A document here shows an initial exploration of a multistoried parking building (already constructed) examined to evaluate its vehicle parking capacity and calculations based on dead and live loads to explore its structural requirements (in a reverse way!).

1. Reverse Engineering – A case study in Civil Engineering “Analyzing a multi-storied parking building”
A study by Bhasker V. Bhatt & Kishan Kapadia (En. No. 140420106031) AY 2016-17
1. Reverse Engineering
1.1 Introduction
Eilam, Eldad (2005) in his book “Reversing: secrets of reverse engineering” defines reverse
engineering as “Reverse engineering, also called back engineering, is the processes of
extracting knowledge or design information from anything man-made and re-producing it or
re-producing anything based on the extracted information.”
The reverse engineering is a concept to understand a product or process in a reverse order, i.e.
to reach to its conceptualization stage beginning analysis from the final product as available. It
helps in performing analysis in a back-step mode so as underlying insights are unveiled.
1.2 Site-visit to a multi-storied parking project
We selected a multi-storied parking project in field. The site is at Gandhi-Smruti Bhavan, a
convention hall of the Surat Muncipal Corportation. At first, a site-visit was conducted. Below
are the photographs of the site visit (October 2016).
On the ground floor From first floor to ground floor
Ramp for vertical movement of vehicles On terrace/ top floor

2. Reverse Engineering – A case study in Civil Engineering “Analyzing a multi-storied parking building”
A study by Bhasker V. Bhatt & Kishan Kapadia (En. No. 140420106031) AY 2016-17
Provision for future expansion at terrace The parking in the basement
The parking in the basement From basement to ground floor
1.3 Details of the site and area calculations
In the absence of proper drawings and lay-out, an initial area analysis was carried out by
investigating the built-space using Google Earth. Below is an image capture of the parking
building, a view from the top with earmarking of the building boundary.
Floor area = 560 Sq. Mt. for terrace. (Courtesy: Google Earth Pro)

3. Reverse Engineering – A case study in Civil Engineering “Analyzing a multi-storied parking building”
A study by Bhasker V. Bhatt & Kishan Kapadia (En. No. 140420106031) AY 2016-17
Upon observation, it was identified that certain area is left out for vehicle movement and cannot
be used for the parking purpose. Below image shows such area left as passage on each floor.
(Courtesy: Google Earth Pro)
Calculations of area of parking:
Total floor area = 560 Sq. Mt.
Passage area on floor = 140 + 50 Sq. Mt. = 190 Sq. Mt
Hence,
Effective area available for parking of vehicles = 370 Sq. Mt. on each floor
1.4 Vehicle parking capacity
Assumptions:
Area required for parking of a car = 7.5 Sq. Mt. (2.5 m x 3.0 m)
Area required for parking of a 2W = 1.2 Sq. Mt. (1.76 m x 0.71 m)
Capacity of parking for each floor:
Basement can accommodate 49 cars
Ground floor can accommodate 99 (2W) – Bikes/ Mopeds
First floor can accommodate 49 cars

4. Reverse Engineering – A case study in Civil Engineering “Analyzing a multi-storied parking building”
A study by Bhasker V. Bhatt & Kishan Kapadia (En. No. 140420106031) AY 2016-17
Second floor/ terrace can accommodate 49 cars
• Layout for parking of vehicle was prepared using floor marking
signs of Yellow color paints.
• Observation also revealed that the parking space was utilized of
its full capacity for most of the hours in a day. The fee rates of
parking are: INR 30/- for a car and INR 10/- for a 2-wheeler.
• There is a stair case provided for movement of citizens after
parking a vehicle. It connects all floors leading to exit of the
parking building.
1.5 Vehicle load calculations (Live-loads)
To calculate load of a vehicle (Live-load) for parked cars and 2-
wheelers, below reference was considered.
Weight of cars
For the 2-wheelers, the weight of Honda vehicles was obtained.
Standard wt. of Bike (Splendor Plus) = 109 Kg
Standard wt. of Moped (Activa 125) = 110 kg
Hence,
Considered weight of 2-wheelers as 110 kg for obtaining vehicle loads.
Floors Vehicles Cumulative Live Load
Second floor/ terrace 49 cars 233.70 Tonne
First floor 49 cars 467.40 Tonne
Ground floor 99 mopeds 575.40 Tonne
Basement 49 cars 809.10 Tonne
Total live load 2085.60 Tonne
Considering factor of safety as 1.5 Design Live-load 3128.40 Tonne

5. Reverse Engineering – A case study in Civil Engineering “Analyzing a multi-storied parking building”
A study by Bhasker V. Bhatt & Kishan Kapadia (En. No. 140420106031) AY 2016-17
1.6 Building element loads (Dead-loads)
The floor area of slab = 560 Sq Mt.
Thickness of slab = 0.15 Mt (i.e. 150 mm)
Hence,
Volument of the RCC Slab = (560 Sq. Mt.) x (0.15 Mt) = 84 Cu. Mt.
Now,
Density of fresh concrete = 2398 Kg/ Cu. Mt.
Hence,
Wt. of concrete on a slab = (2398 Kg/ Cu. Mt.) x (84 Cu. Mt.) = 201432 kg
= 201 Tonne
Now,
assume the weight of the beams @ 30% of slab weight
hence, weight of beams on floor = 60.3 Tonne
and,
assume the weight of the columns @ 15% of slab weight
hence, weight of columns on floor = 30.15 Tonne
Below is a floor load calculations:
Floor Cummulative load
Second floor/ Terrace 261.30 Tonne
First floor 552.75 Tonne
Ground floor 844.20 Tonne
Basement 1135.65 Tonne
Transfer to footing 1165.80 Tonne
Add for factor of safety (1.5 times) @ 582.90 Tonne
Total design dead load 1748.70 Tonne