EUREKA PROJECT > 4216 ITINERE
SPAIN
Mobility-Based Tourism Services for Tourists at Final Destination
ITINERE will design and develop an ICT tool that allows tourists at their final destination to access and download tourism content (both static and dynamic) via different mobile devices (phones, PDAs, etc.) through a wide choice of telecom networks.
Status > FINISHED - 27-May-2010 Technological Area Market Area Start Date > 03-Mar-2008 Duration > 20 Months Participating countries > IRELAND, SPAIN | Main contactWorldnet21, S.L. Mr. Jesus Cuesta > Business Development Director Organisation type > SME |
Project Description
As stated before, ITINERE is an extensive ICT (Information and Communications Technology) platform that makes it possible for tourists already 'en route' to access and download a wide variety of tourism content via different mobile handheld devices (cellular phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant), i-phones, GPS (Global Positioning System) devices, etc.) regardless of telecommunications networks (GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), WIFI (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth, etc.) they are connected to. Users having previously registered and accepted ITINERE terms and conditions will be eligible candidates for receiving on-line touristic data. The ITINERE platform will use a purpose built communication network (consisting mainly of Bluetooth beacons but also including other components) to establish connections and send personalised information to users mobile devices. In fact, an ITINERE Central Unit will be constantly monitoring these users, answering their requests for data and also deciding whether or not it should send them more useful information which has not been specifically requested. In this scenario, ITINERE users can get both general touristic information and/or more customised information according to two main criteria: their personal preferences (as stated by their specific profile, historic data and so on) and the geographical position they are located in at a given moment. These customising criteria also define two main ITINERE technological features: - Firstly, this ICT platform uses different positioning systems depending on the actual tourist location: Bluetooth beacons, WIFI, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and so on for micro positioning or micro location (when the en route tourist is inside a museum, a sport facility, an historic building, etc.), and more conventional GPS for macro positioning. - And, secondly, the ITINERE platform is a discriminating tool that can choose what kind of information is suitable for a specific individual at a given moment and place. To do so, this tool is built on a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) architecture that helps identify tourist relationships and enables public authorities to define and adjust tourism policies in a geographical area, thus implementing a highly rewarding 'one-to-one' tourism marketing scenario. ITINERE can therefore be included in two of the five EUREKA TOURISM main thematic areas: firstly in 'Content, creativity and personal development' and also in 'Support to public/private tourist companies and organisations'. This project's developments are indeed related to new forms of communication, information and knowledge management and its functional and technological features span practically all areas in information and knowledge management specifically identified as priorities by the EUREKA programme: ITINERE is designed as an online information and booking system, specifically designed as a tool for cooperation at destinations. Its main strength is its being well adapted to a destinations natural and cultural heritage (and personal tourist preferences). ITINERE also falls under the 'Support to public/private tourist companies and organisations' thematic area as it is an online business platform through which different organisations can offer their tourism products and services in a collaborative environment. The original concept of this project stems from the conviction that sustainable tourism development in Europe has to be based not on (at least not only on) quantitative growth in numbers of tourists, destinations or resorts, but on the emergence and development of innovative business models heavily dependent on ICT. Tourism is widely considered as one of the industries with the biggest growth potential in developed economies. This is important for Europe, a world reference for the industry: currently almost 60% of the 680 billion US dollar international tourism receipts are spent in Europe and our continent welcomes more than 80% of the worlds international tourists, with European nations being among the five most visited countries (WTO (World Tourism Organisation) Tourism Market Trends, 2005). Responsible for 6.8-8.0 million direct jobs in Europe and circa 20 million of indirect jobs (Eurostat, 2004), this industry has to have a significant role in the move toward an 'information society' as defined by the Lisbon Agenda 2010, not only because of its huge economic dimension but also because it is such an intensive consumer of information and ICT services. Today in Europe we are seeing an ever increasing use of ICT-dependent tourism business models and services, where tourism information, planning and reservation on the Web are extremely common. Nevertheless, 'mobility' is usually a side-effect in these solutions, far from the core application they are built on. This makes no economic sense as these systems are mainly used by a new breed of users, keen also on mobility services and, if not willing to, at least used to paying premium prices for quality services. Given this, we believe that now is the right time for an ICT platform such as ITINERE, for the following reasons: - Firstly, mobility based services, which must be a minor feature in every tourism chain value ICT solution when users are not physically 'on the move' (solutions for tourism information, planning and reservation), can only fulfil their huge potential in ICT-based business models, which are thought and designed for tourists already 'en route'. - Secondly, all these business models will be successful only if they can accurately get, select and communicate the unending variety of cultural, physical or economic contents of the environment that 'en route' tourists are experiencing. All this information also heavily depends on where the user is positioned at a given moment, therefore by definition, mobility based tourism services are location-based services. - Thirdly, we face an exceptional market scene where all ICT components needed for building this ITINERE-platform are ready and mature: from i-phone marketing to the deployment of the GALILEO programme or the European annual selling of GPS devices by the hundred of thousands instead of tens of thousands, all suggest a market momentum like no other. We choose the word 'ITINERE' as acronym for this project because in Latin, ITINERE is the ablative form of ITER, meaning 'on the way' or 'on the move' which is exactly the feature we most want to highlight. ITINERE also stands for Information Technology services for INcoming En RoutE tourists. The ITINERE consortium initially comprises three companies, all of them SMEs. Being open to others in the future, this SME profile will be especially encouraged in potential new partners.
Technological Development Envisaged
The first and main goal of the ITINERE project is to set up a new 'Virtual Intelligent Network', through which tourist agents (mainly but not only public authorities) can provide different kinds of tourism content to final users depending on their location and/or personal preferences. These final users or 'en route' tourists will be able to download content to the handheld device of their choice: cell phone, GPS (Global Positioning System) , smartphone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), PSP (Personal Software Process) and so on. Therefore we start the description of the ITINERE technological development envisaged with a description of this main component. 1. Virtual Intelligent Network ITINERE will set up a Virtual Intelligent Network consisting of brand-new hardware & software telecom components that will coexist with operating telecommunication networks in a given area. Thus the ITINERE platform will be provided with different wireless communication protocols, e.g. cellular ones such as GSM (Global Standard for Mobiles), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service )or UMTS-HDSPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System HDSPA), or others such as Bluetooth, WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) (802.11a/b/g wi-fi) or WMAN (802.16a/b Wi-max). Such a setting up is inspired by the concept of intelligent sensor networks such as U.C. Berkeley Motes, Intel Mote, MIT Stack or Tyndall Institute networks. This Virtual Intelligent Network will be made up of several nodes (mainly but not exclusively Bluetooth beacons), each of them apt to store, process, transmit and manage data. Network architecture will be designed to be versatile enough to fit different applications and changing user requirements, and follows a three tier approach, each tier responsible for supplying, processing and communication activities respectively. 2. Central Unit The ITINERE platform hardware and software components will be managed by a Central Unit, made up of several software modules. Some key ones include: - VMS or Virtual Network Management System, responsible for managing Bluetooth beacons connected to the Central Unit and monitoring communication protocols (GPRS, UMTS, etc.) with operating networks. - CMS or Content Management System, which allows for managing all tourism content that will be included in the platform. - CDS or Conversion & Deploying System - TAS or Text & Audio System Two of the CU modules (CRM & GIS) are considered relevant enough to be described independently in the following paragraphs. 3. CRM As stated before, the ITINERE platform identifies the tourist relationship through a CRM tool that integrates all data about tourists present and historic interactions, and optimises the way the system can get in touch with them. Two main CRM features are of special significance for this platform: analytical capabilities and multi-channel approach. Public authorities responsible for tourist policies in a given area will intensively use both features to rightly define tourist relationship strategies, sending incoming visitors personalised tourism content adjusted to actual location and personal preferences. Because of the prominence of analytical capabilities for this project, the CRM module will cover the following components: - Clustering & Profiling - Analytic Data-warehousing & Data-mining - Balanced Scorecard. The CRM strategy will also include a Tourist Call Centre that will allow public authorities to help incoming visitors in those specific situations when direct voice interaction is recommended or needed. 4. GIS The ITINERE platforms most significant functionalities depend on the availability of efficient tools for tourist locations. This efficiency means that during this project, the following activities will be completed: - Integration & storage of selected geodata portraying an environments main features, not only geographical but also historical or cultural. - Design and development of multi-network location & analytic algorithms. - Design and development of a multi-device geo-viewer.
Main contactBizmaps Ltd. Mr. Nigel Carter > Commercial Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
As stated before, all of the most significant platform functionalities will depend heavily on the availability of efficient tools for tourist location. Therefore, BIZMAPS technology and extensive experience in the development of location systems will be pivotal for the project's success. BIZMAPS will provide expertise in this, in terms of both its basic research into location technologies and its development of geo-viewers adapted to mobile device constraints. BIZMAPS will take full responsibility for analysis, design, development and implementation of ITINERE-platform GIS components (from now on GC), including the following four main activities: 1. Platform GC Analysis & Definition, including 'Relevant Selected Area Geographical Information Study', 'Requirements Setting Up', 'User Case Studies' and 'Test & Validation Plan Specification'. 2. Platform GC Design, including 'Geodata Modelling', 'Platform GC Architecture Definition', 'System/Subsystem Specification' and 'Building Constraints Specification'. 3. Platform GC Development, including 'Coding Software Components', 'System/Integrated/Module-by-module Tests & Validation' & 'Implementation Environment Fixing'. 4. Platform GC Implementation & Validation, including 'Running Test & Validation Plan', 'Result Distribution & Dissemination' and 'European Business Plan Definition'. All these activities are associated with the following project scopes: * Location & analytic algorithms: in Mobile (via Cell-ID), GPS & Bluetooth environments. * Mobile devices geo-viewers: intended for PDA, GPS, Smartphone & PSP (and including also a web geo-browser). To undertake these tasks, BIZMAPS will supply a project team with 6 GIS professionals, all of them with over 3 years of experience and work references spanning all of the main design and development areas in developing location-based technologies. All six professionals will participate during the 18-month project life according to their specific profiles: Project Spatial Director (1), Operational Senior Spatial Developers (2), and Operational Spatial Developers (3).
Expertise
ORGANISATION OVERVIEW BIZMAPS is an Irish software and consulting company specialising in the development, hosting and delivery, maintenance and support of Web-enabled business applications that incorporate geographical information and location services into public and private large organisations in IRELAND. BIZMAPS was founded in 2000 and driven by the vision whereby both GIS and LBS (Location Based Systems) will become a key part of mainstream business applications. So its main technological objective is to create an appropriate and cost-effective geospatial development, deployment and maintenance environment for enterprise geo-applications. BIZMAPS provides geospatial systems to a wide range of Irish government bodies and major companies established in IRELAND and has had a significant relationship (for the purposes of this specific project) with two organisations: Failte Ireland, the Irish Tourist Agency, and telecommunications operator Vodafone. For Failte Ireland, BIZMAPS has designed, built and hosted a Web-based enterprise system that will enable potential visitors to IRELAND to: - View different places of interest in IRELAND on a Webmap; - Get information about different accommodation types across the nation, in particular their exact location; -Plan their journey from any start point to any destination, and including places en route. This system has been built incorporating geodata provided by public authorities (Geodirectory National Address file and other data from Ordnance Survey Ireland) and software developed by BIZMAPS and it has proven to be an outstanding success with circa 200,000 maps being downloaded from the site (www.discoverireland.ie) each month. This system is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment, including new software algorithmia and using Microsoft Virtual Earth as a map server and viewer. BIZMAPS has provided Vodafone with their Location Based System (LBS) platform for IRELAND and it includes four key geo functionalities (that can be delivered to final clients via any Internet access mode): - Address Matching Including Geocoding (address matching in the Republic of Ireland to the GeoDirectory and conversion into latitude longitude coordinates), Reverse Geocoding (conversion of precise co-ordinates, as provided by GPS, into an address in the Republic of Ireland) and Positioning (conversion of approximate latitude/longitude coordinates, as provided by network positioning methods, into a range of possible addresses in the Republic of Ireland). - Dynamic Mapping The system enables dynamic generation of maps in different formats to desired scale, which can be zoomed and panned and even customised for additional features to meet specific client requirements. - Routing The system generates the fastest/optimised route between a number of locations on foot and by car, and displays directions, distance and journey time calculations. - Specific Spatial Querying The system makes it possible to select locations based on their proximity to other locations in terms of drive/walking time or within a given radius. BIZMAPS employs 20+ professional people, some of whom are focused full-time on product development, integration and hosting. Our professional team provides a broad range of skills and depth of experience with a range of GIS and spatial database technology, government operations, and successful delivery of high-profile projects.
