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Designing the Optimal Placement of Spaces in a Parking Lot
A Freshman Engineering Design Project
Developed by Dr. Charles L. Karr, The University of Alabama
Instructions to Students
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1. |
Design
Assignment
Your team is being “hired” by the owner
of a paved, 100 ft x 200 ft, corner parking lot in a New
England town who needs her parking lot designed. Your
job is to design the layout of the parking lot, or
rather, how the lines will be painted.
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2. |
Consideration to Keep in Mind
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You realize that squeezing as many cars into the lot
as possible leads to right-angle parking with the cars
aligned side by side.
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However, inexperienced drivers have difficulty parking
their cars this way, which can give rise to expensive
insurance claims.
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To
reduce the likelihood of damage to parked vehicles,
the owner might then have to hire expert drivers for
“valet parking.”
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On
the other hand, most drivers seem to have little
difficulty in parking in one attempt if there is a
large enough “turning radius” from the access lane.
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Of course, the wider the access lane, the fewer cars
can be accommodated in the lot, leading to less
revenue for the parking lot owner.
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3. |
Frequently
Asked Questions
Before
coming to the instructor with any questions you may
have, look over the given
FAQs handout to see if your question has already
been answered. If not, feel free to ask any questions
your team might have.
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4. |
Deliverables
Each
team will
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do a
brief (10 minute) in-class presentation of its
design. (You may use a drawing program to represent
your design if you choose. You may also use a
presentation program, such as PowerPoint, to present
your design. If you choose to present this way,
please let the instructor know.)
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submit a report (5 pages maximum) detailing its
design
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Lesson
| Instruction
to Students | Frequently
Asked Questions
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