COVID-19, there is a need to adequately understand shopping behaviour at different stages of the pandemic. Therefore, this study explored the shopping behaviour of Florida residents during the early vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (January to March 2021). The analysis examined shopping patterns (measured by purchase frequencies, expenditures, and shopping trip distances for different products) and attitudes, as well as how key demographic variables (age, income, and gender) might be associated with the patterns and attitudes. Results showed that online shopping was motivated by finding and comparing products, but concerns about putting personal information online, shipping costs, and the return process may have discouraged it. In-store shopping was not necessarily motivated by the need for social interaction, as people generally preferred shopping without interacting with anyone. Price, safety, and parking availability were the top three factors in choosing stores to shop from. Also, women spent less than men, but had significantly higher purchase frequencies. Thus, urban and transportation planners should promote compact, mixed-use development and parking management strategies to reduce vehicle shopping trips and the need for separate trips for different purposes.

An urban plan evaluation for park accessibility: a case in Izmir (Türkiye)

Plan evaluations about park accessibility are rare at the neighbourhood scale. Moreover, urban plans traditionally identify park accessibility with predetermined measurements that may ignore limited walking conditions of children, the elderly, women with children, and low-income groups. Alternatively, this paper considers equitable (rather than equal) park accessibility as an important goal concerning environmental justice. To guide a path to achieving this goal, it investigates how to assess and revise urban plans with parks within walking distance to social groups in the case of a plan (1/1000 scale) in Izmir (Türkiye). Deployment of the location-allocation analysis (a multi-criteria assessment methodology in Geographic Information Systems, GIS) allows this research to consider physical/geographical barriers to walkability in actual neighbourhood settings and reconfigure such barriers as contextual variables, including limited walking distances of disadvantaged groups. Ultimately, this study also contributes to how to handle spatial and demographic data deficiencies in Türkiye when measuring equitable accessibility of public facilities by walking. Results identify an uneven distribution of park accessibility even within the neighbourhood on the plan and the potential for improving park accessibility by designing some non-park public lands with park features.

How does enclosed private residential green space impact accessibility equity in urban regions? A case study in Shenzhen, China

Compared with public parks, residential quarter green space (RQGS) is a type of enclosed private green space that is located in residential areas and has higher visit frequency. Generally, in China residential areas with high housing prices have higher quality and more quantity of RQGS. Therefore, the differences in RQGS between residents with different socio-economic status may influence the equity of urban green space accessibility. However, due to the lack of data sources, few existing studies have taken RQGS into account as a part of urban green space supply resources. Based on multi-source geographic big data, this paper takes Shenzhen as the research area to explore the impact of RQGS on the spatial pattern and fair distribution of green space accessibility. The total green space accessibility (TGSA), which includes the accessibility of RQGS, and the public park accessibility (PPA) were calculated using the Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method (2SFCA). Using housing prices to indicate the income level of dwellers, bivariate Moran’s I and multiple regression were adopted to explore equity of urban green space accessibility. The main conclusions were: (1) The accessibility of green space increased by 27.97% on average after considering RQGS and ignoring RQGS could underestimate the accessibility of green space, particularly in the residential quarter with high housing prices near the city center. (2) The regression coefficients of housing prices with PPA and TGSA were 0.042 (p < 0.01) and 0.160 (p < 0.001), respectively, indicating that the advantages of high-income groups in RQGS may further exacerbate the inequity of urban green space accessibility. The research conclusions may provide a scientific basis for optimizing the spatial structure of green space in urban areas and ensuring the equitable distribution of green space.

Accessibility of Urban Forests and Parks for People with Disabilities in Wheelchairs, Considering the Surface and Longitudinal Slope of the Trails

This research deals with the problem of the accessibility of urban forests and parks for people with disabilities in wheelchairs. Through an analysis of spatial data, trails were categorized on the basis of the measurements of the independent movements of eight subjects on six trails. The critical longitudinal slopes were determined for independent movement in wheelchairs, complex independent movement with certain risk, and categories of trails that are not suitable for wheelchair movement. The results indicate that a slope of 5.50% was the tipping point, after which all respondents experienced some uncertainty. In addition, a gradient of more than 9.01% was almost impassable for people in wheelchairs, with respect to the gravel trails examined in this study. Modern measurement technology was used in the field, including the mobile apps GAIA GPS and GNSS GPS, and a total (geodetic) station; the subjects’ heart rates were measured using a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro watch. In addition, people with disabilities were included in the implementation of the research through the Croatian Association of Paraplegics and Tetraplegics (HUPT). The results indicate the zones/trails that disabled people in wheelchairs can pass independently, the zones that can be accessed with a certain risk, and those that are not accessible, all according to the defined longitudinal slope zones using measurements of the movement of people in a wheelchair, their heart rate loads, and personal communication with the subjects regarding the insecurity they felt.

