Assignment 3: Problem Formulation

Assignment 3: Problem Formulation

1. Generate problem statements that focus on the function to be achieved by any viable design solution

2. Apply a number of techniques and strategies such as the statement-restatement technique, the source/cause approach, the revision method, present state-desired state (PS-DS) strategy, and Duncker diagrams

3. Perform Kepner-Tregoe (KT) situation analysis to evaluate various aspects of a situation in terms of three criteria (timing, trend, and impact), thereby determining what is known, which tasks should be performed, and in what order these tasks should be completed

4. Perform KT problem analysis to determine possible causes of a problem

Problem Statement:

Finding available parking spots in busy lots and garages consumes excessive time for drivers, leading to increased stress, wasted fuel, and unnecessary emissions. Our project seeks to develop a camera-based system that uses image recognition to identify and inform drivers of open parking spaces in real-time, aiming to improve parking efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance driver experience.

Kepner-Tregoe Situation Analysis

(Priority) = Low, Medium, High

Timing (L)

How urgent is the problem? Not very urgent. 

Is a deadline involved? No. 

What will happen if nothing is done? As populations grow in busy areas and cities, parking lots will be harder to navigate causing unnecessary accidents.

Trend (M)

Will the problem get worse? Yes, over time as human population grows and there are more drivers.

Problem's potential for growth? The problem will keep growing as long as cars are used as main transportation. 

Impact (M)

How serious is the problem? Depending on location, it can be a serious problem if the parking lot is very busy all the time.

What are the effects on people, products, companies, etc? The main problem is that it wastes people's time and can cause them to be late.

Kepner-Tregoe Problem Analysis

Incomplete Parking Information:

• • Priority: High // Timing: Medium // Impact: High

  • Problem Description: Lack of real-time information about available parking spots makes it difficult for drivers to efficiently find parking.

  • Potential Causes:

    1. Outdated or inaccurate parking lot maps.

    2. Ineffective communication channels for disseminating parking availability information.

    3. Insufficient integration between parking management systems and navigation apps.

Inadequate Parking Management:

• • Priority: Medium // Timing: Medium // Impact: Medium

  • Problem Description: Poor management practices contribute to inefficient allocation and utilization of parking spaces.

  • Potential Causes:

    1. Lack of monitoring and enforcement of parking regulations.

    2. Manual processes for managing parking, leading to delays and errors.

    3. Insufficient staffing or resources for managing parking facilities effectively.

Limited Parking Space Awareness:

• • Priority: Medium // Timing: Medium // Impact: High

  • Problem Description: Drivers are unaware of available parking spaces due to inadequate visibility or signage.

  • Potential Causes:

    1. Poorly designed parking lot layouts that obscure visibility of available spots.

    2. Inadequate signage or guidance for directing drivers to open parking areas.

    3. Lack of lighting or visibility in parking garages, making it difficult to identify empty spaces.

Traffic Congestion and Circulation:

• • Priority: Medium // Timing: Medium // Impact: High

  • Problem Description: Congested traffic within parking lots exacerbates the difficulty of finding available spaces.

  • Potential Causes:

    1. Inefficient traffic flow patterns within parking lots.

    2. Limited entry and exit points causing bottlenecks during peak times.

    3. Lack of designated drop-off and pick-up zones leading to congestion near entrances.

Insufficient Technology Integration:

• • Priority: High // Timing: Medium // Impact: High

  • Problem Description: Lack of integration between parking management systems and technological solutions hinders the implementation of real-time parking availability tracking.

  • Potential Causes:

    1. Resistance to adopting new technology within parking management organizations.

    2. Compatibility issues between different parking management software and hardware solutions.

    3. Lack of funding or investment in updating parking infrastructure to support technological advancements.