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Term of the dayOperations
Operational Readiness (Parking Commissioning)Operational readiness is the testing and preparation that proves a new or renovated parking facility can run on day one, covering equipment, software integrations, signage, staffing, procedures, safety systems and a rehearsal of the busiest expected peak.
Term of the dayMobility and Autonomy
Ride Sharing or Ride HailingRide hailing is on-demand travel in a private vehicle booked through an app from a transportation network company (TNC); ride sharing more strictly means sharing a trip among travelers, as in carpools, vanpools or pooled app rides. The terms are often used interchangeably.
Term of the dayFinance and Project Delivery
Net Operating Income (NOI)Net operating income (NOI) is a property's revenue minus its operating expenses, before debt service, income taxes, depreciation and major capital spending. For a parking facility, it is the income the operation produces from parking and related services.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
SustainabilitySustainability is the practice of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Term of the dayMobility and Autonomy
Mobility CourtA mobility court is the curb rebuilt as a designed facility for fleet-scale pick-up and drop-off: organized queuing, protected pedestrian space, and clear assignment among modes.
Term of the dayPARCS and Technology
License Plate Recognition (LPR)License plate recognition (LPR), also called automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), uses cameras and software to capture an image of a vehicle and read its license plate automatically.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
CurtailmentCurtailment is the deliberate reduction of output from a generator, most often solar or wind, because the grid cannot absorb it at that moment.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
LED LightingLED lighting uses light-emitting diodes as the light source. It has become the standard for parking garages and lots because it uses far less energy than the high-intensity discharge and fluorescent lighting it replaced, lasts much longer, turns on instantly and can be dimmed.
Term of the dayPolicy and Zoning
Dynamic TollingDynamic tolling is road pricing in which the toll changes in real time, often every few minutes, based on measured traffic, so a priced lane stays free-flowing even at peak.
Term of the dayMobility and Autonomy
Passenger Loading ZoneA passenger loading zone is a designated space where vehicles stop briefly so people can get in and out, separate from parking spaces and travel lanes.
Term of the dayPlanning and Design
WayfindingWayfinding is the system of information and design that helps people find their way: in parking, from the street to the facility, to an available space, out to their destination on foot, and back to their car.
Term of the dayFinance and Project Delivery
Architect of RecordThe architect of record is the licensed architect legally responsible for a project's construction documents, who seals the drawings and answers to the building department; on many signature buildings, a separate design architect leads the concept.
Term of the dayPARCS and Technology
Parking Guidance SystemA parking guidance system (PGS) detects which spaces are open and directs drivers to them, using count signs at entries and decision points and, in space-level systems, indicator lights over each stall.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
Resource AdequacyResource adequacy is the planning standard that requires utilities and other load-serving entities to line up enough generation and storage capacity, plus a reserve margin, to meet forecast peak demand.
Term of the dayPolicy and Zoning
Unbundled ParkingUnbundled parking is parking that is leased or sold separately from a housing unit or commercial lease, so occupants who do not need a space do not pay for one in their rent.
Term of the dayPolicy and Zoning
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)An environmental impact report (EIR) is the study California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires when a public agency's project may significantly affect the environment; it analyzes the impacts and alternatives and must be certified before the project is approved.
Term of the dayMobility and Autonomy
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)Transit-oriented development (TOD) is compact, mixed-use development built within walking distance of a transit station, typically within about a half mile, so that residents, workers and visitors can rely on transit, walking and cycling.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
Time-of-Use RateA time-of-use (TOU) rate is an electricity tariff that charges different prices at different hours of the day, higher during the evening peak and lower overnight or at midday.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
NFPA 855NFPA 855 is the National Fire Protection Association standard for the installation of stationary energy storage systems.
Term of the dayFinance and Project Delivery
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)Integrated project delivery (IPD) is a project delivery method in which the owner, designer and builder, and often key trade partners, sign a single multi-party agreement, make decisions jointly, and tie part of their profit to how the whole project performs.
Term of the dayMobility and Autonomy
Pick-Up/Drop-Off (PUDO) ZoneA pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) zone is curb or off-street space set aside for passengers getting into and out of vehicles, including ride-hail cars, taxis, shuttles, private cars and, increasingly, robotaxis.
Term of the dayFinance and Project Delivery
Dynamic Pricing (Parking)Dynamic pricing, or demand-based pricing, adjusts parking rates by time, location, event or occupancy to manage how full parking is and how much it earns.
Term of the daySustainability and EV Charging
Vehicle-to-GridVehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the use of parked electric vehicles as a distributed battery, discharging stored energy back to the grid when demand or prices are high and recharging when they are low.
Term of the dayFinance and Project Delivery
Subscription RateA subscription rate is a commercial electricity tariff in which the customer reserves a block of capacity in kilowatts for a fixed monthly fee instead of paying a demand charge on the highest peak.
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AB 2097AB 2097 is a 2022 California law that bars cities and counties from imposing or enforcing minimum parking requirements on most development within a half mile of a major transit stop.Policy and ZoningAccess AisleAn access aisle is the marked, level clear space next to an accessible parking space or EV charging space that gives a person room to deploy a wheelchair lift or ramp and to get in and out of the vehicle.Planning and DesignAccessible EV Charging SpaceAn accessible EV charging space is a charging space designed so a person with a disability can park, reach the equipment and operate it. It typically includes an access aisle, an accessible route to the charger, and controls and connectors within reach range.Sustainability and EV ChargingAccessible ParkingAccessible parking spaces are spaces designed and reserved for vehicles used by people with disabilities. They are wider than standard stalls or paired with an access aisle, connected to an accessible route, and marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility.Planning and DesignAdaptive Lighting TechnologyAdaptive lighting, also called responsive lighting, automatically adjusts light levels based on whether a space is occupied, how much daylight is available and the time of day.Sustainability and EV ChargingAdaptive Reuse (Parking)Adaptive reuse converts a parking structure, in whole or in part, to another occupancy, offices, housing, logistics, amenities, as demand shifts.Planning and DesignAggregate LengthIn parking structure ramp design, aggregate length is the total horizontal distance, or run, required to achieve the floor-to-floor vertical rise at a specified slope.Planning and DesignAGV Parking (Parking Robots)AGV parking is a form of automated parking in which automated guided vehicles, often called parking robots, slide under a car, lift it by its tires and carry it across a flat floor to a storage position, with no fixed racks or rails.PARCS and TechnologyAir OutletAn air outlet is the device at the end of a ventilation duct, such as a diffuser, grille or register, that delivers air into a space and shapes how it spreads.Structure, Codes and SafetyAlbedoAlbedo is the fraction of incoming sunlight that a surface reflects, measured from 0 (absorbs everything) to 1 (reflects everything).Sustainability and EV ChargingAmbient LightingAmbient lighting is the general, overall illumination of a space, as distinct from task lighting or accent lighting.Planning and DesignAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the organization of state departments of transportation that develops standards and guidance for highway, street and bridge design in the United States.Planning and DesignAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI)The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is a technical and educational society that develops codes, specifications and guides for concrete design, construction and repair.Structure, Codes and SafetyAmerican Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is a professional society that develops standards and guidance for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and building energy performance.Structure, Codes and SafetyAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA)The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a United States civil rights law, signed on July 26, 1990, that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, government services, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications.Planning and DesignAnthropometric DataAnthropometric data is the measurement of the human body: heights, widths, reach, eye level and range of motion, usually reported as percentiles across a population.Planning and DesignAPS ThroughputAPS throughput is the number of cars an automated parking system (APS) can store or return in a given period, usually expressed in cars per hour, and it is set by how many independent paths the system has and how long each cycle takes.PARCS and TechnologyArchitect of RecordThe architect of record is the licensed architect legally responsible for a project's construction documents, who seals the drawings and answers to the building department; on many signature buildings, a separate design architect leads the concept.Finance and Project DeliveryArchitectural MeshArchitectural mesh is woven wire, cable or expanded metal used as a screen or cladding, most often in stainless steel or aluminum. On parking garages it wraps open floors to hide cars and headlights while letting air and light through.Planning and DesignArtificial intelligence (AI)Artificial intelligence (AI) is software that performs tasks that normally require human judgment, such as recognizing images, understanding language or predicting outcomes, usually by learning patterns from data.PARCS and TechnologyAttendant ParkingAttendant parking is an operation in which staff, rather than drivers, park and retrieve vehicles inside a parking facility.OperationsAuthority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) is the organization, office or individual responsible for enforcing a code or standard and approving equipment, materials, installations or procedures. The term comes from NFPA codes and is used throughout the building and fire codes.Structure, Codes and SafetyAutomated Load Management System (ALMS)An automated load management system (ALMS), called an energy management system (EMS) in the National Electrical Code, is the software and controls that share a fixed amount of electrical capacity across many EV chargers, so their combined draw never exceeds what the service can supply.Sustainability and EV ChargingAutomated Parking (Automated Robotic Parking Structures)An automated parking system (APS) parks and retrieves vehicles by machine: the driver leaves the car in an entry bay, and lifts, shuttles or robots move it into storage and bring it back on request.PARCS and TechnologyAutonomous Valet ParkingAutonomous valet parking lets an L4-capable vehicle drop its passengers at an entrance and park itself, directed by the facility to a waiting area, a charging space and finally a stall. When the owner returns, the car drives itself back to the pickup point.Mobility and AutonomyAutonomous VehiclesAutonomous vehicles (AVs) are vehicles that can perform some or all of the driving task on their own, using cameras, radar, lidar and software to sense their surroundings and decide how to move.Mobility and AutonomyAutoturn (Driving Simulation Software)AutoTURN is a swept path analysis program, made by Transoft Solutions, that simulates how a vehicle moves through a turn so designers can check whether it fits before anything is built.Planning and DesignAvailability PaymentAn availability payment is a periodic payment a public owner makes to a private partner in a public-private partnership for keeping a facility available and meeting agreed performance standards, reduced by deductions when it is not.Finance and Project Delivery
