TEMPARKMAY CHANGE THE WAY ODU PARKS

Old Dominion University has a large student population which commutes to campus, so the campus has an equally large number of garages and parking lots. However, as the campus is expanding with new buildings, most of the buildings are being developed on existing ODU parking lots.

To make matters worse, Norfolk has problems with flooding, because it is close to sea level. Also, much of the surrounding surfaces have asphalt and buildings, which puts all the run off in the storm drain.

These conditions all combine to form some pretty complex issues for parking at ODU.

That is when TemPark comes into the picture. TemPark is a surface used for temporary parking lots. The material used for parking lot is durable mesh core, sandwiched and heat-fused between top and bottom geotextile surfaces which is 100% permeable. Crushed run stone placed and compacted was used for the sub-base for the TemPark with sand. Runoff from asphalt carries pollutants, such as heavy metals, petroleum products, and suspended solids. The pollutants enter storm water and have to be treated before entering natural water.

Currently an experimental lothas been implemented at Old Dominion University by Parking Services, with the help of Dr. Asad Khattak, the Frank Batten Endowed Chair Professor in the civil & environmental engineering department and director of the Transportation Research Institute and a graduate engineering student, Andrew Hayes. Most of the material used at the lot on the corner of 47th Street and Killam Avenue was recycled from the Ford Motor Company in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The parking lot is opened to all parking permits for Old Dominion University. The parking lot contains 77 parking spaces, which are painted.

For additional information on TemPark, click here.