Environmental and Mobility Strategies During Early COVID-19: Insights From an Empirical Study Focusing on Park Visitations in El Paso, TX.

We explored the importance of environmental and mobility strategies during early COVID-19 by age and ethnicity and investigated predictors of park visitations considering the COVID-19 impacts. Parks are safe and accessible venues to stay active and reduce social isolation, which is especially important considering COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns. We analyzed online survey data from 683 residents (collected July 2020) of El Paso, TX, and objective measures of neighborhood park characteristics. Chi-square tests and mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the environmental/mobility strategies, personal and environmental factors, and park visitations, considering the COVID-19 impacts. The percentage of those who visited (1+ times/week) parks or trails/paths in the neighborhood dropped from 41.7% to 19.5% since the start of COVID-19 (OR = 0.015, p < .001). Before COVID-19, middle-aged and older adults were less likely to visit parks than younger adults, while this difference became insignificant during early COVID-19. Hispanic adults were more likely to visit parks than non-Hispanics both before and during early COVID-19. Positive environmental predictors of park visitations included park availability in the neighborhood, proximity to the closest park, seeing people being physically active in the neighborhood, and neighborhood aesthetics. Proximately located parks, trails, and paths well integrated into residential communities, and high aesthetic quality of the neighborhood are the potential features of pandemic-resilient communities and should be considered an important national priority to maintain and promote the health and well-being of the population, especially during pandemics like COVID-19.

Perceptions of greenspace and social determinants of health across the life course: The Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ).

We developed the Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ) to query older adults about perceived neighborhood greenspaces across the life course (i.e., distance to park, number of neighborhood parks/playgrounds, and neighborhood greenness) and about characteristics hypothesized to confound or moderate/mediate greenspace-health associations. Six perceived life course indices are derived from the LSNEQ: neighborhood socioeconomic status, neighborhood walking/biking, urbanicity, neighborhood amenities, neighborhood park access, and neighborhood greenness. Older adults from St. Louis, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, completed the LSNEQ in 2020-2021. The indices demonstrated borderline acceptable to good internal consistency (alpha=0.60-0.79) and good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.71-0.96) and detected different patterns of park access and neighborhood greenness by racialized group and location. Individuals with index scores indicating more neighborhood walking/biking and greater presence of neighborhood amenities over their life course were more likely to report neighborhood-based walking in older age. Overall, the LSNEQ is a reliable instrument to assess perceptions of life course social determinants of health including neighborhood greenspaces.

IoT Based Smart Parking System with Web Application using NodeMCU

Abstract: Parking management has grown to be a significant issue with the rise in vehicle traffic in urban regions. The conventional parking method causes traffic congestion and environmental pollution in addition to being time-consuming. These issues are resolved by the IoT-based smart parking system. It gives drivers and parking administrators access to real-time parking information through sensors and communication networks. To forecast parking availability and maximize parking spot use, the system uses data provided by the IR sensor. Additionally, it provides functions like web booking and payment. By decreasing the amount of time and effort needed to locate a parking space, the smart parking system improves the user experience. Additionally, it aids in lowering fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and traffic congestion, making it an ecologically friendly choice

DISTRIBUTION OF GREEN SPACES ACROSS SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS: A STUDY OF BHUBANESWAR, INDIA

Urban green spaces (UGS) are linked with numerous health benefits. However, recent studies have highlighted an increased level of disparity in their distribution across different socio-economic groups. Adequate number of UGS and their size play an important role to achieve spatial equity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the availability of UGS across all socio-economic groups of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. Methods: The socio-economic groups are created by using the ward level socio-economic census data of Bhubaneswar and and PCA method of analysis. The UGS are identified using satellite images if they fulfil the criteria such as: named as a park or garden and has a definitive boundary in the year 2021. A one-way ANOVA is used for the analysis. Result: The study revealed a non-uniform distribution; 27 out of 67 wards do not have any form of parks in their vicinity. From the equity point of view, the UGS distribution is examined for parks and overall UGS. There is no major difference found in terms of availability of parks in different SES statistically. However, park area average is observed to be the higher in middle deprived communities (26738.32 m2/neighborhood) followed by least deprived communities (22386.7378 m2/neighborhood) but the average number of parks seem to be the lowest in the least deprived communities (1 park/neighborhood). The land allocation per capita for overall UGS came to be the highest for the most deprived neighborhoods (0.0146 km2/1000 population). The bigger UGS are in the most deprived wards probably because there is availability of land and low population density.

