THE streets of Sandton central will soon be dotted with their own information kiosks, known as the SCouts, courtesy of the Sandton Central Management District (SCMD).
The project will kick off with the installation of a prototype SCout to assess the functionality of the kiosks. “We’d like to encourage the public to provide us with feedback on its practicality and ease of use. Once we have this vital information, the lone SCout will soon be followed by approximately 10 more units, strategically placed at key pedestrian areas,” explains Cara Reilly, marketing manager of the SCMD.
“With the 2010 Soccer World Cup on the horizon and the influx of pedestrians in Sandton central set to increase, the need for the SCouts becomes even more evident. There is a large demand for public assistance in terms of way-finding and the provision of information on the district from events and emergency contact details to road closures on news and developments such as the Gautrain. All of which will be provided by the kiosks,” says Reilly.
State-of-the-art technology will be updated wirelessly off-site and in real time. This will ensure that information is always current and that updates can be quickly and easily posted to the kiosk.
The SCMD’s Public Safety Ambassadors (PSA) have been tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the SCouts, and will be posted within 50 to 100 metres of each SCout at all times. Each PSA will be in direct contact with the SCMD control room if an emergency arises and back-up is required.