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BailmentBailment is the legal relationship created when one party (the bailor) hands possession of property to another party (the bailee), who takes custody of it for a time and must return it.OperationsBallastA ballast is an electrical device that provides the starting voltage for fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps and then limits the current flowing through them.Sustainability and EV ChargingBallast FactorBallast factor is the ratio of the light output of a lamp operated on a given ballast to its output on a standard reference ballast.Sustainability and EV ChargingBarrier GateA barrier gate is the motorized arm that controls vehicle entry and exit at a parking lane, opening when a ticket, credential, payment or license plate read authorizes the vehicle and closing behind it.PARCS and TechnologyBattery Energy Storage SystemA battery energy storage system (BESS) is a stationary installation of batteries, inverters and controls that stores electricity and releases it when it is needed.Sustainability and EV ChargingBest Value ProcurementBest value procurement is a method of selecting a contractor or design-build team by weighing price together with non-price factors such as experience, technical approach, schedule and key personnel, using evaluation criteria and weights published in the solicitation, rather than awarding to the lowest bidder.Finance and Project DeliveryBidirectional ChargingBidirectional charging is EV charging hardware and vehicle capability that lets power flow both ways: from the grid into the battery, and from the battery back out to a home, a building, or the grid.Sustainability and EV ChargingBiophilic DesignBiophilic design is an approach to architecture that connects people with nature through daylight, plants, natural materials, water, views and natural patterns. It grows from the idea of biophilia, popularized by biologist E. O. Wilson in 1984, that people have an innate affinity for the natural world.Planning and DesignBituminous MaterialsBituminous materials are binders made from bitumen, the heavy residue of petroleum refining, or from coal tar, and they are the basis of asphalt pavement, sealcoats, and many waterproofing products.Structure, Codes and SafetyBond CounselBond counsel is the attorney or law firm retained by a bond issuer to give an independent legal opinion that the bonds are validly issued and, where applicable, that their interest is exempt from federal income tax.Finance and Project DeliveryBreak-Over AngleBreak-over angle is the steepest crest a vehicle can drive over without its underside touching the ground between the front and rear wheels.Planning and DesignBridging DocumentsBridging documents are a partial design prepared by an owner's own architect or engineer, typically developed to somewhere between 15 and 35 percent, and used as the basis for soliciting design-build proposals that complete the design and build the project.Finance and Project DeliveryBudget PricingBudget pricing is an early cost estimate, prepared by an estimator or contractor from preliminary design information, used to check whether a project fits its budget before design is finished.Finance and Project DeliveryBuilding CodeA building code is a set of minimum legal requirements for the design and construction of buildings, covering structure, fire safety, egress, accessibility, energy and more.Structure, Codes and SafetyBuilding Information Modeling (BIM)Building information modeling (BIM) is the process of creating and managing a shared digital model of a facility that holds both its geometry and the information about its parts, used from design and construction through operation.Planning and DesignBumper WallA bumper wall is a barrier at the edge of a parking level, or wherever a vehicle could leave the floor, designed to stop a vehicle from going over.Planning and Design
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California Independent System OperatorThe California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is the nonprofit that runs the high-voltage grid and wholesale electricity market for most of California and a slice of Nevada.Sustainability and EV ChargingCantileverA cantilever is a structural member, such as a beam or slab, that is supported at only one end and projects freely past its support.Structure, Codes and SafetyCapitalization (Cap) RateThe capitalization rate, or cap rate, is the ratio of a parking asset's net operating income (NOI) to its value. It is the market's price for a dollar of parking income: value equals NOI divided by the cap rate.Finance and Project DeliveryCarbon FootprintA carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product, building, organization or activity, usually expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.Sustainability and EV ChargingCarbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion. In parking garages it comes mostly from cold starts and idling gasoline engines, and it is the main pollutant that enclosed-garage ventilation is designed to control.Structure, Codes and SafetyCellular LeasingCellular leasing is renting space on a property, such as the roof or facade of a parking garage, to wireless carriers or tower companies for antennas and equipment.OperationsCementCement is a fine powder, most commonly portland cement, that reacts with water to form the paste that binds sand and stone into concrete.Structure, Codes and SafetyCentral Cashiering SystemsA central cashiering system collects parking fees at a central point before drivers return to their vehicles, so the exit lane only has to validate a paid ticket instead of taking payment.PARCS and TechnologyChargerAn EV charger, in everyday use, is the equipment a driver plugs into to charge an electric vehicle. Engineers and codes call it electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), because for AC charging the device that actually converts power for the battery is inside the car.Sustainability and EV ChargingCharger UptimeCharger uptime is the share of time a charging port is available and working. Broken or offline chargers are the most common complaint among EV drivers, so uptime has become a central measure of charging quality.Sustainability and EV ChargingCharging PortA charging port is a single outlet on a charging station that can charge one vehicle at a time. A station, or charger, may have one port or several, and each port may or may not be able to deliver full power when others are in use.Sustainability and EV ChargingCharging SpaceAn EV charging space is a parking space served by a charging port, where a vehicle can park and charge. Codes and ordinances may count it toward required parking and set its design, accessibility and signage.Sustainability and EV ChargingCharging UtilizationCharging utilization measures how much of the time chargers are actually delivering energy, distinct from how often the charging spaces are occupied.Sustainability and EV ChargingChloride-Ion ContaminationChloride-ion contamination is the buildup of chloride ions inside concrete, mostly from deicing salts tracked in on vehicles or from marine air, that eventually corrodes the reinforcing steel.Structure, Codes and SafetyCirculation System (Parking Facility)A parking facility’s circulation system is the arrangement of ramps, aisles and turns that moves vehicles in, between levels, past available spaces and out.Planning and DesignClear-Span Construction (Long-Span)Clear-span construction, also called long-span construction, is a parking structure framing approach in which the floor spans the full width of a parking module, about 60 feet, without interior columns between the drive aisle and the stalls.Structure, Codes and SafetyCognitive Map (aka Cognitive Image Map)A cognitive map is the mental model a person builds of a place: landmarks, paths, decision points and how they connect.Planning and DesignColumn CapitalA column capital is the enlarged, often flared, top of a column where it meets a concrete slab, used to spread the slab's load into the column and to resist punching shear.Structure, Codes and SafetyCompact StallA compact stall is a parking space sized for small cars, narrower and shorter than a standard stall. Many zoning codes allow a percentage of required spaces to be compact, which lets more spaces fit on a site.Planning and DesignComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the use of computer simulation to predict how fluids, such as air, smoke and heat, flow through and around a space.Structure, Codes and SafetyConcentrated LoadA concentrated load is a force applied over a small area, such as a wheel, a jack, or a post, rather than spread evenly across a floor.Structure, Codes and SafetyConcreteConcrete is a building material made of portland cement or a blended binder, water, fine and coarse aggregates, and often chemical admixtures, which hardens through a chemical reaction called hydration.Structure, Codes and SafetyConflict Point MapA Conflict Point Map in the context of parking design is a visual representation that identifies and maps areas within a parking facility where potential conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians may occur.Planning and DesignCongestion PricingCongestion pricing charges vehicles to use crowded roads or to enter a defined zone during busy periods, using price to reduce traffic and, usually, to fund transit with the revenue.Policy and ZoningConnectorA connector is the plug at the end of a charging cable that mates with the inlet on an electric vehicle. Its shape and communication protocol determine which vehicles a charging port can serve without an adapter.Sustainability and EV ChargingConstruction ManagerA construction manager (CM) is a firm or professional that manages the planning, cost, schedule and execution of a construction project for an owner, either as the owner's advisor with no responsibility for construction cost or as the builder that guarantees a price.Finance and Project DeliveryConstruction Manager at Risk (CMAR)Construction manager at risk (CMAR) is a project delivery method in which the owner hires a construction manager during design to provide preconstruction services, and that firm then commits to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and builds the project, taking on the risk of cost overruns above that price.Finance and Project DeliveryContinuous-Flow Circulation SystemA Continuous-Flow Circulation System in parking facility design refers to a layout that allows vehicles to move through the facility's levels and spaces in a smooth, ongoing loop, minimizing the need for reversing or making sharp turns.Planning and DesignConventionally Reinforced ConcreteConventionally reinforced concrete is concrete strengthened with ordinary steel reinforcing bars (rebar) that are not tensioned, in contrast to prestressed systems such as post-tensioned or precast pretensioned concrete.Structure, Codes and SafetyCrime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is an approach that uses the design and management of physical space to reduce opportunities for crime and make people feel safer.Planning and DesignCrossover Utility Vehicle (CUV)A crossover utility vehicle (CUV), usually just called a crossover, is a vehicle with the high seating and styling of an SUV built on a car-style unibody platform rather than a truck frame.Planning and DesignCruising for ParkingCruising for parking is the driving people do while searching for an open space. It adds traffic, emissions and frustration, and it is most common where curb parking is cheap or free and nearly full.Policy and ZoningCubic Feet per Minute (CFM)Cubic feet per minute (CFM) is a unit of airflow: the volume of air, in cubic feet, that moves past a point each minute.Structure, Codes and SafetyCurb ManagementCurb management is the active allocation, pricing and enforcement of curb space among competing uses: parking, commercial loading, ride-hail and robotaxi pick-up and drop-off, transit, bike and scooter parking, and outdoor dining.Mobility and AutonomyCurtailmentCurtailment is the deliberate reduction of output from a generator, most often solar or wind, because the grid cannot absorb it at that moment.Sustainability and EV ChargingCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)Customer relationship management (CRM) is software and practice for tracking customers, their accounts and every interaction with them, so a business can serve and keep them.OperationsCutoff LuminairesA cutoff luminaire is a light fixture designed to limit the light it emits at and near the horizontal, directing most of its output downward where it is needed.Planning and DesignCyclone FencingCyclone fencing is a common name for chain-link fencing: a woven mesh of galvanized or coated steel wire stretched between metal posts.Planning and Design
