NIKOS – Volksfest

Visitor management at Munich’s Oktoberfest

autonomous reliable cost-effective

NIKOS is not a conventional PA system, but a radio-based public address, alarm and control system for large events, construction sites and crisis situations, which you can rent by the day through certified partners and either integrate into your PA or use on its own.

Challenge

Clear instructions despite crowds and noise

Managing visitors at Munich’s Oktoberfest is a particular challenge due to dense crowds, the noise generated by the fairground attractions, and visitors from many different language backgrounds. Visitor management announcements must remain clearly understandable even in confusing situations and quickly reach all relevant areas. The high visitor density also overloads the mobile network, meaning that mobile-network-based communication channels are not reliably available for safety-critical announcements.

Solution

One unified solution for everyday use and emergencies

NIKOS brings together announcements, alerting, visitor guidance and device control in a single network-independent platform. NIKOS [audio]² interrupts the fairground operators’ sound systems for the duration of an announcement and also uses the existing sound systems for announcements. This reduces the level of background noise, improves the intelligibility of visitor management instructions and eliminates the need for a separate announcement system.

FAQ

Information for planners and organisers

Are announcements made via NIKOS standard-compliant?+
Yes — NIKOS fully meets DIN EN 50849 (electroacoustic emergency warning systems). The system was designed specifically for safety-relevant announcement and alerting tasks, technically built for everyday operation as well as for emergencies. For ELA systems, DIN EN 50849 sets out the relevant framework. Because NIKOS — unlike mobile network-based solutions — does not depend on any external network, it is always immediately usable and fully meets the requirements set out in the standard. Other safety-related standards such as DIN EN 54, DIN VDE 0833-4 or DIN 14675 (voice alarm systems) concern a different field of use and functional scope and are therefore not relevant for NIKOS in terms of approval. Since 2017, NIKOS has been used successfully many times a public address system for temporary and mobile applications in mission-critical communication tasks. RADACOM and your regional NIKOS partner will be happy to advise you on the wide range of NIKOS functions and support you in implementing the requirements cost-effectively.
Is NIKOS crisis-proof?+
Yes, NIKOS operates via its own autonomous radio network and is completely independent of public communication networks and their availability. This makes the system highly resilient to external influences. Because NIKOS does not rely on wired connections but communicates via radio, the connection is automatically restored after an interruption. NIKOS is therefore significantly more resilient to disruptions in normal operations than many other systems, demonstrating the crisis resilience of this communication system. NIKOS [audio]² has an internal battery with up to 16 hours of operating time and also powers connected accessory modules. NIKOS continues to function even if the mobile network is overloaded, the internet provider has been hacked or the power supply is interrupted. This means that visitor management at Oktoberfest remains reliably operational even in the event of a power failure or disruptions to public communication networks.
Can NIKOS be deployed quickly and flexibly?+
Yes, NIKOS was specifically developed for flexible outdoor operations without permanent infrastructure. One or two people can mount the modules on various structures, such as lampposts, stages, stands or trees, within just a few minutes and configure them individually. A standard Schuko power connection is sufficient for continuous operation. NIKOS also uses an existing digital radio network.
Where does using NIKOS create cost advantages?+
Depending on the application, NIKOS can provide different functions via a single, unified communication platform. These savings can quickly offset the rental and installation costs of NIKOS. You can find some specific examples of savings here. Consistent use of NIKOS’s wide range of functions not only increases the level of safety and makes employees’ work easier, but also generates savings across the overall budget. NIKOS mainly reduces the effort required for separate loudspeaker, control and communication solutions. Material requirements and cabling work are reduced, and information and emergency announcements can be made from a single location. In addition, NIKOS can specifically replace personnel: tasks that would otherwise require several security, reporting or operator posts distributed across the site can be handled from a single location through central announcements, remote control and status monitoring. This saves personnel or allows them to be deployed more effectively at safety-critical points. The greatest savings potential arises at fenced events: monitoring emergency exit gates technically with NIKOS can replace security guards stationed at emergency exits or enable them to be deployed more effectively elsewhere. This offsets rental and installation costs through savings on personnel and other technology. Especially at temporary, time-limited events, this significantly reduces the costs of planning, setup and operation of safety technology.
Visitor management at Munich’s Oktoberfest: Where can NIKOS be rented?+
NIKOS is rented by the day through certified partners, including advice, instruction and technical support. Your regional partner coordinates the deployment with you. Find a partner and request a rental

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