Rational Organization of Urban Parking Using Microsimulation

Urbanization, which causes the need for population mobility, leads to an increase in motorization and related problems: the organization of parking spaces in cities, both near work places and recreational spaces, and not far from residential locations. This has a number of consequences. Therefore, the occupation of parking spaces near shopping centers and sports and recreation facilities, intended only for customers of these organizations, makes it difficult for direct customers to access services. This forces potential customers to look for a parking space in adjacent areas, often far from the target location. At the same time, the search for a parking space is stretched over time, negatively affecting the environment in the form of emissions and noise. On the other hand, there is a risk of losing a client. In the course of the study, we have analyzed the state of the problem and the directions of research on parking management in cities, and then we have studied the possibilities of using simulation models to find rational options for the organization of access to parking spaces and further using such models in decision support systems (DSS) as an intellectual core. The literature review showed that this is the most adequate option for an intelligent city parking space management system. At the same time, the environmental factor must also be taken into account. Research methods are based on field studies of traffic flows and emissions near parking places, and mathematical and simulation modeling. The proposed system will allow the evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed changes in the organization of access to parking spaces, and, in the future, when implementing the obtained optimal solution, in practice, provide customers with a guaranteed parking space and reduce traffic and emissions. The introduction of such a system guarantees its quick payback, which is associated with the efficiency of use, as well as with the additional effects obtained from its implementation (improving the road situation, reducing vehicle emissions, solving social problems of the population, etc.), which is especially important for medium and small cities with limited budgets.

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