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DarkSky International (International Dark-Sky Association)DarkSky International, known until 2023 as the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that works to reduce light pollution and protect the night sky.Sustainability and EV ChargingDC Fast Charging (DCFC)DCFC delivers direct current at up to 400 kW, adding over 100 miles of range per hour, the charging class for dwell times that cannot wait.Sustainability and EV ChargingDebt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)The debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is a facility's net operating income divided by its annual debt service, the principal and interest owed on its loans or bonds. A DSCR of 1.0 means income exactly covers payments; higher numbers mean a cushion.Finance and Project DeliveryDeflectionDeflection is the amount a structural member, such as a beam, slab or double tee, bends or sags under load.Structure, Codes and SafetyDemand-Controlled VentilationDemand-controlled ventilation (DCV) adjusts how much air a ventilation system moves based on measured conditions, rather than running at a fixed rate whenever the building is occupied.Structure, Codes and SafetyDemand ChargeA demand charge is the part of a commercial electric bill priced on the customer's highest rate of consumption during the billing period, measured in kilowatts, rather than on total energy used in kilowatt-hours.Sustainability and EV ChargingDensity Bonus LawCalifornia's Density Bonus Law (Government Code Section 65915) lets a housing developer build more homes than local zoning allows, and obtain waivers of development standards, in exchange for including deed-restricted affordable units.Policy and ZoningDesign-Bid-BuildDesign-bid-build (DBB) is the traditional project delivery method in which the owner hires a designer to complete the construction documents, then solicits bids on those documents and awards a separate construction contract, usually to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.Finance and Project DeliveryDesign-BuildDesign-build (DB) is a project delivery method in which the owner holds a single contract with one entity, the design-builder, which is responsible for both designing and constructing the project.Finance and Project DeliveryDesign Day / Design HourThe design day and design hour are the demand conditions a parking facility is sized to serve: busy enough to be credible, but not the single busiest hour of the year.Planning and DesignDesign VehicleA design vehicle is the representative vehicle, defined by length, width, height and turning path, that designers use to size parking stalls, aisles, ramps and turns.Planning and DesignDouble-Loaded ModuleA double-loaded module is a parking layout with a row of stalls on each side of a single drive aisle. It is the basic building block of most parking lots and garages because one aisle serves two rows.Planning and DesignDouble-threaded Helix or Double Helix StructureA double-threaded helix, or double helix, is a parking structure in which two sloped parking ramps, or threads, are interleaved like the threads of a screw, so that one full revolution through the structure climbs two levels instead of one.Planning and DesignDriving Simulation SoftwareDriving simulation software, often called swept path analysis software, models the space a vehicle occupies as it turns and maneuvers, so designers can check a layout before it is built.Planning and DesignDuck CurveThe duck curve is the shape of net electricity demand on a grid with a lot of solar: a midday trough when solar covers most load, then a steep evening ramp as the sun sets and demand rises.Sustainability and EV ChargingDwell TimeDwell time is the length of time a vehicle occupies a parking space, curb segment, loading zone or charger, from arrival to departure.OperationsDynamic Pricing (Parking)Dynamic pricing, or demand-based pricing, adjusts parking rates by time, location, event or occupancy to manage how full parking is and how much it earns.Finance and Project DeliveryDynamic Signage (Digital Signage)Dynamic signage, also called digital or electronic signage, is signage whose message can be changed remotely or automatically, using LED, LCD or similar displays, so it can show live information such as available spaces, closures, directions and rates.PARCS and TechnologyDynamic TollingDynamic tolling is road pricing in which the toll changes in real time, often every few minutes, based on measured traffic, so a priced lane stays free-flowing even at peak.Policy and Zoning
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Effective SupplyEffective supply is the usable share of a facility's stalls after deducting a cushion for circulation, turnover friction, misparked vehicles, and reserved stalls, typically 85-95% of the striped count.OperationsElectric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is the equipment that delivers electricity from the building's supply to an electric vehicle: the conductors, connectors, plugs, controls and enclosure, often called a charging station. Most people simply say "charger."Sustainability and EV ChargingEmbodied CarbonEmbodied carbon is the greenhouse-gas footprint of a facility's materials and construction, as distinct from the operational energy it uses.Sustainability and EV ChargingEnclosed Parking GarageAn enclosed parking garage is a parking structure that does not have enough exterior wall openings to qualify as an open parking garage, so it must be mechanically ventilated and is subject to stricter fire protection requirements.Structure, Codes and SafetyEnvironmental Impact Report (EIR)An environmental impact report (EIR) is the study California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires when a public agency's project may significantly affect the environment; it analyzes the impacts and alternatives and must be certified before the project is approved.Policy and ZoningEnvironmental Product Declaration (EPD)An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized, independently verified document that reports the environmental impacts of a product over its life cycle, most often its global warming potential, or embodied carbon.Sustainability and EV ChargingEquipment IslandAn equipment island is the raised, curbed platform between parking lanes that holds access and revenue control equipment, such as gates, ticket or credential readers, license plate cameras and pay-in-lane stations, along with the power and data that feed them.PARCS and TechnologyEquity FinancingEquity financing is raising money for a project by selling an ownership stake, so investors share in its profits and losses instead of being repaid on a fixed schedule like lenders.Finance and Project DeliveryEVAn EV, or electric vehicle, is a vehicle propelled at least partly by an electric motor using energy stored in a battery that is charged from the grid.Sustainability and EV ChargingEV CapableAn EV Capable parking space has the electrical capacity and a raceway (conduit) reserved to serve a future charger, but no wiring, outlet or charging equipment yet. It is the first and least expensive of the three tiers used in building codes and EV ordinances.Sustainability and EV ChargingEV Charging MetrologyEV charging metrology is the science and regulation of accurately measuring the electricity delivered to vehicles, so that drivers are charged fairly when energy is sold by the kilowatt-hour.Sustainability and EV ChargingEvent ParkingEvent parking is parking for venues and occasions that draw large crowds at a set time, such as stadiums, arenas, concerts, festivals and conventions. Its defining feature is that thousands of vehicles arrive in a short window and try to leave at the same moment.OperationsEV ReadyAn EV Ready parking space has a complete electrical branch circuit, with wiring and overcurrent protection, ending in a receptacle or junction box near the space. A charger can be added by plugging in or mounting the equipment, without new electrical construction.Sustainability and EV ChargingEVSE InstalledAn EVSE Installed parking space, sometimes called EV Installed, has electric vehicle supply equipment mounted, wired and working when the building opens. It is the highest of the three tiers used in codes and ordinances.Sustainability and EV ChargingExpansion JointAn expansion joint is a deliberate gap through a structure that divides it into independent sections, so each section can expand, contract and shift without cracking itself or its neighbors.Structure, Codes and SafetyExpress RampAn express ramp is a ramp between garage levels with no parking on it, so drivers can move up or down without passing stalls, backing cars and pedestrians. The terms express ramp and speed ramp are often used interchangeably.Planning and DesignExterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS)An exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) is a lightweight wall cladding made of rigid insulation board, a base coat reinforced with glass-fiber mesh, and a textured finish coat that resembles stucco.Structure, Codes and Safety
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Factored LoadA factored load is a load multiplied by a load factor, so a structure designed to resist it carries a margin of safety against uncertainty in both the loads and the materials.Structure, Codes and SafetyFees in Lieu (Parking)A fee in lieu of parking is a payment a developer makes to a city instead of providing some or all of the parking that zoning would otherwise require on site.Policy and ZoningFinancial Feasibility StudyA parking financial feasibility study tests whether a proposed parking facility, or a whole parking system, can pay for itself by comparing projected demand and revenue with the cost to build, finance and operate it.Finance and Project DeliveryFire Wall (Firewall)A fire wall is a fire-resistance-rated wall, continuous from the foundation to or through the roof, with enough structural stability that construction on either side can collapse in a fire without bringing the wall down.Structure, Codes and SafetyFirst CostFirst cost is the initial cost of designing, building and equipping a facility, before it opens and starts incurring operating and maintenance costs.Finance and Project DeliveryFlat Fee PricingFlat fee pricing, often called flat rate parking, charges one set price for a stay regardless of how long the vehicle remains, usually within a defined period such as an event, an evening, or a day.Finance and Project DeliveryFleet StagingFleet staging is the parking of shared autonomous or ride-hail vehicles between calls: an overnight home base for charging, cleaning, and maintenance, and daytime waiting zones convenient to demand.Mobility and AutonomyFlex AlertA Flex Alert is a public appeal issued by the California Independent System Operator asking consumers to cut electricity use voluntarily during a window, usually 4 to 9 p.m., when supply is expected to run tight.Sustainability and EV ChargingFloor DiaphragmA floor diaphragm is a floor or roof slab that acts as a horizontal beam, collecting lateral forces from wind or earthquakes and delivering them to the vertical elements that resist them, such as shear walls and moment frames.Structure, Codes and SafetyFoundation SystemsA foundation system is the part of a structure that transfers its loads into the ground, through elements sized and selected for the soil and rock beneath the site.Structure, Codes and SafetyFree-Standing Parking GarageA free-standing parking garage is a parking structure that stands on its own, rather than being built under, inside or wrapped by another building.Structure, Codes and SafetyFunctional Design ReviewA functional design review is a parking specialist's check of drawings for how a facility will work in use, covering circulation, geometry, queuing, pedestrian routes, wayfinding, equipment locations and maintenance access, separate from code and structural review.Planning and DesignFuture-Flexible DesignFuture-flexible design prepares a parking asset to absorb coming requirements, such as EV charging mandates, autonomous vehicle operations and new uses, without redesign: capacity banked, loads planned and geometry that can adapt.Planning and Design
