A Feasibility Study for an Indoors Location-Based Systems for Lichfield Cathedral.

The project undertakes a feasibility study investigating the development and deployment of a value-added Mobile/Wireless visitor information system for Lichfield Cathedral. The proposal is to investigate the application and the leveraging of benefits of sensor and wireless networks and technologies in context of the cathedral infrastructure and visitor information needs. The driving and transferable application domain is that of location-based tourism, whereby the underlying visitor information system can deliver (i) location specific information to visitors; (ii) more general location-oriented information. In each case, the objective is to enhance the visitor experience, by providing an engaging, enriching and enjoyable experience – which can be derived from the provision of multi-media educational or entertainment-based content. The objective of the study will be to explore the suitability of infrastructure technologies including non-invasive sensors, such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), WiFi technologies, and also the use of a range of mobile devices including mobile telephones and handheld devices such as Personal Digital Assistants. The impetus for the technology focus is based upon the established diffusion of mobile handsets and devices across the population, thus leveraging the benefits of socio-technical factors (acceptance, access, ownership, familiarity, responsibility), and the non-invasive characteristics of the network technology ideal for the cathedral environment.