Business objective
Damn Parking aims to reduce the uncertainty drivers face when deciding where to search for parking. The intended value is clearer availability information so drivers can make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary searching.
Sprint 1 translates that objective into a limited working prototype with a parking map, user updates, and a demonstration of camera-based occupancy detection.
Research basis and initial users
The initial focus is students and other campus drivers, the segment identified in the Project Charter and investigated in interviews. These users often know where lots are, but not whether a useful space is available when they arrive.
Evidence of impact: one Phase 1 participant spent about 40 minutes finding parking and arrived late to work. In Phase 2, one waited behind someone who was not leaving, then searched another lot; another routinely chose farther parking because closer lots were assumed full. Even drivers who rarely struggle still wanted to know which lots were completely full.
The strategy therefore focuses on useful availability information, not a single parking solution for every driver.
Value proposition and strategic focus
Damn Parking’s value proposition is a clearer view of parking conditions at selected locations so drivers can decide where to look. A map helps locate parking; availability information helps judge whether a location is worth checking. User departure updates and camera-derived occupancy are proposed ways to supply that information.
This builds on the move from the original token-based Parking Handshake concept toward live parking intelligence. Departure sharing remains useful, but individual space exchange is no longer the sole focus. The broader purpose is to reduce uncertainty about existing parking. Any reduction in search time or frustration is an intended benefit to evaluate, not a result already proven by the prototype.
From strategy to project scope
- Availability information helps users assess selected locations.
- A basic map connects that information to identifiable places.
- User departure updates report changing conditions.
- Camera-based occupancy detection demonstrates another potential data source.
The charter excludes city-wide camera installation, a complete parking network, payment processing, and commercial deployment. Limited coverage lets the team demonstrate the concept within the academic project.
Conditions for delivering value
Value depends on timely, accurate information. Outdated availability could send a driver to an occupied space. Camera footage or sample video must be available for the demonstration, and user contributions depend on participation. Camera functionality should focus on space occupancy, consistent with the charter’s privacy constraint.
Evaluating strategic progress
The charter’s delivery standard is a functional prototype that demonstrates availability, selected locations, user updates, a basic map, and camera-based occupancy detection. Completing those features demonstrates the proposed service; it does not by itself establish reduced search time or commercial demand. Sprint 2 business-case work can assess expected value, costs, feasibility, and ROI within this scope.
Document Business Strategy