Structural Design of an Automated Parking System

• Ranulfo Cervantes
• Miguel Ramirez
• Enrique Sanchez

With the decreasing availability of developable land and existing congestion in the downtown Chicago area a need for efficient parking systems is presented as Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, of Hofstra University’s Department of Global Studies and Geography states, Congestion and parking are also interrelated since looking for a parking space (called “cruising”) creates additional delays and impairs local circulation. In central areas of large cities, cruising may account for more than 10% of the local circulation as drivers can spend 20 minutes looking for a parking spot”. Similarly, this project aims to alleviate congestion caused by parking traffic at 430 N Rush Street in the heart of the downtown Chicago area. Through the structural analysis and design of an automated parking system parking capacity is optimized providing a larger capacity while remaining economically preferable in the long run. A typical ramp type parking garage design is used for comparison purposes in order to showcase the many ways in which the proposed automated structure will be preferable. The multi-level structure will be analyzed and designed using Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). Furthermore, the structure will be analyzed and modeled with the aid of computer aided drafting software, SAP2000 and REVIT. The aim is for the city to have an innovative parking system for efficient use of land while providing an aesthetic building structure.