The challenge is about a real-world problem – parking spaces. Land in cities is in short supply and therefore the value of parking spaces is very high, perhaps as much as £100,000 per space in central London. Consequently new developments, such as blocks of offices or flats, are built with their own integrated underground car parks, and it is important to design them so as to fit in as many parking spaces as possible. However, it is rather difficult to find the configuration that maximises the number of spaces, particularly when the area available is an irregular shape.
Students are being asked to find the best possible layout of bays and aisles from three areas that need to be developed as car parks.
Professor Jonathan Lawry, Head of the Department of Engineering Mathematics, said: “We hope this competition will give students an insight into mathematical modelling, the art of creative problem solving with mathematics.
“Mathematics is the language of engineering and science, and mathematical modelling is crucial for developing new technologies.”
The Bristol Engineering Mathematics School Challenge is open to Year 12 students and the closing date for entries is Friday 12 July 2013.
For more information about the challenge, visit: www.bris.ac.uk/engineering/departments/engineering-mathematics/competition.html