FIVE- M IN U T E A N A LYST
Probabilistic parking
problems
The whole parking
activity brings out the
worst behaviors of
humankind: hoarding,
brinksmanship, scarcity
mentality, irrational
objective functions…
and why as an O.R.
professional I love parking
lots: because they are so
interesting to study.
Figure 1: A “smart meter” in a parking lot. This meter has a button
next to the coin lot that may be pressed for a free hour of parking.
Coins may be added for additional time, up to two hours.
BY HARRISON
SCHRAMM, CAP
84
|
Few things make me more conflicted than parking
lots. On a personal level H