Large events are logistically extremely complex undertakings. Big concerts, stadium sports, racing circuits, trade fairs, exhibitions … They all take place in large indoor (and outdoor) spaces that become focal points on a one-off or periodic basis, with thousands of attendees.
Nearly all of them have something else in common: an official app with relevant information such as schedules, programs, broadcasts, etc. Nowadays, most of these events, from cultural to sporting events, provide interactive resources, either as an app or a website, so that spectators can enjoy the event to the fullest and have all the information at their fingertips.
In this scenario, what role does indoor geolocation play? Undoubtedly, the ability to display maps and routes and offer navigation is a massive improvement to the user experience and accessibility of the event. This technology allows thousands of people to find their way around a completely new space and have all the information they need in one place.
Situm’s experience with navigation solutions in sectors such as retail and hospitality also includes events with several success stories, including SPIN2016, NIWeek 2019, Toural, Cidade da Cultura and the most recent: the world’s longest Formula 1 street circuit: Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
In this post, we tell you how we have applied Situm technology in this context.
For the visitor: geolocation and mapping, personalized navigation, routes and a directory of points of interest
Big events bring together thousands of people in an unfamiliar space. Physical signage (posters, for example) can fulfil its function at specific moments. But it is not always enough due to all its limitations: the extra cost of putting them up, the impossibility of modifying or updating them automatically if the use of space changes, lack of user interaction, etc.
Whether through an app, website or a static kiosk (touch screens placed in strategic locations or totems), Situm’s geolocation solution allows the integration of a complete map of the entire space in different formats that will help the attendee to locate themselves in detail.
In addition, we can offer pre-established routes or guide you to where you want to go from the point where you are through an app that locates you in space.
But how does the user know where to go? Often a map is not enough. We need to highlight the destinations where the user might be interested in going: restaurants, playgrounds, leisure areas, toilets, emergency exits…
These are considered points of interest. With Situm, we can flag them on the map and create a directory that brings them together and allows the user to navigate between them.
In addition, indoor location technology also allows the possibility of launching geolocated notifications: messages that app users will receive when they pass by a specific point, for example, either security warnings (if that area is restricted) or promotional (geomarketing).
In short, with Situm, you will have visualization, location and navigation in the same place thanks to a single, easy-to-integrate technology that consumes little battery life on the user’s device.
Compatibility and easy deployment in apps, websites, and kiosks
The ability to offer guidance and navigation to attendees and visitors is very attractive, but it should not be an extra hassle for the building or event manager. At Situm, we have experience in accompanying these large logistical efforts with an implementation process that is as simple and fast as possible.
Adding navigation or maps to an app, website or kiosk with us provides several advantages:
- Compatible SDKs and visual modules. It doesn’t matter if you are developing your app on Android, iOS, React Native, Cordova or Capacitor. Situm is perfectly compatible with all these platforms (you can check these details in our documentation). In addition, we have just launched a JavaScript SDK to develop web applications with indoor maps and embed them easily, as well as 3D maps for kiosks or totems.
- Minimum dedicated infrastructure. No matter the characteristics of the venue: a stadium, a sports hall, a building… Even by combining indoor and outdoor areas your users can enjoy guidance and other geolocation-based options!
- Assistance from our team throughout the process.
- Easy cartography management. Once the solution is installed, managing and taking advantage of all its possibilities will be a piece of cake on our platform.
Our experience: Situm’s indoor navigation on the official app of the world’s largest Formula 1 street circuit
Situm’s experience covers different sectors and use cases: apps for hotel resorts, airports, security companies, etc. Our technology has also been used at events, trade fairs, and some of the largest stadiums in Europe. But the most recent example is the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The official app for this event, held between December 2021 and March 2022, was developed by Y. It incorporates an indoor and outdoor guidance function powered by Situm and all the options described in this post: full maps, navigation, and POI search.
You can take a look at all its features in this post.
For the organization: management of geo-positioned work and analytics
In addition to improving the experience of those attending a concert, a sports competition, or a trade fair, Situm’s geolocation allows the same technology (and the same platform) to be used for geolocation-based team management solutions.
Using this system has three main advantages:
- Quick reaction to incidents. The security team will have details of where and when incidents occur in real time. This is key when there are thousands of people on site.
- Service auditing and KPI compliance. Our geopositioned reports allow you to obtain data about performance and space usage to adjust work teams, modify processes, etc.
- Geolocation-based work organization tools, such as rounds and geo-located tasks, are useful for cleaning services, security services, assistance teams, hostesses, etc.
Our experience: Securitas Location, Situm’s security solution with geolocation
Securitas, a leading provider of security services, has implemented Situm’s indoor positioning and navigation technology to develop Securitas Location, a tool that accurately indicates the location of security staff within a given venue. It was launched at the Fira de Barcelona, during the Mobile World Congress 2017.
In this way, the company provides more security to its guards, who, in addition to knowing their location in real time, will be able to determine the exact location of any incident.