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Garagekeepers LiabilityGaragekeepers liability is insurance that covers damage to customers' vehicles while they are in the care, custody or control of a parking operation. It is the exposure created whenever keys change hands.OperationsGateless ParkingGateless parking is a method of operating a parking facility without entry and exit gates: cameras read license plates as vehicles enter and leave, and payment is made by app, web, pay station, account or invoice.PARCS and TechnologyGeofencingGeofencing is the software boundary that defines where a vehicle or service may operate, park, load, or charge.PARCS and TechnologyGlareGlare is excessive brightness or contrast in the field of view that causes discomfort or makes it harder to see.Planning and DesignGraphic PanelA graphic panel is a facade panel, usually fiberglass, perforated metal or metal mesh, printed or formed with imagery, color or text and mounted on the outside of a parking structure.Planning and DesignGreen Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) is the organization that administers certification and professional credentials for a family of green building and sustainability programs, including LEED and Parksmart.Sustainability and EV ChargingGreen RoofsA green roof is a roof covered with plants and growing medium over a waterproofing membrane, drainage layer and root barrier.Sustainability and EV ChargingGross Floor Area (GFA)Gross floor area (GFA) is the total floor area of a building, measured to the outside face of its exterior walls and summed across every floor.Planning and DesignGross Leasable Area (GLA)Gross leasable area (GLA) is the total floor area designed for tenants' exclusive use and occupancy, the space they lease and pay rent on, including their own basements and mezzanines but excluding shared common areas.Finance and Project DeliveryGroup S-2 (Parking Garage Occupancy)Group S-2 is the low-hazard storage occupancy in the International Building Code. Parking garages, open or enclosed, fall in S-2 whether they have one level or ten.Structure, Codes and SafetyGuaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)A guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is a construction contract price in which the contractor is reimbursed for the actual cost of the work plus a fee, up to a ceiling; costs above the ceiling are the contractor's responsibility unless the owner changes the scope.Finance and Project Delivery
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Hard Construction CostsHard construction costs are the costs of physically building a project: labor, materials and equipment for the structure, site work, building systems and finishes.Finance and Project DeliveryHeat Island EffectThe heat island effect is the local temperature increase produced by dark, impervious surfaces, with parking lots among the leading contributors.Sustainability and EV ChargingHVACHVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning: the systems that control temperature, humidity and air quality in buildings.Structure, Codes and SafetyHybrid Concrete Structural SystemA hybrid concrete structural system combines precast and cast-in-place concrete in the same parking structure, using each where it works best.Structure, Codes and SafetyHybrid Steel SystemA hybrid steel system is a parking structure framing system that combines steel columns and beams with precast concrete double tees as the floor deck.Structure, Codes and Safety
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I-CodesThe I-Codes, or International Codes, are a family of model building and safety codes published by the International Code Council (ICC) and adopted, often with local amendments, by most U.S. states and cities.Structure, Codes and SafetyIlluminanceIlluminance is the amount of light falling on a surface, measured in footcandles (lumens per square foot) or lux (lumens per square meter).Planning and DesignIlluminating Engineering Society (IES)The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is a North American professional society that develops lighting standards, recommended practices and education. Founded in 1906, it is the main source of the illuminance and uniformity recommendations that designers and codes reference.Planning and DesignInstitute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is an international professional and educational association of transportation engineers, planners and related professionals, founded in 1930.Policy and ZoningIntegrated Project Delivery (IPD)Integrated project delivery (IPD) is a project delivery method in which the owner, designer and builder, and often key trade partners, sign a single multi-party agreement, make decisions jointly, and tie part of their profit to how the whole project performs.Finance and Project DeliveryInterconnectionInterconnection is the utility process that approves a customer's generation or storage equipment to connect to, and export power onto, the distribution grid.Sustainability and EV ChargingInterlock DimensionThe interlock dimension is the reduction in depth that occurs where two rows of angled parking stalls meet head to head and their ends nest together. Because angled stalls are drawn as parallelograms, the corners of one row fit into the gaps of the other, so the combined depth is less than twice the depth of a single row.Planning and DesignInternal Combustion Engine (ICE)An internal combustion engine (ICE) is a heat engine that converts the chemical energy in a fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, into mechanical energy by burning the fuel inside the engine. It powers most cars, trucks and motorcycles on the road today.Sustainability and EV ChargingInternational Building Code (IBC)The International Building Code (IBC) is a model building code published by the International Code Council (ICC) that sets minimum requirements for the design and construction of buildings.Structure, Codes and SafetyInternational Code Council (ICC)The International Code Council (ICC) is the nonprofit organization that develops the International Codes, or I-Codes, the model building and safety codes adopted by most jurisdictions in the United States.Structure, Codes and SafetyInternational Fire Code (IFC)The International Fire Code (IFC) is the model fire code published by the International Code Council and adopted, often with local amendments, by most U.S. states and many cities.Structure, Codes and SafetyInternational Green Construction Code (IgCC)The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) is a model code that sets minimum requirements for sustainable design and construction, covering energy, water, materials, site and indoor environmental quality.Sustainability and EV ChargingInternational Mechanical Code (IMC)The International Mechanical Code (IMC) is the model code for mechanical systems, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning and exhaust, published by the International Code Council.Structure, Codes and SafetyInternational Plumbing Code (IPC)The International Plumbing Code (IPC) is the model code for plumbing systems, including water supply, sanitary drainage, venting and fixtures, published by the International Code Council.Structure, Codes and Safety
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Land-Use PlanningLand-use planning is the public process of deciding how land in a community will be used: where housing, commerce, industry, institutions, parks and infrastructure go, and at what intensity.Policy and ZoningLateral LoadsLateral loads are horizontal forces that push a structure sideways, as opposed to gravity loads that push down. The main sources are wind, earthquakes, soil and water pressure against below-grade walls, and, in parking structures, vehicles striking barriers.Structure, Codes and SafetyLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and certified by GBCI.Sustainability and EV ChargingLED LightingLED lighting uses light-emitting diodes as the light source. It has become the standard for parking garages and lots because it uses far less energy than the high-intensity discharge and fluorescent lighting it replaced, lasts much longer, turns on instantly and can be dimmed.Sustainability and EV ChargingLegibility (vs. Readability)Legibility is the ease with which individual letters and numbers can be recognized and told apart. It depends mainly on the typeface and how it is set: letter shapes, stroke width, spacing, size and contrast.Planning and DesignLevel 4 AutonomyLevel 4 (L4) autonomy is driverless operation within a programmed or pre-mapped area, known as an operational design domain. It is the technology behind current robotaxis, and it is expected to be operational at scale by 2029.Mobility and AutonomyLevel 5 Autonomous VehicleA Level 5 autonomous vehicle is one that can drive itself everywhere and in all conditions a human driver could manage, with no driver needed at all. It is the top of the six-level scale (0 to 5) defined by SAE International in its J3016 standard.Mobility and AutonomyLevel of Service (LOS)Level of service (LOS) is a letter grade, from A to F, that describes how well a road, intersection or parking facility works from the user’s point of view.Planning and DesignLevel of Service (LOS) ALevel of Service (LOS) A, in the context of transportation and traffic engineering, represents the highest quality of traffic flow or service experienced by users.Planning and DesignLevel of Service (LOS) BLevel of Service (LOS) B in transportation and traffic engineering represents a relatively high quality of traffic flow with slightly more limitations compared to LOS A.Planning and DesignLevel of Service (LOS) CLevel of Service (LOS) C in transportation and traffic engineering is a classification used to describe a moderate level of traffic flow with stable conditions, but with more noticeable restrictions compared to LOS A and B.Planning and DesignLevel of Service (LOS) DLevel of Service (LOS) D in transportation and traffic engineering represents a more congested condition compared to higher levels of service.Planning and DesignLevel of Service (LOS) ELevel of Service (LOS) E in transportation and traffic engineering is characterized by operating conditions at or near the capacity of the roadway.Planning and DesignLevel of Service (LOS) FLevel of Service (LOS) F in transportation and traffic engineering represents the lowest quality of traffic flow, characterized by severely congested conditions.Planning and DesignLicense Plate Recognition (LPR)License plate recognition (LPR), also called automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), uses cameras and software to capture an image of a vehicle and read its license plate automatically.PARCS and TechnologyLife Cycle Cost (LCC)Life-cycle cost (LCC) is the total cost of owning an asset over its useful life, including design and construction, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and eventual disposal, usually converted to present value so options can be compared.Finance and Project DeliveryLighting Power Density (LPD)Lighting power