Main contactWorldnet21, S.L. Mr. Jesus Cuesta > Business Development Director Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
As the main participant in the ITINERE project, WORLDNET21 will act as general coordinator and components integrator. Furthermore, the company is responsible for two specific areas, already described in Chapter 2.2 ('Technological Development Envisaged'): the Virtual Intelligent Network (where it is responsible for 100% of the module tasks) and the Central Unit, where it will have to coordinate efforts and integrate components with both AMVOS & BIZMAPS. Therefore, the WORLDNET21 contribution to the project can be structured in three different components: 1. Virtual Intelligent Network Components WORLDNET21 has full responsibility for analysis, design, development and implementation of Virtual Intelligent Network components (or 'VIN'), thus including the following four main activities: - VIN Analysis & Definition, including 'Relevant Related Information Study', 'Requirements Setting Up', 'VIN Platform Definition', 'User Cases Study' and 'Test & Validation Plan Specification'. - VIN Design, including 'VIN Platform Architecture Definition', 'System/Subsystems Specification' and 'Building Constraints Specification'. - VIN Build Up, including 'Coding Software Components', 'System/Integrated/Module-by-module Tests & Validations' and 'Implementation Environment Fixing'. - VIN Implementation & Validation, including 'Running Test and Validation Plan'. 2. Central Unit WORLDNET21 has the main responsibility for the analysis, design, development and implementation of the Central Unit components (or 'CU'), thus including the usual four following activities: - CU Analysis & Definition, including 'Relevant Related Information Study', 'Requirements Setting Up', 'CU Platform Definition', 'User Cases Study' and 'Test & Validation Plan Specification'. - CU Design, including 'CU Platform Architecture Definition', 'System/Subsystems Specification' and 'Building Constraints Specification'. - CU Build Up, including 'Coding Software Components', 'System/Integrated/Module-by-module Tests and Validations' and 'Implementation Environment Fixing'. - CU Implementation and Validation, including 'Running Test and Validation Plan'. Collaboration with both AMVOS & BIZMAPS will be of special relevance for the analysis and design of the following modules of CU: - Virtual Network Management System (VMS) - Conversion and Deploy System (CDS) 3. Integration/Coordination Activities As stated before, WORLDNET21 is going to act as a general coordinator for this project, being responsible for the following activities: - Coordination & General Management - Integration Activities, including 'Running ITINERE Test & Validation Plan', 'ITINERE Results Distribution and Dissemination' and 'ITINERE European Business Plan Definition'. For undertaking all those tasks, WORLDNET21 will supply a project team with the following professionals: * Mr. Jesus Cuesta (Senior Consultant) * Mr Jesus Garcia (Senior Consultant) * Mr Fernando Navarro (Senior Consultant) * Ms Ana Garcia (Functional Consultant) * Mr Javier Recas (Analyst/Programmer) * Mr. Dan Peinador (Project Manager). All of them with over 5 years of experience and work references spanning all major design & development telecommunications areas related to this project.
