Our map based system design resulted from viewing many parks during the check in process. We found most park managers using copies of their park map in some form during the scheduling process. Most would mark site status on a daily paper copy using color marking pens according to type of stay. A copy of the park map would also be given to the customer to direct them to their site. So a copy of the park map seemed the logical vehicle to show park status, whereas parks using matrix boards mounted on the wall usually looked forward to their demise once computer software is installed.

Note: Some vendors will add a map to a spreadsheet type system, but may lack full dynamic capabilities of the maps contained here - with full picture and picture install utility features for each site and amenity, full depth to any reservation day, and drag and drop ability. Those systems remain primarily "rows and columns" based -- whereas our system is primarily Map Based. However, we "do" provide a Grid Map for the user for certain "almost full" park situations.

Manual Map Systems: We have come across a number of very ingenious map based manual systems as we convert to our system. For example, some parks use colored golf tees (to denote daily, weekly, or monthly) placed in holes drilled in a map (or colored tacks) of the park glued to a plywood base or tack board (see figure below). Another park had 365 pages of their park map in a 3 ring binder - with more binders for future years. The name of each reservation was then placed on the proper site and on each ensuing page for the proposed stay duration. Of course, none of the systems store all info on a customer for future and reporting use, and none have the electronic and dynamic "depth" to look at the map status on any future day or duration of days -- or to query or display each site in various ways.

This peg board system was being used by the Hi-Desert RV Park in Winnemucca, NV prior to installing the RV Space Manger.

The RV Space Manager now displays the Hi-Desert park map. They designed their check-in set up so the customer can see the screen during registration. They can even turn the keyboard around and let the customer fill in their name and address info. More importantly, the customer views where their site is located in the park plus a picture of that site prior to leaving the office . Note that they placed the computer at the end of the counter so as to work and talk with those in line prior to actual check in..

Advantages of using a map based system:

Operator view of the park and campground: If there is any turn over in those doing reservations, looking at an actual map of the park during the reservation or registration process greatly lessens the learning curve for that operator.  If for example, looking for a site by the lake, close to the dog run, close to the club house, or wherever, the RVSM operator just looks at the map and visually selects the best site. And then a simple series of mouse clicks are used to display a picture of that site and surrounding amenities.

Note here that when the operator selects the Duration map vs. the Daily Map, the navigation bar is replaced with a "From/To" bar. Once the rig and date requirements are entered, the map displays sites available during that period of time. Black colored sites are not available whereas clear colored sites are available. A Green site is either a permanent monthly or is out of service.

Note: If the site map Navigation Bar is used to move the map to display site status on another day in the future, the Site Status and Drag and Drop functions adjust to the chosen day.

 
Note: The above override list is another form of the Duration map. One is graphical and the other tabular. Both only display sites that meet pre determined conditions and allow for speedy conflict resolution -- especially as a park becomes full and space allocation becomes tighter. No scrolling around a spreadsheet -- it's all there in front of the reservation person.