density (LPD) is the installed lighting power of a space divided by its floor area, usually stated in watts per square foot.Sustainability and EV ChargingLight Pollution (Skyglow)Light pollution is artificial light that goes where it is not needed or wanted. In parking, the main sources are surface lots and the top levels of parking structures, whose lighting can brighten the night sky, spill onto neighboring property and create glare.Sustainability and EV ChargingLight StandardA light standard is the pole, with its base and arm, that supports one or more luminaires above a parking lot, roadway or structure top deck. The term is common in specifications; most people simply call it a light pole.Planning and DesignLight TrespassLight trespass is light from a property that falls where it is not wanted, typically across the property line onto neighboring homes, windows or streets.Planning and DesignLive Loads aka Live Design LoadsLive loads are the temporary, movable loads a structure must carry, such as vehicles, people, furniture and equipment, as distinct from dead loads, the permanent weight of the structure itself.Structure, Codes and SafetyLong-Term or Extended-Stay ParkingLong-term or extended-stay parking serves vehicles parked for days, weeks or months, as opposed to transient or short-term parking measured in minutes or hours.OperationsLowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)Lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) is a procurement method in which proposals are first checked against minimum technical requirements, and the contract goes to the lowest-priced proposal that passes. No credit is given for exceeding the minimum.Finance and Project DeliveryLuminanceLuminance is the amount of light leaving a surface in a given direction, the brightness the eye actually perceives, measured in candelas per square meter.Planning and Design
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MacLeamy CurveThe MacLeamy curve is a diagram showing that a project team's ability to influence cost and performance is highest at the start of design and falls toward construction, while the cost of making a design change rises over the same period.Finance and Project DeliveryMake-Ready InfrastructureMake-ready is everything behind the charger: utility service and transformer capacity, switchgear and panels, conduit sized for the buildout, load management, metering, trenching, and restoration.Sustainability and EV ChargingManaged ChargingManaged charging is the control of when and how fast electric vehicles charge, so total demand fits within the available electrical capacity, electricity prices or grid needs.Sustainability and EV ChargingManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national standard, published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for traffic signs, signals and pavement markings on roads open to public travel in the United States.Planning and DesignMaster PlanA master plan is a long-range document that sets the framework for how a community, district, campus or large site will develop over time.Policy and ZoningMechanical-Access Parking GarageA mechanical-access parking garage is a parking garage, open or enclosed, that employs parking machines, lifts, elevators or other mechanical devices for vehicles moving from and to street level, and in which public occupancy is prohibited above the street level. It is the building code category for what the industry usually calls automated or semi-automated parking.PARCS and TechnologyMechanical Ventilation SystemA mechanical ventilation system uses fans, and sometimes ductwork, to move fresh air through an enclosed parking garage and remove vehicle exhaust such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.Structure, Codes and SafetyMetal Halide LightingMetal halide lighting is a type of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp that produces light by passing an electric arc through a gas mixture containing metal halide salts, giving a whiter light than the high-pressure sodium lamps it often replaced.Planning and DesignMethod of OperationThe method of operation is a parking facility's fundamental service and control model: self-park or attended, gated or gateless, staffed or remote, and the mix of transient and monthly customers.OperationsMicrogridA microgrid is a local group of generation, storage, and loads that can operate connected to the main grid or on its own.Sustainability and EV ChargingMicromobilityMicromobility covers small, light vehicles, such as bikes, e-bikes, scooters and delivery robots, that move people and goods over the first and last mile of a trip.Mobility and AutonomyMobility CourtA mobility court is the curb rebuilt as a designed facility for fleet-scale pick-up and drop-off: organized queuing, protected pedestrian space, and clear assignment among modes.Mobility and AutonomyMobility HubA mobility hub is a place that brings several ways of traveling together, such as transit, bike share, scooters, car share, ride-hailing and parking, so people can switch between them easily.Mobility and AutonomyModule, or Parking Module (see also single-loaded module and double-loaded module)A parking module is the basic dimension of a parking layout: the width of one drive aisle plus the depth of the stalls it serves on each side, measured across the aisle.Planning and DesignMoment Frames, Precast Moment FramesA moment frame is a structural system of beams and columns joined by rigid connections, so the frame resists sideways forces from wind and earthquakes by bending rather than by relying on solid walls or diagonal braces.Structure, Codes and SafetyMonthly ParkingMonthly parking is an arrangement in which an individual or business pays a fixed fee each month for the right to park in a facility, either in any available space or in a designated one.OperationsMulti-Modal FacilitiesMulti-modal facilities are transportation centers that connect several modes, such as buses, trains, light rail, bicycles, ride-hailing and private vehicles, so travelers can transfer easily between them.Mobility and AutonomyMunicipal BondsMunicipal bonds are debt securities issued by states, cities, counties and public authorities to finance public projects, including parking garages. Interest is often exempt from federal income tax, which lowers the cost of borrowing.Finance and Project Delivery
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National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a U.S.-based nonprofit, founded in 1896, that develops and publishes consensus codes and standards for fire prevention, fire protection, electrical safety and life safety.Structure, Codes and SafetyNational Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is the FBI's system for collecting detailed data on each crime incident reported by participating law enforcement agencies. Among other details, it records the type of location where each offense occurred, including parking lots, drop lots and garages.OperationsNatural VentilationNatural ventilation is the removal of vehicle exhaust and heat from a parking structure through openings in its exterior walls, using wind and air movement rather than fans. A garage that qualifies is classified as an open parking garage and avoids the cost and energy of mechanical ventilation.Structure, Codes and SafetyNet Floor Area (NFA)Net floor area is the floor area actually occupied by a building's users, excluding unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, ramps, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms and closets.Planning and DesignNet Operating Income (NOI)Net operating income (NOI) is a property's revenue minus its operating expenses, before debt service, income taxes, depreciation and major capital spending. For a parking facility, it is the income the operation produces from parking and related services.Finance and Project DeliveryNet PeakNet peak is the hour of highest electricity demand after subtracting solar and wind output, which on a solar-heavy grid falls in the early evening rather than mid-afternoon.Sustainability and EV ChargingNet Rentable Area (NRA)Net rentable area (NRA), also called rentable area, is the floor area of a building on which a landlord charges rent: the tenant's usable space plus a proportional share of common areas such as lobbies, corridors and restrooms.Finance and Project DeliveryNew UrbanismNew Urbanism is an urban design movement that promotes walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods with a range of housing types, connected street networks, and civic and public spaces, as an alternative to car-dependent suburban development.Policy and ZoningNFPA 855NFPA 855 is the National Fire Protection Association standard for the installation of stationary energy storage systems.Sustainability and EV ChargingNitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a reddish-brown, toxic gas formed when fuel burns at high temperature. In parking facilities, its main source is vehicle exhaust, particularly from diesel engines.Structure, Codes and SafetyNon-Cutoff LuminaireA non-cutoff luminaire is an outdoor light fixture that does not limit light emitted above the horizontal or at high angles, so it sends light in all directions, including upward and sideways.Planning and Design
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Off-Site ParkingOff-site parking is parking provided on a different parcel than the use it serves, usually secured by an easement, covenant or lease. How zoning codes allow it, where it gets risky, and what it means at airports.OperationsOn-Street ParkingOn-street parking is parking along the curb of a public street, as opposed to off-street parking in lots and garages.Policy and ZoningOpen Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an open communication standard that connects electric vehicle chargers to the central software that manages them, maintained by the Open Charge Alliance.Sustainability and EV ChargingOpenness CalculationThe openness calculation is the IBC test determining whether a parking structure qualifies as open: openings on each tier must total at least 20% of the tier's perimeter wall area, and their aggregate length must be at least 40% of the tier's perimeter (IBC 406.5.2).Structure, Codes and SafetyOpen Parking Garage (Open-Air Facility)An open parking garage, sometimes called an open-air parking facility, is a parking structure with enough uniformly distributed openings in its exterior walls on two or more sides to be ventilated naturally, as defined in the International Building Code (IBC).Structure, Codes and SafetyOperating ExpensesOperating expenses are the ongoing costs of running a parking facility, from staff and utilities to insurance, maintenance and technology, as distinct from capital costs to build or replace it.Finance and Project DeliveryOperational Readiness (Parking Commissioning)Operational readiness is the testing and preparation that proves a new or renovated parking facility can run on day one, covering equipment, software integrations, signage, staffing, procedures, safety systems and a rehearsal of the busiest expected peak.OperationsOSHAThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the U.S. federal agency, created under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards. Many states run their own approved programs with equal or stricter rules.Structure, Codes and SafetyOut-of-Phase MovementOut-of-phase movement occurs when adjacent parts of a building, or adjacent buildings, move or vibrate in different directions or at different times during an earthquake, windstorm or other dynamic event. It happens because the parts differ in stiffness, mass or natural frequency, so each responds to the same shaking in its own way.Structure, Codes and SafetyOversell (Oversubscription)Oversell is issuing more monthly parking credentials than stalls, priced on the fact that not all holders park at once.OperationsOwner’s Parking ConsultantAn owner's parking consultant is an independent parking professional retained by the owner, rather than by the architect or contractor, to define operating requirements and review the design on the owner's behalf from feasibility through opening.Finance and Project DeliveryOwner-Operator AgreementThe owner-operator agreement allocates revenue, expense, risk and control between a parking asset's owner and its operator. The classic forms are the management agreement, in which the owner keeps revenue risk, and the lease, in which the operator takes it.Operations
