Chicago-based General Growth Properties Inc. says it has expanded a digital parking tool to most of its regional shopping centers in the U.S., including the Spokane Valley Mall.

The tool uses heat maps enabled by GPS to identify available parking spaces at GGP shopping centers, says a company press release. It also uses historical parking data to determine which spots are more likely to be open for future dates and times.

The parking tool can be accessed by one of two ways: customers can visit GGP property websites’ parking pages, or they can download and open the GGP Malls app, on iOS or Android devices, the press release says.

“Mobile technology continues to play an important role in the shopper’s path to purchase, and GGP is committed to leveraging it to provide shoppers with a more convenient, engaging and positive experience,” says GGP CEO Sandeep Mathrani in the release.

Commonly referred to as GGP, the S&P 500 company owns the NorthTown Mall and the Spokane Valley Mall. As of Wednesday, Nov. 23, the digital parking tool is only available here at Spokane Valley Mall, says Sarah Meister, company public relations and investor relations associate, in an email. 

The company owns and operates 126 properties, says Meister. As of Nov. 23, the new parking feature was available for 93 of those properties.

The press release says a recent survey from the International Council of Shopping Centers found that, on average, U.S. adults visit shopping centers 5.6 times per month, and about 85 percent of shoppers use a mobile device. 

General Growth Properties Inc. focuses on owning, managing, leasing, and redeveloping retail properties in the U.S., says the press release.