--- title: "Outdoor festivals monitoring | Nexus Observatory" description: "Festivals build a small town in a field for a few days: stages, crowds, power and networks. Wind on temporary structures, lightning…" url: https://observatory.global/industries/events/outdoor-festivals/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-11-02 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Events](https://observatory.global/industries/events/) / [Specialized fields](https://observatory.global/industries/events/fields/) / **Outdoor festivals** # A festival that sees the storm and hears the neighbours. Festivals build a small town in a field for a few days: stages, crowds, power and networks. Wind on temporary structures, lightning, heat and noise at the neighbours decide whether the show goes on. Deployable sensing and connectivity give the event team what it needs, then leave with the crew. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) How it works [Station Builder](https://observatory.global/studio/builder/) **Industry**: Events **Measurements**: 5 **Sources cited**: 6 1. Events · Outdoor festivals A town in a field Festivals build a small town in a field for a few days: stages, crowds, generators and networks. Wind on temporary structures, lightning over open ground, heat and noise at the neighbours decide whether the show goes on and whether the licence survives. 2. What is measured Wind, storms, heat and sound Anemometers on stages and towers measure gusts, a thunderstorm warning sensor watches for lightning, stations in crowd areas measure heat stress, sound meters at the nearest homes measure noise, and generators report power and fuel. Every instrument keeps its calibration and position with the site record. InstrumentsAnemometers · Lightning sensor · Heat stress stations · Sound meters · Generator monitors 3. The base node Thresholds the team agreed The node compares wind with each structure's limits, stages lightning warnings, tracks heat stress and noise against licence conditions, and logs every decision so the event team can show what it saw and when it acted. Every value is signed at the node before it leaves. 4. Radio and links A network the crowd cannot jam A cell on wheels gives crew, stewards and sensors their own network that the crowd cannot overwhelm. Microwave links the site to the nearest fibre, and satellite backs it up where there is no line of sight. When one path fails, the other carries the data. LinksPrivate 5G · Microwave · Satellite 5. How it works From a gust front to a paused show A gust front approaches on the evening of the headline show. Wind on the main stage passes its limit; production pauses the show and lowers the screens, stewards move people from under the towers, and the show resumes when gusts fall. 6. From order to operation · Order Scope with the event team The scope reads the site plan, structures and their wind limits, licence conditions, crowd numbers and emergency plan. Nexus Observatory Inc. returns the kit, network plan, thresholds and a price per event. The scope is agreed before any site work begins. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) 7. From order to operation · Survey Survey the field Crews survey the site with the event team: stage and tower positions, crowd areas, neighbours for noise, mast sites and backhaul paths. Findings are mapped. Findings shape the kit for each site before anything is built. Every finding is kept with the site record for the crews who follow. 8. From order to operation · Permits Licence conditions The licensing authority agrees how noise and safety data are reported, radio use is licensed for the event, and land owners approve masts. Every approval is kept with the event record. No crew goes to site before its approvals are in place. 9. From order to operation · Build Build event kits Kits are configured with the site's thresholds, nodes enrolled with their identities and the network tested before the crew leaves the depot. Nothing ships until the whole kit has passed its tests together. Test results travel with the kit to the site. [Open the Station Builder](https://observatory.global/studio/builder/) 10. From order to operation · Install Set up with the build crew Crews raise masts, mount anemometers on stages and towers, place sound meters at receptors, install the cell on wheels and the node, and connect backhaul during the site build. Crews follow the site safety plan throughout the work. The site record is updated before the crew leaves. 11. From order to operation · Commission Commission before gates open Each node proves its identity. Wind and sound readings are checked, lightning warnings tested with the regional service, the network tested at load, and the event team rehearses its weather and noise procedures. Acceptance is recorded with the owner before handover. 12. From order to operation · Operate Run the show The event team sees wind, lightning, heat and noise live. Stage shows pause when wind exceeds limits, people are moved when lightning approaches, water points open in heat, and sound is turned down before complaints. Every alert and action is kept on the record. 13. From order to operation · Maintain Strike and review After the event, kits are recovered with the site strike, data are compiled for the licensing authority and sustainability report, and thresholds are reviewed for the next event. Maintenance history stays with each site for its whole life. Spares and procedures travel with the crews. [Book field services](https://observatory.global/contact/field-service/) 14. Data products For event control and authorities Event control and production receive wind and lightning alerts; medical and welfare teams receive heat stress alerts; licensing authorities and neighbours receive noise reports; crew, stewards and sensors receive their own event network, each record tied to place and time. [See the data products](https://observatory.global/data-products/) 15. Evidence Safe, licensed and on record Crowd safety follows crowd management guidance, lightning warning the thunderstorm warning standard, heat stress the international index, noise the licence informed by environmental noise guidelines, and power records the event sustainability standard. Every decision is logged. The record is kept for as long as the duty lasts. Drawn againstHSG154 · IEC 62793 · ISO 7243 · Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region · ISO 20121 16. What you get Deployable connectivity and sensing kits A cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes for incident bases and events. Delivered as rental and managed service, for emergency agencies, humanitarian logistics, event operators. Scale: Pre-positioned fleets. Service levels are written as numbers you can measure on your own dashboard. [Talk to sales](https://observatory.global/contact/sales-enquiry/) 17. Next step Plan outdoor festivals with us Tell us the site, the measurements and the rules it answers to. We reply with a survey proposal, a design and a scope for outdoor festivals. An engineer replies with a survey proposal and a scope, and the plan grows from one site to the network you need, at your pace. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) [Open the Station Builder](https://observatory.global/studio/builder/) [Open the Studio](https://observatory.global/studio/) **01** The place and its hazards ## Where it runs, and what can go wrong. Operating contextCrowd safety follows health and safety guidance on managing crowds, thunderstorm warning follows the international lightning standard, heat stress the international index, and noise at neighbours is set by licence conditions informed by health guidance on environmental noise. Sustainable events follow the event sustainability standard. Hazards - High winds on stages and temporary structures - