The Grand Canyon's broadcast system was recently upgraded with Digigram's PYKO IP Audio codec, and received a friendly custom remote interface - a collaboration between IFG and PSA - to give park officials the freedom to update and change message content on the PYKO at any time of day from any internet device.
The Grand Canyon's Highway Advisory Radio System grew legs in 2008 as part of a programme to support the introduction of a pilot shuttle bus route from Grand Canyon's visitor centre to the gateway town of Tusayan. The goal was to provide information to visitors approaching the park about parking options, and the free shuttle bus into the park to alleviate traffic congestion. Park patrons are seemingly pleased with the service as passenger numbers continue to rise; so far this year, traffic is estimated at 5m shuttle rides on four separate routes serving roughly 1.25m park visitors.
Originally a single-use application supporting the shuttle route's launch, the Radio Advisory System has evolved into a broader messaging system to enhance services to park patrons - from announcing event times to weather conditions to construction delays.
Scott Rose, principal at IFG, comments: "Our goal was to not only build a system to meet the need, but to do it with complete consciousness of its sustainability towards the environment and the technology."
The new cloud-based management feature allows the Grand Canyon officials to fully manage their own content round the clock, and in response to emergency or urgent conditions facing the park and its patrons.
"The PYKO was an exceptional choice for IFG's objectives. And the friendly user controls of the customised software we collaborated on together is a great value-add to enhance the system's usability," noted James Lamb, president of Point Source Audio. "IFG has created a broadcast system that is truly one-of-a-kind."
(Jim Evans)
