The University of Technology Sydney and PAM partner to create smart campus wayfinding
> Personalised Campus Wayfinding
> Digital Directories & Kiosks
> Device-based Campus Wayfinding
> Asset Auditing & Planning
> Physical & Digital Signage Deployment
In 2011, UTS began implementing a bold City Campus Master Plan – a vision to deliver a vibrant and engaging education precinct that will fundamentally change the way the university delivers teaching, learning and research. The City Campus Master Plan has now delivered 14 projects in eight locations including four new landmark buildings designed by acclaimed architects such as Gehry Partners, Bligh Voller Neild and Hassell.
In the midst of this $1+ billion renovation, UTS realised it needed a coordinated signage system to bring its master plan vision to life.
UTS began collaborating with Pam Wayfinding, using the platform to audit existing signs in weeks, instead of months. It also used PAM to juggle feedback between project and faculty managers, signage manufacturers and designers while designing and implementing 8,000 signs.
UTS wanted a wayfinding system that served students in the way they know best. UTS worked closely with PAM to create a digital ecosystem of physical and digital signs using PAM OS – the first Australian university to do so. Students access wayfinding through signage and PAM 360 digital directories, kiosks, and a personal wayfinding experience called MYUTS, using PAM 360 eXplorer. The popularity of the these new wayfinding touchpoints shows that students are quick to embrace digital wayfinding solutions.
The project’s feature element is a series of 4.5m bright yellow totems, which are dotted across the campus and designed by Frost*Design.
PAM worked with UTS to embed connective technologies inside each totem, using NFC’s and QR codes to deliver a cost-effective solution and provide personal wayfinding via students’ own mobile phones.
The university has also installed digital kiosks near lift lobbies. “The changes we make online appear on screen downstairs seconds later,” says Bryce.
PAM helps visitors find their way around complex campuses and districts. Here we show how a campus kiosk helps students find their way to classes, events and retail outlets on campus. Kiosks hand off to mobile experiences for students, and can even provide a touchless navigation and information system.
With over 1,000 users and over 12,000 page views in the first six weeks of semester in 2017, according to Google Analytics, the popularity of the UTS microsite shows that students are quick to embrace digital wayfinding solutions.
UTS and PAM continue to collaborate as the campus grows and evolves. The university has launched its first PAM Smart Wayfinding app, ‘MyUTS’, to guide students around campus from their smart phones.
As the campus expands, PAM is there to help guide visitors safely around campus via MyUTS and a new generation of wayfinding kiosks throughout the campus.
Campuses and large multi-use districts contain thousands of signs. PAM enables campus administrators to maintain and publish events information or wayfinding content to digital kiosks located throughout the campus.
Barbara from UTS uses PAM to monitor thousands of signs and make changes to kiosk information or events instantly.
“PAM is very helpful because I have all the information I need in one system”
Orientation Day at UTS hosts 7,000 to 10,000 students.
The urban campus in metropolitan Sydney is made up of dozens of buildings, spread over a large part of downtown Sydney’s southern zone. It’s a very
complex network of unique buildings and grounds. The challenge for the university is making sure students find their class rooms, events and social activities efficiently and in a timely manner. Students are generally new to the city and the campus. The critical first day and subsequent weeks influence their ability to adapt to university life and their relationship with the campus.
UTS engaged PAM to implement smart wayfinding for the event. Students accessed PAM 360 Explorer smart wayfinding maps through their mobile devices, mainly picked up from QR codes distributed throughout the campus. Additionally, PAM 360 Connect digital directories throughout the campus listed events, provided general advisory information and helped students achieve their goals of the day.
As a result, 2,780 students used 360 Explorer on the to find their way around, through 15,500 page views. Less staff and volunteers were needed to guide students. Printing cost were considerably reduced.
