Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-10-12
Buyer: Lancaster University
Country: UK
Region: Lancashire
Contract type: Supplies
CPV classification: 32000000 | 72000000
Estimated value: 120000 GBP

Technical requirements: The university approved a wayfinding strategy in 2016 which clearly made the point that wayfinding is not just about physical signage but requires the integration of digital information sources, and needs to recognise that digital devices, wearable technology and ubiquitous Wi-Fi access are all part of the world that we navigate and interact with.
In mid 2016 Capital Planning Group approved a project to create an appropriate infrastructure and put the relevant tools into place to deliver digital wayfinding.
Current technology such as google maps or our current iLancaster navigation maps only use GPS to approximate a user's location. Feedback suggest that current mapping and positioning are not meeting the needs of our users and do not align to the university wayfinding strategy.
In addition, many growing technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and iBeacons rely on being able to accurately locate a device or user position within 3D space and be able to overlay this onto structural building information, which we are currently unable to do.
We also require the ability to provide routes for disabled students, deal with campus upgrades and route closures, provide better options for assessing room occupancy and people flow and deliver new systems that will require to hook into positional information.
We are already making use of GPS technology in our current systems, and there are a number of different candidates that would deliver accurate positioning, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. iBeacon technology is being used in rooms for projects such as attendance monitoring, and Campus eScreens. Magnetic Flux technology is being used with the accelerometers in peoples devices to provide positioning information. It is envisaged based on early investigation that the most promising approach is to use our existing wireless infrastructure to provide positioning data, as we have
already made a large investment in this technology. However, the project will need to determine the correct technological approach that is scalable and represents best value.
The technology selected must be able to position a user with an acceptable accuracy such that navigation to a specific library shelf or other location is achievable.
Supporting the wider wayfinding project the system should allow for a mapping system that represents the internals of the LU Estate derived from building plans. This should then be used to show the user device within this space.
The system should include the ability to import facilities CAD plans to create mapping, and also to change them when buildings are modified or new areas created. In addition the system should link to the facilities management system to recognise when routes are unavailable or when lifts or other infrastructure that may affect routing is being maintained.
The system must allow real-time turn by turn navigation from within buildings to other areas on campus and create routing algorithms based on people's preferences.
— The creation and documentation of web services and APIs to allow others to use the positioning system
If you believe your organisation can help us by providing appropriate systems and services, we would ask for a short paper (two pages max.) describing what you could offer and providing some indication of cost, following which we may look to discuss the opportunity with you further.
If you believe your organisation can help us by providing appropriate systems and services, we would ask for a short paper (2 pages max.) describing what you could offer and providing some indication of cost, following which we may look to discuss the opportunity with you further.