Exploring the treatment burden of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug monitoring in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

People with RA taking DMARDs require safety monitoring to identify potential side effects. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of patients and family members on DMARD monitoring and how the associated treatment burden could be minimized to optimize concordance and safety. Thirteen adults with RA on DMARDs and three family members participated in semi-structured telephone interviews between July 2021 and January 2022. Data were analysed using a framework method. Findings were discussed with a group of stakeholders to develop implications for practice. Two main themes were identified: (i) making sense of drug monitoring; and (ii) work involved in drug monitoring. Participants perceived DMARDs as necessary to reduce symptoms, with drug monitoring providing an opportunity for a holistic assessment of wellbeing. Participants expressed a preference for face-to-face consultations, which allowed them to share their concerns, rather than remote, often transactional, care. The limited availability of convenient appointment times, travel requirements and parking increased the work involved for patients and family members. Drug monitoring was accepted as a necessity of DMARD treatment, but increased the work for people with RA related to organizing and attending appointments. The potential for treatment burden needs to be assessed proactively by clinicians when a DMARD is commenced. Where identified, strategies for minimizing the treatment burden can form part of a shared management plan, including the offer of regular contact with health professionals, with an emphasis on person-centred care.

Effects of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on park crime in London, England: An interrupted time series analysis

IntroductionPark crimes may have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of lockdowns that limited the number of capable guardians in public spaces. Despite this, the impacts of the lockdowns on park crimes remain unknown. To help us understand the societal impacts of policies implemented during this period, we assessed how the onset of the COVID-19 restrictions impacted urban park crime levels in London, England. MethodsWe identified crimes that occurred in publicly accessible parks and gardens in the Greater London Authority (England, UK) between March 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021 by overlaying open-access crime data with greenspace data supplied by the Greater Information for Greater London service. Using interrupted time series analyses, we estimated seasonality-adjusted associations between the onset of COVID-19 restrictions and park crimes. ResultsOverall (1565.7, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1021.9 to 2109.5) and antisocial behaviour crimes (1772.7, 95% CI 823.6–2721.7) increased in London parks during the first full month of COVID-19 restrictions (April 2020). There were no notable trends in park crimes in London prior to the onset of restrictions, but overall and antisocial behaviour crimes decreased after the onset of restrictions at a rate of 156.4 (95% CI −220.25 to −92.51) and 164.7 (95% CI −280.68 to −48.74) crimes/months, respectively. ConclusionsOverall park crimes increased during the first full month of the COVID-19 restrictions, largely driven by an increase in antisocial behaviours. Additional research is needed to identify the specific misdemeanours that accounted for this rise in antisocial behaviours and to investigate their downstream impacts (e.g. increases in policing costs or decreases in perceived park safety).

GIS-Based Sustainable Accessibility Mapping of Urban Parks: Evidence from the Second Largest Settlement of Sindh, Pakistan

Hyderabad’s recreational amenities have made limited progress in comparison to the development of its industrial and commercial sectors. People require parks to unwind from their hectic lives. Parks can be a healthy location to host social events and can enhance community bonds. The evaluation of park accessibility has not been considered over the years in Hyderabad. Hyderabad is the eighth largest settlement in Pakistan and the second largest in the Sindh province. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the spatial accessibility of the urban parks situated in the city’s distinct locations. The spatial distribution of parks throughout the city was determined in this research. This study evaluated how accessible urban parks are to users by conducting a buffer analysis with ArcGIS-10.8. The questionnaire survey was conducted to record the participants’ opinions about the existing conditions of the parks with a sample size of 400. There was a total of 28 inaccessible urban parks found in Hyderabad. The total facility coverage was decided to be 0.80%. This value is extremely low as per local standards. Therefore, this study recommends the planned development of 40–45 parks to reach the standard level of 18% of the park coverage area. This study suggests that government officials should take pivotal measures to better maintain parks. This research is significant in the advanced modern world because natural areas, such as parks, can offer social and psychological benefits to society. The accessibility of parks is essential for the prosperity of citizens and the achievement of sustainable development goals. The findings of this research may contribute to SDGs 3 and 11, i.e., good health and well-being and sustainable cities and communities.