Security Using Advanced Technology to Improve Parking

New Safety & Security Director Daniel Gough is mapping out his plan to fix parking at Marist.

For the last two weeks, Marist College Safety & Security has used drone technology to gather empirical data and improve parking for all parties.

“We’ve been flying drones over the entire campus every day in two-hour increments from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.” said new Marist Director of Safety & Security Daniel Gough. “The drone footage is looking at parking density and traffic congestion during the different hours of the day and days of the week.”

Although they are in the early stages of this project, Gough foresees that by the spring semester, they will have a clear “roadmap attack.”

“There’s no magic card for any of this,” said Gough. "But anything we can get to increase pedestrian and non-vehicular traffic would be highly beneficial.”

Gough shared that the security team is working with The DLR Group, a consulting company that specializes in higher education campus planning, as part of a larger college-wide strategic planning project. This includes the possibility of a shuttle service on campus or even public electric scooters.

He believes that limiting residential students’ vehicular travel plays a huge role in improving parking. This is especially true for buildings like Fontaine Hall or the Dyson Center, where parking is in high demand.

“In some cases, we have all three parking populations turning into the same lot,” said Gough. “We’re trying to make it so that more lots are designated for faculty and staff.”

Marist student Max Rosen ‘27 voiced his frustration with the parking situation at Marist.

“There always seems to be a lack of parking spaces, no matter where I am on campus,” said Rosen. “Sometimes, I drive around the McCann lot for 10 minutes before I find a spot.”

When asked about the idea of an increase in public transportation methods for students, Rosen felt a shuttle service may not be the most realistic option.

“A shuttle service may not be necessary because the campus is not that big,” said Rosen.

Despite expressing a lack of need for the shuttle service, Rosen liked the idea of public scooters.

“The scooters would definitely make sense,” he said. “They are practical and easy to use when traveling short distances quickly.”