A fully automated parking garage, or APS for short, combines all the components of a traditional garage but eliminates most of the hassles of driving and dropping off your vehicle. These automated systems can be built both above or underground and offer a variety of benefits that far outweigh the initial cost.

Minimal Construction Costs

Automated parking garages are significantly less expensive to construct than traditional garages. This is because they do not require ramps, stairwells, elevators, or large parking decks that construction crews normally need to build into the structure to accommodate cars. These small-footprint parking garages are also much easier to maintain and operate, as they only need lighting, ventilation, security, and janitorial services at one level where the storage areas are located.

Improved Efficiency

By removing the need to build ramps, stairwells, elevators, and parking decks, automated garages reduce construction costs by as much as 75 percent. This allows more money to be used for parking amenities and customer service.

Reduced Emissions

Compared to conventional parking lots, where vehicles are driven in circles trying to find a space, automatic parking systems direct vehicles to empty spaces when possible, which can cut emissions by up to 40 percent. Moreover, vehicles are typically turned off during the entire process, cutting emissions even more.

No Access for Thieves and Vandals

Another advantage of automated garages is that they are 100 percent secure from unauthorized access. This is because cars are stored in a fully enclosed building and accessed only by the people who are supposed to be there.

Increased Safety From Other Cars and Drivers

Automated garages can help drivers avoid a tangle of vehicles that are too close to each other. This is a problem that can be dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians, as well as lead to injuries.

Additionally, APS can make it easier for disabled individuals to exit their vehicles safely. The lowered floor of an APS means that wheelchair-bound individuals do not have to navigate steep inclines or declines and can exit their cars on level ground.

Reduces Collateral Damage

Typical parking garages are susceptible to damage from natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. These types of events can cause serious damage to cars and the underlying structures in an automated garage.

In addition, the high cost of insurance can be a limiting factor for owners and operators. The insurance industry estimates that each year in the U.S., an average of one insurable incident occurs for every hundred cars parked in garages.

But by installing an automated garage, owners can significantly reduce the number of potential accidents, which in turn will minimize the cost of insurance. In some cases, the reduced accident rate could be enough to pay for the cost of the system itself, which in turn will decrease the need for maintenance and operating expenses.