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Pallet and Palletless SystemsIn automated parking, a pallet system stores and moves each car on a steel tray, or pallet, while a palletless system picks up the car directly, usually by its tires, using combs, clamps or robots.PARCS and TechnologyPan-joist SystemA pan-joist system is a one-way concrete floor made of closely spaced ribs, or joists, cast together with a thin top slab, formed by placing removable steel or fiberglass pans between the ribs.Structure, Codes and SafetyParadigmA paradigm is a shared framework of assumptions, methods and examples that shapes how a field understands its problems. The philosopher and historian of science Thomas Kuhn popularized the idea of a paradigm shift, when a field replaces one framework with another.Finance and Project DeliveryPark-and-RidePark-and-ride is parking positioned at a transit station or stop so drivers can leave their cars and complete the trip by bus or rail. Its purpose is to convert a driving trip into a transit trip at the lowest-cost point.Mobility and AutonomyParking Access and Revenue Control System (PARCS)A parking access and revenue control system (PARCS) is the combination of equipment and software that controls entry to and exit from a parking facility, calculates what each parker owes, and collects and accounts for the revenue.PARCS and TechnologyParking AggregatorA parking aggregator is an online marketplace, usually an app and website, that lists parking at many facilities owned and operated by others, and lets drivers search, compare, reserve and pay for a space in one place.PARCS and TechnologyParking as a Service (PaaS)Parking as a Service (PaaS) is the idea of selling parking as an on-demand digital product, so drivers can find, reserve, pay for and enter a space through an app or connected platform instead of a gate ticket.PARCS and TechnologyParking Benefit DistrictA parking benefit district is an area where revenue from parking meters, and sometimes permits, is spent on public improvements within that same area, such as sidewalks, lighting, street cleaning or transit.Policy and ZoningParking Blocks (Wheel Stops)Parking blocks, also called wheel stops or car stops, are low barriers of concrete, rubber or recycled plastic placed at the head of a parking stall to stop a vehicle's tire before the car reaches a walkway, wall, landscaping or equipment.Planning and DesignParking Cash-OutParking cash-out is a policy in which an employer that subsidizes employee parking offers workers the option of taking the cash value of that subsidy instead of the space. Employees who keep driving are no worse off; those who walk, bike, take transit or carpool receive the money.Policy and ZoningParking ConcessionA parking concession is a long-term agreement in which a public or institutional owner grants a private concessionaire the right to operate a parking system and collect its revenue, typically in exchange for an upfront payment, a revenue share, or both, while the owner keeps title.Finance and Project DeliveryParking Demand AnalysisA parking demand analysis estimates how many parking spaces a site, building or district needs, at what times, and for which users.OperationsParking DesignParking design is the planning and design of parking facilities: their layout and geometry, circulation, structure, systems and user experience, within the limits of the site, the budget and the applicable codes.Planning and DesignParking EasementsA parking easement is a recorded legal right that lets the owner or users of one property park on another property, under terms set out in the easement.Policy and ZoningParking EnforcementParking enforcement is the set of activities that make parking rules work: monitoring vehicles, issuing citations, booting or towing, and handling payments and appeals. Without it, time limits, prices and permits are suggestions.OperationsParking GeometryParking geometry refers to the spatial layout and design dimensions of a parking facility, encompassing various elements that contribute to the facility's functionality, capacity, safety, and user-friendliness.Planning and DesignParking Guidance SystemA parking guidance system (PGS) detects which spaces are open and directs drivers to them, using count signs at entries and decision points and, in space-level systems, indicator lights over each stall.PARCS and TechnologyParking MaximumsParking maximums are zoning limits on how many parking spaces a development may provide, usually expressed per unit or per 1,000 square feet. They are the opposite of parking minimums, which require a minimum number of spaces.Policy and ZoningParking MeterA parking meter is a device that collects payment for the right to park in a curb space for a set time. The first installed parking meters went into service in Oklahoma City in 1935, invented to keep downtown spaces turning over rather than to raise money.PARCS and TechnologyParking MinimumsParking minimums are zoning rules that require a new building to provide at least a set number of off-street parking spaces, usually stated as a ratio per housing unit or per 1,000 square feet of floor area.Policy and ZoningParking OccupancyParking occupancy is the share of parking spaces in use at a given moment: the number of parked vehicles divided by the number of spaces. It is the most basic measure of how well a parking supply matches demand.OperationsParking OrdinancesParking ordinances are the laws and regulations a local government adopts to govern parking within its jurisdiction, both on the street and in private development.Policy and ZoningParking Rate/FeeA parking rate, or parking fee, is the price a driver pays to park, usually based on the length of stay, the time of day, the type of customer and the location.Finance and Project DeliveryParking RatiosA parking ratio expresses the number of parking spaces relative to the size of a development, such as spaces per dwelling unit, per 1,000 square feet of floor area, per hotel room or per seat.Policy and ZoningParking Turnover (Turnover Rate)Parking turnover is the number of different vehicles that use a parking space over a given period, usually a day. The turnover rate is calculated by dividing the number of vehicles that parked during the period by the number of spaces.OperationsParking Utilization StudiesA parking utilization study measures how existing parking is used: how many spaces are occupied, where and when, and often for how long and by whom.OperationsParksmart CertificationParksmart is a certification program that rates the sustainability of parking structures. It is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which also certifies LEED projects, and grew out of the Green Garage Certification program developed by the International Parking and Mobility Institute.Sustainability and EV ChargingPassenger Loading ZoneA passenger loading zone is a designated space where vehicles stop briefly so people can get in and out, separate from parking spaces and travel lanes.Mobility and AutonomyPay-by-Phone ParkingPay-by-phone parking lets drivers pay for a parking session with a smartphone app, a web page or a text message instead of a meter or pay station. The driver enters a zone or space number and the vehicle's plate, chooses a time and pays.PARCS and TechnologyPay-by-PlatePay-by-plate is a parking payment method in which the driver enters the vehicle's license plate number at a pay station, app or web page, and the payment is linked to that plate rather than to a space number or a printed receipt.PARCS and TechnologyPay-in-Lane MachineA pay-in-lane machine is an automated payment terminal installed in a parking exit lane, where drivers insert a ticket or are identified by plate, pay the fee from their vehicle, and the gate opens.PARCS and TechnologyPay-on-FootPay-on-foot is a parking payment method in which drivers pay at a station inside the facility, usually on the walk back to their vehicle, so the exit lane only has to read a paid ticket, credential or license plate.PARCS and TechnologyPay-per-Click (PPC)Pay-per-click (PPC) is an online advertising model in which an advertiser pays each time someone clicks its ad. The most common form is search advertising, where advertisers bid on keywords and their ads appear alongside search results.OperationsPeak Demand Parking FacilitiesA peak demand parking facility serves a venue whose demand arrives in surges, such as a stadium, arena, convention center or theater, where most parkers arrive within an hour or two and leave within minutes of each other.OperationsPedestrian GuardrailsPedestrian guardrails, called guards in the building code, are rails, walls or panels that protect people from falling where a walking surface is more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below, such as deck edges, ramps, stair openings and light wells.Planning and DesignPerforated PanelsPerforated panels are metal sheets punched with regularly spaced holes, used on parking structures as facade screens, guards and decorative cladding.Planning and DesignPhotovoltaic PanelsPhotovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor cells. Parking facilities are among the best places to install them: large, unshaded top decks and surface lots can host panels on canopies without using additional land.Sustainability and EV ChargingPick-Up/Drop-Off (PUDO) ZoneA pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) zone is curb or off-street space set aside for passengers getting into and out of vehicles, including ride-hail cars, taxis, shuttles, private cars and, increasingly, robotaxis.Mobility and AutonomyPlanned Unit Development (PUD)A planned unit development (PUD) is a zoning tool that lets a large project, or a group of parcels, be designed and approved as a whole under its own negotiated standards, instead of lot by lot under the base zoning.Policy and ZoningPlug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV)A plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) is any vehicle that can recharge its battery by plugging into an external source of electricity.Sustainability and EV ChargingPost-Tensioned ConcretePost-tensioned (PT) concrete is concrete reinforced with high-strength steel tendons that are stressed after the concrete has hardened, putting the concrete into compression so it can span farther and crack less.Structure, Codes and SafetyPre-Booked (Reservation) ParkingPre-booked parking sells the stall before the trip, through the facility's own channels or aggregators, converting drive-up uncertainty into committed revenue.OperationsPrecast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is the technical institute and trade association for the precast and prestressed concrete industry in North America. It publishes design and quality standards and certifies precast plants and erectors.Structure, Codes and SafetyPrecast Pretensioned ConcretePrecast pretensioned concrete is concrete cast in a factory around high-strength steel strands that are stretched before the concrete is placed and released after it cures, putting the member into compression.Structure, Codes and SafetyPro Forma (Parking)A parking pro forma is the forward financial model of a facility: revenue by product, operating expenses, capital reserves and debt service, projected over the expected holding period.Finance and Project DeliveryProgressive Design-Build (PDB)Progressive design-build (PDB) is a form of design-build in which the owner selects a single design-build team primarily on qualifications, before design is developed, and then works with that team to progress the design and agree on a contract price in stages.Finance and Project DeliveryPublic-Private Partnership (P3)A public-private partnership (P3) is a long-term agreement in which a public owner transfers some combination of design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of a public asset to a private partner, which is repaid by the public owner, by users, or both.Finance and Project DeliveryPull-Through Mobility CourtA pull-through mobility court is a mobility court laid out so every vehicle enters, loads and leaves moving forward, so no vehicle ever has to reverse.Mobility and AutonomyPuzzle Parking SystemA puzzle parking system is a semi-automated parking system that stores cars on platforms arranged in a grid of levels and columns. Every level except the top keeps one position empty, so platforms can slide sideways and lift or lower until the requested car reaches the entry level.PARCS and Technology