Expertise
WORLDNET21 SL is a Spanish multinational company with offices in Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, Mexico DF (MEXICO) and Shannon (IRELAND). It specialises in the development and implementation of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) solutions and services for a mobile world. WORLDNET21 wants to become a reference in the global telecommunications industry, with a special focus on the mobility area. With more than 10 years of experience in the ICT sector, the company group has currently circa 100 professionals, 90% of them highly qualified software engineers. Its main work areas are the following: - 'TurnKey' telecommunication applications development and implementation. WORLDNET21 designs and develops communication projects on proprietary or third party components, from the design of infrastructure and telecommunications networks up to the customising or developing of software components, integration with existing back-end systems, implementing, tuning, maintenance and support. - Consultancy on Telecommunication Projects. WORLDNET21 provides effective and comprehensive advice to companies interested in communication applications design and development, based on its extensive experience of efficient project planning, tracking and quick implementation. - 24x7 System Support. WORLDNET21 has a full-time support centre available to its clients to help them solve their problems in the most efficient and fastest way, helping them to ensure correct operation of their own systems. - R & D. The company R & D Department is permanently innovating and developing new products based on the latest technological trends. The Department has developed a wide range of products internationally marketed under the brand name of 'anthasoft'. Anthasoft tools (AnthaVPN, AnthaDeployment Manager, AnthaSecure, AnthaFirewall, Antha-M-Crypt, AnthaMobileSync, AnthaBackup for PDAs and so on) were created to provide security solutions for mobile devices as well as enterprise solutions such as user administration and management solutions. Especially significant is AnthaVPN Secured by Certicom, an award winning VPN (Virtual Private Network) client that provides secure wireless access to corporate network resources. Built on the IPSec standard, AnthaVPN works on leading VPN gateways, handheld devices and wireless networks so you can extend strong, cost-effective security to mobile employees. Other products of the anthasoft portfolio are: - AnthaDeploymentManager: a tool to extend the power of centralised policy management to secure enterprise mobile devices. - AnthaFirewall, a personal firewall that empowers the user to decide which connections will be allowed (or not allowed) to his/her computer or personal device. - AnthaSecure, to manage and control the access of a PDA device using different securing systems. - Antha-M-Crypt, a tool to quickly and easily encrypt mobile data to protect sensitive PDA files. - Antha-M-Applications, to make easy VPN configuration and setup. WORLDNET21 has become a significant technological partner with different roles: R & D partner, system integrator, Internet service provider, technological consultant, critical applications support provider and so on. The company clients come from a wide range of market areas and include significant players in both Spanish and international markets: In the telco area, WORLDNET21 has provided solutions for the Telefonica group (including Telefonica de Espana, Telefonica Moviles and Telefonica Data), O2, Auna, ONO, Comunitel, Verizon, British Telecom, Telekom Lab and Colt. In Government, the company has developed and implemented systems for relevant Spanish and international clients: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spanish Ministry of Defence, Junta de Andalucia, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, US National Security Agency, and the Singapore Government. Other major clients include: BBVA, Banesto, BANIF and la Caixa (in Banking and Finance), Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Aventis or Cofares (in Pharma and Chemistry), Metro de Madrid and Iberia.
