Network audio can add a great deal of value in the quest to improve the quality of life for city residents and visitors. First-class network audio systems that deliver voice messages should play a central role in the ecosystem of a smart city. Using sound effectively, cities can greatly improve urban security, public safety, and even city operations – not to mention ambiance. All of which are improvements that greatly contribute to the ultimate goal of the smart city: making cities more livable.

How can you put Network audio to work in your city?

For a city to be truly livable, residents and visitors alike have to feel safe. And that means you need a system you can rely on in an emergency. It’s crucial that audio instructions and warnings come through loud and clear, without distortion. Because network audio systems are 100% digital – from source to speaker – clarity isn’t lost along the way. You can easily create and manage zones to ensure information is delivered exactly where it’s needed. And remote testing lets you proactively check that your system is working when it matters.

• Provide up-to-the-minute instructions about traffic incidents as well as other verbal guidance
• Use live audio messages to speed up the search for a missing child
• Warn for extreme weather, natural disaster or environmental danger, like earthquakes or dangerous air quality
• Manage crowds during dangerous, unlawful or emergency situations

Network audio lets you proactively deter crime when you add it to your video-based security system with analytics. It’s possible to define triggers that activate warnings or alarms that can stop intruders in their tracks or alert personnel of their presence. Law enforcement officials or security staff can then visually verify the nature of every incident remotely, and act appropriately. Which means you can avoid the cost and wasted manpower of responding to false alarms and can even cut back on expensive routine patrols. In other words your city can work more efficiently and get the most out of too-often limited resources.

• Prevent illegal dumping and monitor waste management
• Break up fights and stop suspicious behavior before it escalates
• Tell vandals or graffiti taggers to stop and leave the scene
• Manage crowds and visitors
• Tell potential intruders they’re about to enter a restricted area – and warn them away

The right information at the right time can improve the experience of residents and visitors and help keep your city functioning smoothly. Network audio lets you provide valuable non-critical information with scheduled or event triggered announcements.

• Provide verbal guidance such as tourist information and information about construction work, detours, and public transport
• Play audio message to create atmosphere or prevent loitering
• Provide safety and behavioral guidelines, for example, instructions to avoid gatherings in certain areas
• Inform citizens and tourists about new or temporary regulations, like social  distancing
• Play targeted messages, and guidance regarding public events

Safety / Emergency call stations i.e. IP Emergency / Safety Phones feature easy-to operate help point units that allow direct voice or video calls to a central control location or help desk providing assistance. Users can also access location, transport or tourism services via the intercom station’s information calling button. Available with Emergency or dual Emergency and Information buttons, the units are ideally suited for applications where assistance may be required in addition to emergency calling. On board configurable relays can be utilized to control lighting, duress alarms, CCTV or gate controls common within public safety and transport environments.

Remote PA Solutions are ideal for Outdoor Public Spaces, Railway Stations, Monitored Car Parks, Restricted areas, etc. for Emergency Announcements or to deter someone from loitering around or entering the area. These PA speakers work over 4G / Cloud network hence distance is not a limiting factor. A live announcement can be made by monitoring staff or a prerecorded announcement can be triggered to be  played via input sensors. The speakers also have the ability to play scheduled announcements.

The safety and security of citizens is often highlighted as one of the most important aspects of livability in a modern city. With authorities increasingly looking to use connected technology to improve their cities, it is a combination of different sensors and devices that offer the maximum potential, and audio can play a central role. With the incredible flexibility of audio solutions in their ability to respond to problems, and their usefulness in such a wide variety of scenarios, it’s clear that these kinds of solutions will be at the heart of Smart Cities for years to come.

For more information on Emergency Intercom & Remote PA Solutions please contact us for a free consultation or click on link to avail our Free Design Service.