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Rainwater Harvesting SystemsA rainwater harvesting system collects rain from roofs and other surfaces, stores it and reuses it, typically for irrigation, toilet flushing, cooling or washing, reducing demand on potable water.Sustainability and EV ChargingRamp SlopeRamp slope is the steepness of a vehicle ramp, expressed as a percentage (rise over run) or a ratio, and it governs how comfortably and safely drivers and pedestrians move between levels.Planning and DesignReach CodeA reach code is a local building code amendment that goes beyond the minimum requirements of the state code, for example by requiring a higher share of EV-ready or EV-installed parking spaces in new buildings.Sustainability and EV ChargingReadability (vs. Legibility)Readability is how easily a person can read and understand a message as a whole, while legibility is how easily they can tell individual letters and words apart.Planning and DesignRequest for Proposal (RFP)A request for proposal (RFP) is a formal document an organization uses to invite proposals from potential providers, such as parking operators, technology vendors, consultants or design-build teams. Unlike a bid on a fixed specification, an RFP asks respondents to propose how they would meet the owner's needs.Finance and Project DeliveryRequired Parking SpacesRequired parking spaces are the number of off-street parking spaces a zoning code requires a development to provide, usually calculated from the land use and its size, such as spaces per dwelling unit or per 1,000 square feet of floor area.Policy and ZoningReservoir SpaceReservoir space is the length of drive lane between the street and a parking facility's entry control point where arriving vehicles can wait without blocking the sidewalk or the travel lanes.Planning and DesignResidential Permit ParkingResidential permit parking (RPP) is a program that limits on-street parking in a neighborhood to residents and their guests who hold permits, usually during set hours. Nonresidents may be limited to short time periods or excluded.Policy and ZoningResource AdequacyResource adequacy is the planning standard that requires utilities and other load-serving entities to line up enough generation and storage capacity, plus a reserve margin, to meet forecast peak demand.Sustainability and EV ChargingRetrieval TimeRetrieval time is the time between a customer requesting a car and the car arriving at the exit position, ready to drive away, in an automated parking system or a valet operation.PARCS and TechnologyRetroreflective Lettering for SignsRetroreflective lettering and sign sheeting are made with tiny glass beads or prisms that send light back toward its source, so a sign lit by headlights appears bright to the driver behind them.Planning and DesignReturn on Investment (ROI)Return on investment (ROI) is a measure of profitability that compares the gain from an investment with its cost, usually expressed as a percentage: ROI equals net gain divided by cost.Finance and Project DeliveryRevenue ShareA revenue share is an arrangement in which parking revenue is split between two parties by an agreed formula, typically between a facility owner and its operator, a technology vendor, a reservation platform or a concessionaire.Finance and Project DeliveryRide Sharing or Ride HailingRide hailing is on-demand travel in a private vehicle booked through an app from a transportation network company (TNC); ride sharing more strictly means sharing a trip among travelers, as in carpools, vanpools or pooled app rides. The terms are often used interchangeably.Mobility and AutonomyRight-Sizing (Parking)Right-sizing is setting a parking supply, and the type of facility that provides it, from measured or modeled demand rather than from a legacy ratio, a code minimum or a negotiated number.Planning and DesignRight-SpeedingRight-speeding is the practice of setting both the power level (kW per port) and the number of EV charging ports from how the facility is actually used: the miles a typical vehicle needs to recover and the length of the parking stay.Mobility and AutonomyRoadway Lighting CommitteeThe Roadway Lighting Committee is a technical committee of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) that develops recommended practices for lighting roadways, streets and related areas, including parking facilities.Planning and DesignRobotaxiA robotaxi is a driverless (SAE Level 4) vehicle operating shared rides within a mapped service area.Mobility and AutonomyRobotaxi DepotA robotaxi depot is an off-street facility where a driverless ride-hail fleet parks between trips and overnight to charge, get cleaned and inspected, and receive light maintenance.Mobility and AutonomyRough Order-of-Magnitude (ROM)A rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate is an early cost range used to judge whether a project is worth pursuing before any meaningful design work begins.Finance and Project DeliveryRule 21Rule 21 is the California Public Utilities Commission tariff that governs how generators and storage, including bidirectional EV chargers, interconnect to the distribution systems of the state's investor-owned utilities.Sustainability and EV Charging
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Sale-Leaseback ArrangementA sale-leaseback is a transaction in which the owner of a property sells it to an investor and simultaneously signs a long-term lease to keep using it, turning real estate equity into cash while keeping control of the space.Finance and Project DeliverySB 79SB 79 is a California law, operative July 1, 2026, that sets state floors for height, density and floor area for housing near qualifying transit stops.Policy and ZoningSearch engine optimization (SEO)Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of making a website or listing easier for search engines to find, understand, and rank, so it appears when people search for what it offers.OperationsSecond-Life BatteryA second-life battery is an EV traction pack that has retired from vehicle service, typically at 70 to 80 percent of its original capacity, and been redeployed as stationary energy storage.Sustainability and EV ChargingSeismic LoadsSeismic loads are the forces and deformations an earthquake imposes on a structure as the ground shakes beneath it. They depend on the expected ground motion at the site, the soil, and the structure's mass, stiffness and ability to deform without failing.Structure, Codes and SafetySelf-Park GarageA self-park garage is a parking facility where drivers find a space, park and retrieve their own vehicles, rather than handing them to valets or attendants.OperationsSemi-Automated ParkingSemi-automated parking uses mechanical lifts, platforms or pallets to store vehicles more densely, while the driver still drives onto the platform and leaves the car. Unlike a fully automated parking system, the machine moves the platform, not the car through a building.PARCS and TechnologySERP (Search Engine Results Page)A SERP, or search engine results page, is the page a search engine shows in response to a query, combining organic results, ads, maps, reviews and, increasingly, AI-generated answers.OperationsService LoadService load is the load a structure is expected to carry in normal use, combining its own weight (dead load) with the people, vehicles and other loads that come and go (live load), without the safety factors applied in strength design.Structure, Codes and SafetyShared ParkingShared parking is the practice of letting two or more land uses with different peak times use the same pool of parking spaces, so the combined supply is sized to the combined peak rather than to the sum of each use's separate peak.Policy and ZoningShear WallA shear wall is a stiff vertical wall, usually reinforced concrete or masonry, that resists sideways forces from wind and earthquakes and carries them down to the foundation.Structure, Codes and SafetyShort-Term ParkingShort-term parking is parking intended for stays of minutes to a few hours, typically priced by the hour and located closest to the destination, so that spaces turn over and serve many visitors a day.OperationsShort SpanIn parking structure design, short span describes a framing layout with interior columns placed within the parking bays, typically between groups of stalls, rather than clear-spanning from one side of the parking module to the other.Structure, Codes and SafetyShuttle Parking System (Rack-and-Rail)A shuttle parking system, also called a rack-and-rail system, is a fully automated parking system in which carriers run on rails along each storage level while separate lifts move cars between levels, placing each car into a fixed storage rack.OperationsSingle-Helix ConfigurationA single-helix configuration is a garage layout in which the parking floors themselves slope, so a driver climbs continuously in one spiral direction, rising one full level with each loop around the building.Planning and DesignSingle-Loaded Module (see also Module and Double-Loaded Module)A single-loaded module is a parking layout in which stalls line only one side of a drive aisle, so the aisle serves a single row of parking.Planning and DesignSmart CityA smart city uses connected technology and data to improve how a city operates and serves people, from traffic and transit to utilities, public safety and parking.PARCS and TechnologySmart GrowthSmart growth is an approach to planning that directs new development into compact, walkable, mixed-use communities, usually near existing infrastructure and transit, instead of spreading it across undeveloped land.Policy and ZoningSmart Parking SolutionsSmart parking solutions are technologies that collect real-time data about parking supply and use, then act on it: guiding drivers to open spaces, taking payment without friction, enforcing rules, and setting prices.PARCS and TechnologySmoke BarrierA smoke barrier is a continuous membrane, vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor or ceiling assembly, designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke from one area of a building to another.Structure, Codes and SafetySoft Construction CostsSoft construction costs are the indirect costs of a project that do not go into the physical structure itself, such as design, permitting, financing, insurance, legal and project management.Finance and Project DeliverySoftware as a Service (SaaS)Software as a service (SaaS) is a model in which software runs on the vendor's servers and customers use it over the internet for a recurring subscription, instead of buying a license and running it themselves.PARCS and TechnologySolar CanopyA solar canopy is a photovoltaic array structure over the top parking deck or surface lot, a power plant with a parking benefit.Sustainability and EV ChargingSpace Count SystemA space count system tracks how many spaces are open in a parking facility, level or zone and displays the number on signs, websites and apps, so drivers know where to go before they start circling.PARCS and TechnologySpalled (Spalling)Spalled describes concrete whose surface has cracked and broken away in fragments. In parking structures, spalling is most often caused by corrosion of reinforcing steel, although freeze-thaw damage, impact and poor construction can also cause it.Structure, Codes and SafetySpecial-Use Parking FacilitiesSpecial-use parking facilities are parking areas or structures designed around a particular purpose, vehicle type or user group rather than general public parking.OperationsSpeed RampA speed ramp, also called an express ramp, is a ramp in a parking structure dedicated only to moving vehicles between levels, with no parking along it.Planning and DesignSpillover ParkingSpillover parking is parking demand from a development, transit station, campus or event that overflows onto nearby streets and private lots because the site's own supply is full, priced higher, or less convenient.Policy and ZoningSport Utility Vehicle (SUV)A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a passenger vehicle with a taller body, higher seating position and often four-wheel or all-wheel drive, built on a truck or car platform. Crossovers are SUVs built on car platforms. See crossover utility vehicle.Planning and DesignSprinkler Design DensitySprinkler design