As a city manager for a mid-size city, you must be able to examine patterns and trends to highlight organizational performance and support organizational strategic planning. One of the ways that is done is through analyzing the statistics. Still, just presenting the numbers is not always the most efficient way to present your analysis.
Scenario
You are a city manager for a mid-size city that is anticipating increases in population and auto traffic as new industries move into the downtown area. Parking spaces are already hard to find and traffic congestion can be problematic from commuters and events like concerts and sports. Before considering adding additional parking, you think it is possible to use existing parking more effectively through a smart parking app that identifies parking space availability in different parking lots throughout the city in real time.
In this assessment, you will demonstrate your skill in information visualization when you present your recommendations to the City Council members who are responsible for deciding whether the city invests in resources to set in motion the smart parking space app.
Preparation
Review the parking space usage file.
Select any 2 parking lots. For each one, review the scatter plot showing the occupancy rate at each time stamp during the week of 11/20/2022 –11/26/2022. Identify whether occupancy rates are time dependent. If so, identify the times that seem to experience the highest occupancy rates.
Research “smart cities” to provide guidance and support for your presentation.
Create a 10- to 12-slide information visualization presentation including voice-over or screencast video. Include the following in your presentation:
Outline the rationale and goals of the project.
Analyze the box plot charts showing the occupancy rates for each day of the week and interpret the results.
Analyze the box plot charts showing the occupancy rates for each parking lot and interpret the results.
Choose 2 scatter plot charts showing occupancy rate against the time of day over the course of the week and interpret the results.
Full Answer Section
Slide 2: Introduction
- Briefly introduce the city's current parking predicament: growing population, limited spaces, traffic woes.
- Highlight the inefficiency of existing parking infrastructure and the frustration of residents.
- Introduce the proposed solution: a smart parking app leveraging real-time data to optimize parking utilization.
Slide 3: Rationale and Goals
- Outline the rationale behind the project:
- Improve resident experience and quality of life by reducing parking stress.
- Enhance economic development by facilitating smoother traffic flow and business accessibility.
- Optimize resource allocation by maximizing usage of existing parking infrastructure.
- Gain valuable data insights to inform future urban planning decisions.
Slide 4: Data Insights: Day of the Week Analysis
- Present box plot charts depicting parking occupancy rates for each day of the week (11/20/2022 - 11/26/2022).
- Analyze and interpret trends:
- Are there significant differences in occupancy across weekdays vs. weekends?
- Do specific days show consistently higher demand?
- Identify potential correlations with events or business activity.
Slide 5: Data Insights: Parking Lot Comparison
- Present box plots comparing occupancy rates for the two chosen parking lots.
- Analyze and interpret:
- Which lot experiences higher overall occupancy?
- Are peak usage patterns similar or distinct?
- Identify potential reasons for discrepancies (location, size, type of events nearby).
Slide 6: Time-based Trends: Scatter Plot Analysis
- Display scatter plots for each parking lot, showing occupancy rate against time of day for the week.
- Analyze and interpret:
- Are there clear peak hours with significantly higher demand?
- Do peak times coincide with typical commute patterns or specific events?
- Identify underutilized periods with potential for increased parking availability.
Slide 7: Smart Parking App: The Solution
- Introduce the proposed smart parking app as a data-driven solution to address identified issues.
- Explain app features:
- Real-time parking availability information for city lots.
- Dynamic pricing based on demand and time of day.
- Reservation and payment options for guaranteed spots.
- Integration with traffic navigation apps for seamless user experience.
Slide 8: Benefits and Impact
- Highlight the potential benefits of the smart parking app:
- Reduced time spent searching for parking, leading to increased resident satisfaction and productivity.
- Improved traffic flow and congestion mitigation, benefiting commuters and businesses alike.
- Enhanced data collection for informed decision-making on future parking infrastructure investments.
- Potential revenue generation from dynamic pricing and reservation fees.
Slide 9: Implementation and Investment
- Outline the implementation plan: app development, data integration, pilot testing, and city-wide rollout.
- Estimate potential costs and resources required for development and initial deployment.
- Propose funding options, such as public-private partnerships or grants for smart city initiatives.
Slide 10: Call to Action
- Recap the urgency of addressing the city's parking challenges and the potential of the smart parking app.
- Emphasize the long-term benefits for residents, businesses, and the city's overall development.
- Call upon the City Council to approve the investment and embark on this data-driven journey towards a smarter parking future.
Bonus Slides (Optional):
- Slide 11: "Smart Cities" Inspiration: Showcase examples of successful smart parking implementations in other cities.
- Slide 12: Addressing Concerns: Briefly address potential concerns like data privacy and accessibility, and propose mitigation strategies.
Voice-over or Screencast:
- Utilize a clear and engaging voice-over or screencast to guide the audience through the presentation.
- Highlight key data points and insights with visuals and animations.
- Maintain a positive and persuasive tone, emphasizing the win-win solution for the city and its residents.
Conclusion:
This presentation aims to convince the City Council that investing in a smart parking app is not just about technology; it's about creating a smarter, more efficient, and ultimately happier city for everyone. By leveraging the power of data and innovative solutions, we can pave the way for a future where parking is no longer a source of stress, but a seamless and optimized part of the urban experience.
Note: This is a framework for your presentation. You can customize it by adding specific data visualizations, tailoring your analysis to the provided parking data