Geotargeting

First, we need to clarify the difference between "geofencing" and "geotargeting" in Broadsign Control:

• Geofencing: Employs global positioning to define geographical boundaries, virtually. Broadsign uses geofencing through its conditions feature. You will configure geofencing in Step 2: Set up Geofencing.
• Geotargeting: Targets digital signage content to a consumer based on their location in relation to geofencing. You will target content in Broadsign Control Administrator in Step 3: Geotarget a Conditional Campaign to a Display Unit.

Hardware Requirements

You will need a GPS transponder (data puller) that will send latitude and longitude coordinates to the player periodically. You will configure how the data will pass to the player in Step 1: Configure Broadsign Control Player.

Prerequisites

As mentioned, geotargeting is an advanced setting. Before configuring it, ensure that you are familiar with the following:

• Configuration Profiles - Players
• Criteria and Conditions
• Edit Criteria Properties
• Campaign Options
• Campaign Booking

Workflow

In general, the workflow to enable geotargeted campaigns is:

• Configure the player
• Set up geofencing
• Geotarget a conditional campaign to a display unit

Broadsign provides the ability to see your geofencing network in a map view. You can track your geofencing network visually, while making adjustments through the interface.

Note: Google has deprecated its mapping endpoint for the China region. As a result, the map view is greyed out in this region.

Configure geofencing in Criteria and Conditions Properties (see Edit Criteria Properties). In this tutorial, you will configure geofencing in Step 2: Set up Geofencing.

The following icons are available on the geofencing map:

Icon	Description
	Zoom in and out on the map.
	The selection tool. Used to navigate across the map, and select items on it. Note: When you select an item, its colour will change from grey to blue.
	Creates a circular geofencing object.
	Creates a polygonal geofencing object.
	Creates a square/rectangular geofencing object.
	Deletes all selected objects.
	Deletes all geofencing objects for the condition.
	Zooms the map in our out, as needed, to include all geofencing objects in the view.

In our example, each taxi has a player and a GPS transponder. The player needs to pull, from the transponder, the taxi's latitude and longitude. We will configure the player to import these GPS coordinates.

{ "lat":"45.50610628959769", "lng":"-73.70864868164062" }

{ "lat":"", "lng":"" }

#!/usr/bin/python2.7

import json

def main():
    newLat = "-33.207143856288027"
    newLng = "149.843896484374990"
  
    data = { 'lat': '{}'.format(newLat), 'lng': '{}'.format(newLng) }
    print (json.dumps(data))
   
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

@echo off
@echo {"lat": "-33.207143856288027", "lng": "149.843896484374990"}

#!/bin/bash
echo "{\"lat\": \"-33.207143856288027\", \"lng\": \"149.843896484374990\"}"

Create geofencing objects that provide virtual boundaries. Once a taxi enters this area, within fifteen seconds the player will receive confirmation from the transponder via the configuration (see Step 1: Configure Broadsign Control Player).

For our example, we will geofence an area around Midtown Manhattan that encompasses Times Square and the Theater District.

Note: When geofencing areas for your conditions, keep in mind that the refresh period is fifteen seconds. It is a best practice to ensure that a geofenced area takes more than fifteen seconds to traverse.

To set up geofencing:

1. To keep things organized, we recommend that you create a conditions folder. We will call ours "Geotargeting".

2. In the Geotargeting folder, add a condition. In the pages of the Add Criteria Wizard, add the following information:

   • Welcome – Name the condition "Midtown Manhattan".

   • Criteria Type – Select Condition, and deselect All.

     

3. Open the condition's properties, and go to the Geofencing tab.

The geofencing interface appears (see Geofencing Interface).

4. Search for "Midtown Manhattan".

5. In our example, we will create a polygon that surrounds Midtown (42nd-53rd street — see image).

   

6. Click OK or Apply.
7. To see the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of this area (in JSON), click Advanced.

Next, we will schedule a conditional campaign that contains local advertising for the Theater District.

At this stage, you need to geotarget a conditional campaign to your display unit. Loop policy settings are unimportant for this tutorial (just ensure that you have one!).

This section has two general steps:

• Enable Conditions for the Add Campaign Wizard
• Geotarget a Conditional Campaign to a Display Unit

You can use advanced mode to import your own JSON geofencing data.

Also, advanced mode helps with copying an existing configuration. If you create another criterion, and want it to have the same geofencing, just copy and paste the JSON from your existing criterion.

To configure geofencing in advanced mode:

1. In Criteria Properties, go to the Geofencing tab.

   

2. Select Advanced Mode. Any geofencing objects that you created will have their coordinates appear in JSON format.

   

3. In the JSON window add to, or edit, the data.

   • Circle – Includes latitude/longitude coordinates for the centre, and a radius in metres.
   • Rectangle/Square – Includes latitude/longitude coordinates for the northeast and southwest corners.

   • Polygon – Includes a list of latitude/longitude coordinates.

     Note: From advanced mode, to return to map mode, click Map Mode.

   Copy

   [
       {
           "center": {
               "lat": "40.75356408930207",
               "lng": "-73.98287773132324"
           },
           "radius": "287.3313451469198",
           "type": "circle"
       },
       {
           "bounds": {
               "northEast": {
                   "lat": "40.765071427764255",
                   "lng": "-73.98571014404297"
               },
               "southWest": {
                   "lat": "40.76136589216275",
                   "lng": "-73.9954948425293"
               }
           },
           "type": "rectangle"
       },
       {
           "path": [
               {
                   "lat": "40.77287188004522",
                   "lng": "-73.97850036621094"
               },
               {
                   "lat": "40.76929678641433",
                   "lng": "-73.97146224975586"
               },
               {
                   "lat": "40.76897176836409",
                   "lng": "-73.96940231323242"
               },
               {
                   "lat": "40.76715163790488",
                   "lng": "-73.97077560424805"
               },
               {
                   "lat": "40.77157186825386",
                   "lng": "-73.9793586730957"
               }
           ],
           "type": "polygon"
       }
   ]