What a parking study can measure
Occupancy shows how many eligible spaces are in use at a stated time. Utilisation applies that count to the agreed inventory. Turnover and duration require additional observation rules; entry-exit counts describe access activity rather than space use. A brief should name the decision the evidence is intended to support.
Metric comparison
Illustrative interpretation guide — not a project result.
| Metric | Definition | How measured | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy | Spaces occupied at a defined time | Sweep or snapshot against eligible inventory | Demand profile |
| Accumulation | Vehicles present across a sequence | Repeated observations across intervals | Time pattern |
| Turnover | Use changes for spaces or an area | Event or repeat-observation method | Operational management |
| Duration | Observed time in the area | Lawful tracking or matched events | Stay patterns |
Define the inventory before observation
Map the boundary and eligible bays. State how public, staff, disabled, loading, visitor, reserved, closed or informal spaces are treated. An unexplained change in inventory can make an occupancy percentage misleading.
Choose the right time pattern
A repeated sweep schedule is useful for occupancy profiles. More frequent checks can reveal change; a broader interval gives a high-level view. Days, events and operating conditions should be selected against the project question, not assumed to represent every period.
Field and video considerations
Whether collected on site or from suitable footage, every included bay must be visible or otherwise observable. Construction, blocked aisles, poorly marked bays and changing access arrangements are documented as conditions, not ignored.
Quality checks and limits
Reconcile every recorded occupied-space total with the agreed inventory, check interval continuity, and distinguish a data limitation from a real zero. The result describes observed use in the defined boundary and period; it does not prove future parking demand.