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Vol. 26 Issue 52 fiusm.com Wednesday, January 21, 2015 ‘Smart’ parking garage to spare students time in cars MARIA C. SERRANO “Beyond just building the Staff Writer garage, we are launching a smart [email protected] garage,” Tom said. “The new garage enhances ease of access The opening of PG6 at and ease of parking throughout the university’s main campus the university, all while reducing brings hundreds of new spaces traffic congestion and the need to for commuters. More than that, hunt for a parking space.” the garage brings new, smart Even though PG6 took technology to parking on campus. nearly a year to construct, it has The PG6 structure enables the lightened the lives of drivers integration of license plate at the Modesto A. Maidique recognition with a car counting Campus and has provided over system, which allows the FIU 2,000 additional parking spaces. Department of Parking and “Sometimes I’ve waited Transportation to push parking around 20 to 30 minutes to MARIA SERRANO/THE BEACON availability in real time. park,” Sileirim Ortega said, a The brand new Parking Garage 6, which opened on Jan. 12, 2015, brings what university officials The communication of the sophomore majoring in finance. say is a smart and convenient way for the FIU Community to park, take classes, and shop. parking availability will be “I see a really big relief here through the FIU mobile app, because the parking lot itself is data requested by Governor Rick “This location also provides better the commute in and out the which could be found on the bigger and more comfortable to Scott in February 2013. needed parking in a rapidly FIU eighth street main entrance, app store, and through variable drive.” The technology in the PG6 growing area,” Hartley said. 10th street was widened from message signals located in The FIU Board of Trustees building also has the possibility “Especially with the additional 109th Avenue to 112th Avenue. boards in the entrances of PG6 -- approved the construction for the to gather current utilization data medical buildings coming in A traffic circle was also added at saving drivers time searching for PG6 building in March 2011, yet to forecast future needs. line.” 112th Avenue. an empty space. it did not receive approval from According to Hartley, the The parking garage is located “PG6 has so much space According to Thomas the State of Florida Division of PG6 location was strategically west of the Red Parking Garage around and it’s way better. I Hartley, executive director Bond Finance until late June. planned and because it was next and features a bridge to the like it and it’s where I park all of the FIU Department of The project needed to the main entrance, it provided Engineering and Computer the time,” Ortega said. “I love Parking and Transportation, reauthorization due to change the University with easy access Science Building. Much like PG5, the bridge. You just cross by and such communication platforms of building location from the from the main thoroughfare. it includes 35,000 square feet of you don’t have to be looking for are still in construction. These southeast side to the north side There are also upcoming shell space for university-related traffic, so it is very convenient platforms are expected to be in of the University, in addition to projects that can be aided by the retail space and classrooms. for everyone.” function in the upcoming weeks. funding concerns and analysis opening of PG6. In addition to PG6 and to Mobile application simplifies campus navigation at MMC ADRIAN SUAREZ AVILA three-letter acronym for the building in which the “Time is of the essence, and students are along with Guidebook, a program that charges News Director class would be held, the campus map provided moving around,” Paez said. “We have a schedule schools to have their campus maps featured on [email protected] by the school featured the building’s full name, to keep up with and [Campus Maps] is gonna the server, according to Bhandari. a mismatch that Bhandari found to be inefficient. save us time, and I think that’s the most important Unlike Guidebook, Campus Maps is offered Working on campus, Jenyer Paez often finds He then set to work on the application, which element.” to students for free on the iTunes and Android it difficult to give directions to people navigating he hoped would make the process of finding a According to Bhandari, the most common app stores. throughout campus. building more streamlined. feedback from students is, “Wow, you’ve saved According to Bhandari, what sets Campus “Since I work here on campus I have a lot Maps apart from other mobile applications is of people ask me how to find certain buildings the quick speed at which it provides directions [and] certain departments, and it’s not always to users. easy to give them directions,” Paez said. But why add FIU to the server? Luckily for the senior English major, a Bhandari’s aim was to reach the hundred solution is available in the tip of his fingers. Since I work here on campus I have a lot of people ask me largest college and university campuses within Campus Maps, a mobile application launched how to find certain buildings [and] certain departments, and the United States. in summer 2012 by Vikram Bhandari, has “I had students’ interests at heart [when it’s not always easy to give them directions recently added Florida International University creating the application,]” Bhandari said. to its server. What sets Campus Maps apart from the map However, although the application features Jenyer Paez available on the FIU Mobile app is its ability a map of the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, to provide students actual directions from one Senior it doesn’t provide one for the Biscayne Bay building to another, while the FIU Mobile app English Major Campus. just features a localizer and a compass that points The application, which features campus students to the desired location. maps for over 85 colleges and universities in the Bhandari has other apps under construction. country, allows users to get directions from one “I’d be happy if [the application] got ten my life.” Among them is Campus Jobs, which allows point on the selected campus to another. downloads,” Bhandari said. After the application’s success with the UMD users to identity job openings available near their According to Bhandari, the idea for the He initially created the application College Park community, Bhandari decided college campus. application was sparked from his personal specifically for UMD College Park. to expand to the University of Virginia and Bhandari encourages feedback from students. frustration with trying to find his way throughout The application achieved around 1500 University of Pennsylvania, gradually adding Those interested in providing suggestions or the University of Maryland College Park downloads during its first year, a number that other college campuses as time progressed. asking questions are welcome to contact him at campus. tripled during the following year. At the moment, Bhandari considers [email protected] or founder@ Although his class schedule only provided a For some students, being on time is critical. Blackboard as Campus Maps’ main competitor, getcampusmaps.com. 2 The Beacon – Wednesday, January 21, 2015 NEWS fiusm.com NATION & WORLD Community college leaders BRIEFS await details of Obama’s plan GOP hopes 2016 nomination said the proposal held scholarships, Pell Grants and grow since the Gilmore process will be quick, smooth CHRIS KIEFFER promise, although Eaton other financial aid has been Foundation launched it Northeast Mississippi Daily noted he would still like to applied. in Monroe County in Republican leaders are desperate to make the pres- Journal, Tupelo see more details. Reports indicate the 2008. Funds are paid by idential nominating process quick and clean so their TNS “We appreciate President new federal proposal would planning and development nominee can get onto the business of running against Obama’s effort to forge a cover the cost of tuition districts, foundations, the Democrat in the general election. President Obama likely more positive relationship up-front before other aid was county governments, city Instead, it could become an unruly slog. The party changed its rules and policies dramati- will use next week’s State with community college applied. It is unclear whether governments, business and cally so someone could wrap up the 2016 nomination of the Union address to give students across the country,” community college Pell individuals. fast. Frequent debates are being discouraged. more details about his recent Allen said. “Obviously, this Grants and other state and “I’m not certain how The nomination fight will be shorter, with voting proposal to provide free plan should directly benefit federal aid would no longer big this announcement in primaries and caucuses starting later and the formal community college.