Enhancing Campus Parking Data Collection with Drones

Level of Education of Students Involved

Undergraduate

Faculty Sponsor

Jay Grossman

College

College of Engineering (COE)

Discipline(s)

Civil Engineering

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-30-2026

Abstract

Parking occupancy data is critical for effective campus transportation planning, but traditional collection methods are time-intensive and limited in coverage. This study evaluates the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to estimate parking lot occupancy at Valparaiso University and compares the results with manual counting. A drone was used to capture aerial imagery of campus parking lots, while students in CE-457: Traffic Engineering conducted in-person counts four times per day over two days. The datasets were compared to assess agreement between methods and identify sources of error, including timing differences and visibility limitations. The findings support the use of UAS as a reliable tool for parking occupancy analysis.

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