Case Study: Got to Be NC Festival - Increasing Awareness and Efficiency with GoTAK
Event
- Event: Got to Be NC Festival
- Date: May 16–18, 2025
- Location: N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC
- Attendance: Approximate 60,000 on‑site attendees
Challenge
An annual free admission agricultural festival attracting around 60,000 visitors over three days event staff resources across a diversified venue. Command staff needed reliable situational awareness, seamless personnel coordination, concise communication, and clear accountability.
Solution
Event Staff deployed GoTAK Trackers throughout the N.C. State Fairgrounds area, choosing units small enough to wear on lanyards, in pockets, or tucked in vests. Trackers arrived event‑ready with pre‑configured callsigns via the ATAK plugin. Their battery life met operational requirements, and the ATAK plugin interface clearly displayed both location and device status inside of ATAK.
Impact
- Real‑time situational awareness: Incident command personnel tracked field teams and assets live on the map, enabling informed decision‑making, resource optimization, and faster response to emerging situations.
- Enhanced safety and coverage: Command staff monitored coverage gaps, adjusted patrols in real time, and ensured rapid response capability across the venue.
- Improved accountability and communication: With device status and location visible, shift supervisors could monitor active personnel, coordinate check‑ins, and manage handovers efficiently.
- Effortless deployment and usability: GoTAK Trackers were pre‑configured and intuitive. Event staff and security were operational immediately, without time‑consuming setup or training.
Field Notes
“The compact form factor allowed flexible wear—lanyard, pocket, or vest—without hindrance.”
“Being able to see each tracker’s status in ATAK gave clear oversight of who was active and battery life.”
Summary
GoTAK Trackers significantly improved operational coordination and public safety at the Got to Be NC Festival. With real‑time personnel tracking, intuitive deployment, and reliable performance, the system proved essential to event command and security team effectiveness.