The University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, is a prestigious public research university with a rich history of academic excellence. Established in 1831, the university has consistently ranked among the top public institutions in the United States, particularly known for its outstanding academic programs and research contributions.
Academic Prominence
The Culverhouse College of Business, specifically, has garnered significant national recognition. It is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which represents the highest standard of business school accreditation worldwide. The college has been praised for its innovative approach to business education, cutting-edge technology integration, and commitment to preparing students for the modern business landscape.
Notable Achievements
- Ranked among the top 50 public universities in the United States
- Consistently recognized for research excellence
- Strong emphasis on technological innovation in education
- Robust business programs with high graduate employment rates
Project
The University of Alabama’s College of Business successfully implemented a comprehensive wayfinding solution using 22Miles technology and powered by Intel NUCs, addressing long-standing navigation challenges across their complex campus.
Project Background
Zach Tomas, Director of Marketing and Communications, initiated the project to improve campus navigation. “About six or seven years ago, when I first started my position at the Culverhouse College of Business, my boss, who’s the Dean of the Business School, talked a lot about how we really need to figure out how to improve how people get around our campus. We have four different buildings, and people get lost,” Zach Tomas.
Solution Implementation
After exploring various options and drawing inspiration from Georgia Tech’s implementation, the college chose 22Miles as their wayfinding solution provider. The project scope included:
- 10 displays for 3D interactive wayfinding
- 4 buildings with 14 floors (Hewson Hall, Bruno Library, Alston Hall, and the Bidgood Hall)
- 700+ destinations
- 2 65-inch interactive touch displays for visitors
Key Features
- Multi-building navigation
- Event integration with website calendar
- Spanish language option
- Analytics for usage tracking
Challenges and Customization
The project required custom development to integrate with the college’s existing systems. “We developed a way for the wayfinding to pull in events that we locate on our website calendar and display it across our board, so that if we have a visitor come on campus and they’re looking for, say, one of our executive education sessions or a speaker, they can pull up a screen that says events of the day, and then get help to navigate to that,” Zach Tomas.
Results and Impact
The implementation has been well-received by staff, students, and visitors. Tomas noted, “Now we’ve got wayfinding across all of our different buildings. We actually have other systems that we implement using our 22Miles instance. It looks awesome. People love it. People interact with it heavily. It’s easy to update, and it’s really just made our lives a lot easier,” Zach Tomas.
While specific analytics were not immediately available, the college plans to analyze usage data to quantify the impact further.
Conclusion
The 22Miles Wayfinding solution has significantly improved navigation and information accessibility at the University of Alabama’s College of Business, demonstrating the value of innovative technology in enhancing campus experiences.
The implementation of the 22Miles wayfinding solution at the College of Business exemplifies the university’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance student and visitor experiences, further solidifying its reputation as a forward-thinking academic institution.
The university’s strategic investments in technology, such as the interactive wayfinding system, demonstrate its dedication to creating an accessible, modern learning environment that meets the evolving needs of students, faculty, and visitors.
Interested in streamlining your college’s campus navigation? Book a demo.