density is the rate at which a sprinkler system must deliver water over a defined design area, expressed in gallons per minute per square foot (gpm/sq ft). Together with the design area and duration, it sets how much water the system and its supply must provide.Structure, Codes and SafetyStack parkingStack parking, or stacked parking, is any method of storing more vehicles in a space than self-parking allows by placing cars behind or above one another, using attendants or machines to move them.PARCS and TechnologySteel Bar Joist SystemsA steel bar joist system is a floor or roof system made of light, open-web steel joists spaced closely together, spanning between steel beams or girders, and topped with a corrugated metal deck and a thin concrete slab.Structure, Codes and SafetyStormwater DetentionStormwater detention is the temporary storage of rainwater runoff, released slowly to the storm drain system or a stream so that peak flows do not exceed what downstream pipes and channels can handle. Large paved parking areas are among the main sources of runoff that detention is designed to control.Sustainability and EV ChargingStroadA stroad is a corridor that tries to be both a street and a road and does neither job well. The word, a blend of "street" and "road," was coined in 2011 by civil engineer and planner Charles Marohn, founder of Strong Towns.Policy and ZoningStructural Steel SystemA structural steel system is a parking structure framed with steel columns, beams and girders, with a concrete floor slab, cast-in-place or precast, spanning between the beams.Structure, Codes and SafetyStructural Systems of ParkingIn the context of parking garage construction, structural systems refer to the frameworks and methodologies used to create the load-bearing components of the parking structure.Structure, Codes and SafetySubgrade MaterialSubgrade is the natural or improved soil on which a pavement is built, beneath the base course and the surface layer of asphalt or concrete.Structure, Codes and SafetySubscription RateA subscription rate is a commercial electricity tariff in which the customer reserves a block of capacity in kilowatts for a fixed monthly fee instead of paying a demand charge on the highest peak.Finance and Project DeliverySuperelevationSuperelevation is the banking of a curved roadway or ramp, tilting the surface toward the inside of the curve so a vehicle's weight helps counter the outward force of turning.Planning and DesignSupplemental Cementitious Materials (SCMs)Supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) are powders added to concrete to replace part of the portland cement. The most common are fly ash, slag cement, silica fume and calcined clays such as metakaolin.Sustainability and EV ChargingSustainabilitySustainability is the practice of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing environmental, social and economic outcomes.Sustainability and EV Charging
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Tandem parkingTandem parking is an arrangement in which two or more vehicles park in a line, one behind the other, so the inner vehicle can leave only after the outer one moves.OperationsTax Increment Financing (TIF)Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a public financing method that is utilized for subsidizing redevelopment, infrastructure, and other community-improvement projects.Finance and Project DeliveryThermal RunawayThermal runaway is the self-sustaining overheating failure mode of lithium-ion batteries: long-burning, extinguishment-resistant, and capable of reignition.Sustainability and EV ChargingThird-Party Car-SharingThird-Party Car-Sharing refers to a model of car-sharing where a separate entity or platform facilitates the sharing of vehicles among users, without the direct involvement of the vehicle owners in each transaction.Mobility and AutonomyTime-of-Use RateA time-of-use (TOU) rate is an electricity tariff that charges different prices at different hours of the day, higher during the evening peak and lower overnight or at midday.Sustainability and EV ChargingTower Parking SystemA tower parking system is a fully automated parking system in which a central lift carries each car vertically to storage bays stacked on one or both sides of the lift shaft, so a footprint about the size of two or three parking spaces can hold dozens of cars.PARCS and TechnologyTraffic CalmingTraffic calming is the use of physical design and other measures to slow vehicle traffic and make streets and parking facilities safer for pedestrians, cyclists and residents.Policy and ZoningTraffic StudyA traffic study is an analysis of traffic patterns, flow and safety in a specific area or along a roadway, usually to understand existing conditions or predict the effect of a new project. It is prepared by transportation engineers and reviewed by the local agency.Policy and ZoningTransfer BayA transfer bay is the loading position of an automated parking system where drivers leave and retrieve vehicles, and the machine takes over.PARCS and TechnologyTransient ParkingTransient parking is parking used by customers who have no monthly or contract arrangement and pay per visit, whether they stay 20 minutes or all day.OperationsTransient TrafficIn parking, transient traffic is the flow of vehicles belonging to transient parkers, visitors who park by the hour or day and pay per visit, as distinct from monthly or contract parkers with assigned or permit access.OperationsTransit-Oriented Development (TOD)Transit-oriented development (TOD) is compact, mixed-use development built within walking distance of a transit station, typically within about a half mile, so that residents, workers and visitors can rely on transit, walking and cycling.Mobility and AutonomyTransportation Demand Management (TDM)Transportation demand management (TDM) is a set of strategies and policies that reduce drive-alone trips by encouraging alternatives such as transit, biking, walking, carpooling and working from home.Policy and ZoningTransportation Network Company (TNC)A transportation network company (TNC) is a business that uses an app to connect riders with drivers, usually using their own vehicles. Uber and Lyft are the best-known examples; the term comes from state regulation, which began in California.Mobility and AutonomyTrip Segment Approach to Wayfinding DesignThe trip segment approach to wayfinding design breaks a parking trip into stages, from approaching the facility to leaving it, and plans the information people need at each stage rather than treating signage as one continuous system.Planning and DesignTurning BayA turning bay is the area at the end of a parking bay in a parking structure where drivers make a 180-degree turn into the next bay or onto a ramp to change levels.Planning and DesignTwo-Bay End-to-End ConfigurationA two-bay end-to-end configuration, often called an end-to-end continuous helix, is a parking structure layout with two parking modules side by side in which the floors slope along the length of the structure, so drivers climb one full level in a single loop.Planning and DesignType I ConstructionType I construction is the most fire-resistant classification in the International Building Code (IBC): structural elements, walls and floors are noncombustible, usually concrete or protected steel, with the highest required fire-resistance ratings.Structure, Codes and SafetyType II ConstructionType II construction is a classification in the International Building Code (IBC) for buildings whose structural elements, walls and floors are made of noncombustible materials, such as steel or concrete, but with lower fire-resistance ratings than Type I.Structure, Codes and Safety
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U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1993, that develops green building programs, most notably the LEED rating system.Sustainability and EV ChargingUltimate LoadUltimate load is the load a structural member or system must be able to resist at the point of failure, calculated in strength design by multiplying expected loads by load factors.Structure, Codes and SafetyUnbundled ParkingUnbundled parking is parking that is leased or sold separately from a housing unit or commercial lease, so occupants who do not need a space do not pay for one in their rent.Policy and ZoningUniform Building Code (UBC)The Uniform Building Code (UBC) was a model building code published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and widely adopted in the western United States. Its last edition was published in 1997.Structure, Codes and SafetyUrban Land Institute (ULI)The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a nonprofit research and education organization, founded in 1936, whose members include developers, investors, planners, architects and public officials working in real estate and land use.Policy and Zoning
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Valet ParkingValet parking is a service in which staff take a customer’s vehicle at a drop-off point, park it, and return it when the customer asks for it.OperationsValidation (Parking)Validation is merchant- or employer-subsidized parking: the business stamps, codes, or digitally credits the parker's fee to shift the cost to the party who benefits from the visit.OperationsVariable Frequency Drive (VFD)A variable frequency drive (VFD) controls motor speed by varying power frequency. In parking garages, VFDs paired with CO sensors can cut ventilation fan energy by half or more.Structure, Codes and SafetyVehicle-to-GridVehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the use of parked electric vehicles as a distributed battery, discharging stored energy back to the grid when demand or prices are high and recharging when they are low.Sustainability and EV ChargingVertical CirculationIn parking facility design, vertical circulation is the movement of people between levels by stairs and elevators, as distinct from the movement of vehicles, which is handled by ramps and sloped floors.Planning and DesignVertical ClearanceVertical clearance is the height from the floor to the lowest overhead obstruction in a parking facility, such as a beam, pipe, sprinkler, light, sign or gate housing, and it decides which vehicles can enter and park.Structure, Codes and SafetyVertical Reciprocating Conveyor (VRC)A vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) is a lift that carries materials, carts or equipment between two or more levels on a platform that moves up and down, and it is not designed or permitted to carry people.PARCS and TechnologyVitruvian PrinciplesThe Vitruvian principles are the three qualities of good architecture set out by the Roman architect Vitruvius in the first century BC: firmitas (strength), utilitas (utility) and venustas (beauty), often translated as firmness, commodity and delight.Planning and DesignVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate readily at normal temperatures, releasing gases that can affect health and contribute to ground-level ozone, a main ingredient of smog.Structure, Codes and Safety
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Waffle Slab Floor SystemA waffle slab is a two-way reinforced concrete floor system made with a grid of ribs, formed by placing square dome forms on the deck before the concrete is poured. The underside looks like a waffle; solid areas are left around the columns to resist shear.Structure, Codes and SafetyWayfindingWayfinding is the system of information and design that helps people find their way: in parking, from the street to the facility, to an available space, out to their destination on foot, and back to their car.Planning and DesignWhite LabelA white-label product or service is made by one company and sold under another company's brand, as if it were its own.PARCS and TechnologyWind LoadsWind loads are the pressures and forces that wind exerts on a structure and its components. In the United States they are calculated under ASCE 7, which the building code adopts, from the site's basic wind speed, exposure, height and the shape of the structure.Structure, Codes and SafetyWireless EV ChargingWireless EV charging, also called inductive charging, transfers power from a pad on or in the parking surface to a receiver under the vehicle, with no cable or plug. The driver parks over the pad and charging begins.Sustainability and EV Charging
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