Data Base Management – Tying in with the clouds mentioned above is the ability to “slice and dice” data easily, quickly and from anywhere. Information is king, and every company providing revenue control both on- and off-street had systems that enabled the user, if they wished, to collect and process data so they could understand more about their businesses. Because it’s “cloud- based,” a lot more computer power can be brought to bear on the problem, at a much lower cost. Consider that you are using a computer 100 times the size of one that would normally fit in your garage, and at a tenth of the cost. Plus, you have someone who actually knows what they are doing supervising its operation 24/7. Hmmmm.
stuff to VIPs. (Somehow I got to see it.) Which brings us to …
NFC Payment Technology
– Five years or more ago, I heard about near-field communication from an exhibitor. Now it’s the flavor of the month – the idea being that your cellphone would carry this technology and you can transfer money and ID information directly from the phone to a meter, POF, P and D, or whatever extremely securely without making a cellphone call. Most of the manufacturers have NFC-enabled equipment and are waiting on the phone technology to catch up.
Technology was everywhere at the IPI – including complex bill dispensing equipment.
Parking Guidance System – This is my personal favorite. Of course, we see it coming here in the US, but a number of companies are touting new technology that makes it easier and more cost effective to install. I think the idea of arrows, number signs, and red/green lights over a parking space is the bee’s knees. Here is a technology that actually provides better service to the parker while enabling garage management to ensure that they can sell all spaces in the garage and give the same high level of service. No more driving up one row and down another. Now, as a PGS becomes less expensive to install, we will be seeing it in more garages. Yes!
PT Editor checks out gate that looks like the dash of a BMW or Mercedes.
QR Barcode on Smartphone – You saw this last year, but really in only one or two booths. In Phoenix it was everywhere. Get your entry pass when you pay your parking from home, have it – like a boarding pass – downloaded to your smartphone, wave the phone at a reader in the garage and you are good to go. Virtually every manufacturer had something like this in that “special” area off to the side where they showed the important
Adura Technologies Adds Kaiser Center Garage to Project List
I see confusion on the faces of owners and operators – what to do? Do we wait until the next best thing comes out, or do we buy now and be behind the curve? I say press on. Fill your needs with the technology that exists today. Most of the equipment has a life of, what, five to eight years, and then the cutting-edge technology we see today will be solid and ready for you.
On the other hand, if some of the technology I mentioned above solves a problem for you, go for it. Who knows, it might just be the perfect thing to take your operation to new heights.
John Van Horn is Editor of Parking Today magazine. He can be reached at
jvh@parkingtoday.com. This article is based on an article first run in Parking Magazine.
PT
Adura Technologies, a leading provider of wireless lighting controls and energy management systems, has announced growth in two key areas.
The company has added the 500,000-square-foot Kaiser Center parking garage in Oakland, CA, to the list of facilities with its wireless lighting control system. Also, the company has completed an $8.5 million Series B round of funding. “Adura’s system is now part of another one of the Bay Area’s
marquee buildings,” CEO Mark Golan said. “Our continued success with customers has been instrumental to our continued funding success.”
The new funding round came from investors including
NGEN Partners, VantagePoint Capital Partners and Claremont Creek Ventures. Adura said the funding reflects confidence in its growth, perhaps best represented by a 273% jump in revenue in 2011 over 2010.
“The smart-building-controls market represents a huge investment opportunity,” said Claremont Creek’s Nat Goldhaber.
Parking Today
www.parkingtoday.com
“Adura’s wireless control technology offers compelling solutions for the challenges that control systems must meet to encourage widespread adoption. We’re proud this has proved the case with our Oakland neighbor, the landmark Kaiser Center.” One of the city’s signature buildings, Kaiser Center is a
28-story office tower served by an adjacent 5-story, 1,339-space parking garage. The building’s owner/manager, The Swig Co., had long been looking for a way to cut down on energy waste in the garage without compromising illumination or patron experience.
Kaiser Center General Manager Andrea Kirkpatrick believes that The Swig Co. has demonstrated “a real commitment to environmental stewardship while simultaneously controlling the building’s energy costs.” “Last year, we reduced the building’s overall carbon footprint, earning LEED Gold status in the process,” Kirkpatrick said. “Now, with the help of the Oakland Shines energy program [for city businesses] and Adura’s system, we have taken a further step toward establishing Kaiser Center as one of the most energy efficient commercial office buildings in Northern California.” (Source: Adura Technologies)
35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64