Location Technology for Sustainably Green Stadiums

In today’s world, the push for sustainability has reached every corner of society, including the realm of sports. Large stadiums – while iconic and thrilling – often have a considerable environmental footprint. 

One outstanding example stands out—the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar last year. A groundbreaking idea was floated: constructing a temporary stadium that could be dismantled and transported to future World Cup venues. The result was Stadium 974, an ingenious masterpiece crafted from repurposed shipping containers. Remarkably, this venue became the only one in World Cup history to forgo the use of air conditioning, thanks to its clever design and strategic location that harnessed natural ventilation.

Recognised for its exceptional sustainability, Stadium 974 earned the prestigious 5-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS). Its legacy will endure for years to come, serving as an inspiration to the future of stadium construction.

However, a lingering question remains: Have we exhausted all economic alternative avenues for creating sustainable stadiums? 

The need to implement sustainable practices, reduce energy consumption and manage waste has become crucial for stadium operators. In this blog, we explore how the utilisation of location technology can play a transformative role in addressing sustainability challenges and minimising the environmental impact of stadiums.

Five Key Challenges in Stadium Environments Solved With Location Technology

1. Tracking Energy Consumption

One of the key areas where location technology can make a difference is in monitoring and optimising energy consumption within stadiums. Machine learning-based technology can be deployed to track and analyze energy usage in real-time. By gaining comprehensive insights into energy patterns, operators can identify areas of improvement, implement energy-efficient solutions, and make informed decisions to reduce the stadium’s overall environmental impact.

2. Smart Water Management

Water scarcity is a global concern, and large stadiums consume significant amounts of water for various purposes. Location technology can assist in implementing intelligent water management systems by monitoring water usage, detecting leaks or inefficiencies, and providing actionable insights for conservation. Additionally, sensors can be installed to monitor irrigation systems and optimize water usage based on weather conditions and soil moisture levels

3. Intelligent Waste Management

Effective waste management is another critical aspect of creating sustainable stadiums. Location intelligence can enhance waste management practices by enabling real-time monitoring, tracking, and analysis of waste generation and disposal. Smart bins equipped with location sensors can automatically notify waste collection teams when they reach capacity, optimising collection routes and reducing unnecessary trips. Additionally, the use of data-driven insights to identify recycling opportunities shouldn’t be overlooked to minimise waste production during events.

4. Enhancing Fan Experience through Digital Wayfinding

Large stadiums can leverage location technology to enhance the overall fan experience while promoting sustainable practices. Through the integration of mobile applications or dedicated stadium platforms, digital wayfinding solutions can seamlessly guide fans to various destinations within the venue. 

Whether it’s locating seats, finding concession stands, identifying restrooms or discovering recycling stations, Mapsted’s stadium-ready location-based solutions ensure visitors navigate with ease and convenience throughout the stadium without depending on physical signage. 

For FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, for example, Mapsted became a technology partner to streamline stadium navigation for athletes and their families, management and media.  Our turnkey solution simplified routing, reduced congestion and improved the overall experience for athletes, their families and media. 

Helmut Spahn, Director of Safety, Security & Access FIFA, says Mapsted’s indoor navigation solution helped improve the overall FIFA experience. “Through the use of navigation technology that requires no Bluetooth beacons, no external Wi-Fi and no external hardware, we are able to provide step-by-step route guidance for specific client groups, such as Media or Broadcasters, to move easily around the stadiums and reach key areas of operations.”

5. Eco-Friendly Transportation Solutions

Transportation is a significant contributor to the environmental impact of stadiums. Location technology can facilitate the implementation of eco-friendly transportation solutions. This can include real-time traffic analysis to optimize parking and transportation routes, encouraging the use of public transportation, promoting carpooling, and supporting the integration of electric vehicle charging stations within stadium premises. By leveraging location-based services, operators can make the journey to and from the stadium more sustainable for fans and reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

6. Green Initiatives and Fan Engagement

Engaging fans in sustainability efforts is crucial for creating a lasting impact. Location technology can be utilised to enhance fan engagement and promote sustainable practices. Innovative initiatives such as gamification, where fans earn rewards or incentives for eco-friendly behaviours within the stadium can bring positive change in no time. Even mobile apps that provide information on sustainable food options, recycling locations, and carbon footprint tracking can influence people’s attitude towards sustainable efforts. By leveraging location-based technologies, stadiums can inspire and empower fans to actively contribute to reducing the environmental impact.

Conclusion

Large stadiums have the opportunity to be pioneers in sustainability by harnessing the power of location technology combined with other sustainability policies. By implementing real-time energy monitoring, efficient waste management systems, intelligent water management, and digital wayfinding, these venues can significantly reduce their environmental footprint while enhancing the fan experience. Embracing data-driven sustainability strategies and promoting green transportation options further solidifies their commitment to a greener future. Through these innovative solutions, large stadiums can set an example for other industries and inspire positive change on a global scale.

If you’re ready to give smart location-based solutions a try and explore possibilities in making your stadiums sustainable and planet-friendly, contact Mapsted today! If you enjoyed this read, you may also be interested in Location-Based Stadium Notifications: The Future of Fan Engagement. This informative piece outlines another intelligent feature by Mapsted which enables the broadcasting of emergency messages, updates on upcoming events, or exclusive offers directly to fans inside stadiums. Alternatively, you may watch this video on Mapsted Indoor Maps, Indoor Wayfinding, and Intelligent Search