Main contactAmvos Consulting S.L. Mr. Javier De La Escalera > Project Manager Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
The organisation's contribution to the ITINERE platform will be focused on two main areas: Firstly, AMVOS has full responsibility for analysis, design, development and implementation of ITINERE-Platform CRM components (from now on 'CC'), thus including the following four main activities: 1. Platform CC Analysis & Definition, including 'Relevant Related Information Study', 'Requirements Setting Up', 'Platform CC Definition', 'User Cases Study' and 'Test & Validation Plan Specification'. 2. Platform CC Design, including 'Platform CC Architecture Definition', 'System/Subsystems Specification' and 'Building Constraints Specification'. 3. Platform CC Build Up, including 'Coding Software Components', 'System/Integrated/Module-by-module Tests & Validations' & 'Implementation Environment Fixing'. 4. Platform CC Implementation & Validation, including 'Running Test & Validation Plan', 'Results Distribution and Dissemination' and 'European Business Plan Definition'. All four activities relating to the following project scope: - Operational CRM (OC), including General OC and Tourist Call Centre; - Analytical CRM (AC), through a balanced mix of different analytical tools (clustering & profiling, data-warehousing & data-mining & balanced score card). CRM will allow public authorities to properly articulate its tourist policies, helping them to define rather accurately these policies' main issues, in particular Client Intelligence and Relational/Proximity Marketing: * 'Client Intelligence': ITINERE CRM multidimensional segmentation tools help to define predictive models through which any Public Authority can identify significant behaviour & motivation consumption patterns. * 'Relational & Proximity Marketing': tourists connected to ITINERE will get customised proposals adjusted to their specific personal needs, preferences and location. Secondly, AMVOS will closely collaborate with WORLDNET21 & BIZMAPS in all those integration activities affecting areas where CRM capabilities are key to the successful design & development of the ITINERE platform, especially the following issues: - Virtual Network Management System (VMS) - Conversion & Deploy System (CDS). For undertaking all those tasks, AMVOS will supply a project team with the following professionals: * Mr Sergio Varela * Mr Alberto Pulido * Mr David Mayorga * Ms Irene Montero * Mr. Javier de la Escalera. All of them with over 5 years of CRM certified experience and work references spanning all major design & development areas in operational and analytical CRM. All five professionals will participate during the 18-month project life according to their specific profiles: Project Manager (Javier de la Escalera), Operational CRM Senior Consultant (Sergio Varela), Operational CRM Consultant (Irene Montero), Analytical CRM Consultant (David Mayorga) and CRM Platform System Architect (Alberto Pulido).
Expertise
AMVOS CONSULTING SL is a consulting company focused on CRM and e-business areas, with an extended experience in designing and developing significant corporate information systems that enable big public and private organisations to optimise both the selling of their products/services and the management of their clients/citizens through a broad range of channels, where web or phone coherently coexist with more traditional interaction channels, like partners, distributors, sales force networks and so on. Founded in early 2004, its workforce has regularly come from a double background: firstly, big national and international ICT consulting firms and, secondly, international CRM software vendors. Currently, with more than 50 highly qualified professionals working in the company, the aim is CRM consulting, system integration and project management services, usually for major national or international organisations. AMVOS is an ICT company created to help its clients to become highly effective and efficient organisations (both private companies and public authorities as well) by implementing innovative Front-Office strategies that allow them to better know, reach and communicate with the clients and/or citizens they serve. In addition to the aforementioned CRM focus, AMVOS offers its clients the following services portfolio: * Security Consulting AMVOS offers its clients a broad range of services to plan and manage security issues, according to best practice codes as defined by ISO 17799. These services include: - Risk Analysis and Management After an initial risk assessment, company vulnerabilities related to those risks are identified and measured as well as their potential impact (IT, economic and so on) on the organisation. An Action Plan is suggested to avoid all these potential dangers in a cost effective way. - Training Comprehensive security awareness and training of the organisation workforce is by far the most effective tool for improving security issues in any company. - Technical Consulting Services Remote or On-premises maintenance and monitoring of all company security systems. - Legal & Procedure Consulting Services Different legal text compliance, ISO17799, and auditing and continuity services are several of the 'maintenance' services included in this chapter. * Q Consulting in the Public Sector The government is a strong priority for AMVOS. In this sector, Front-Office strategies are deeply dependant on procedures. AMVOS has therefore included in its services portfolio a Quality Consulting chapter to help its clients to improve these procedures according to ISO (and other public institutions) standards and obtain Q certifications. These services include: - Present Situation Diagnosis; - Q Management System (QMS) Documentation; - Q and QMS Training; - QMS Implementation; - Internal QMS Auditing; - Supporting Consulting in Q Certification Processes. Serving exclusively the Spanish market, AMVOS is responsible for designing, developing, implementing and maintaining several of the biggest and/or most technologically challenging CRM projects in this market, including clients like SOGECABLE, the leader company in pay-TV in SPAIN, or BANESTO, one of the biggest commercial banks in this country. Significant projects have also been implemented for Telefonica, ING Nationale Nederlande, BSCH, Ministerio de Fomento, Ministerio de Industria or AENA, the company responsible for management and operation of public civil airports in SPAIN.