Off‑Street Parking Site Selection Considering Parking Demand Using an Integrated AHP–GIS Approach: A Case Study of Kerman, Iran

Urban population growth and increasing vehicle ownership have substantially intensified parking demand in central urban areas, resulting in issues such as double parking, extended search times for parking spaces, longer travel times, and a decline in overall urban livability. Expanding parking capacity through the development of off-street parking facilities is a supply-side strategy to mitigate these challenges. Given spatial and financial constraints, the site selection of parking facilities must be optimized to avoid resource wastage and effectively meet actual urban demand. In this study, to enhance the efficiency and utilization of off-street parking, parking demand and the corresponding shortage of parking spaces were incorporated as key factors alongside a set of criteria identified in previous studies. Through a comprehensive literature review and expert consultation, the most influential criteria for off-street parking site selection were identified, and their relative importance was quantified using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Results indicated that distance from trip attraction centers and parking shortage were the most critical factors according to expert judgment, followed by distance from main roads, proximity to existing parking facilities, and land value. In a case study of Kerman City, 14 functional parking shortage zones were delineated. Based on AHP results and GIS analysis, suitable sites for increasing parking capacity, either through expansion of existing multi-level parking facilities or the establishment of new ones, were proposed within each shortage zone.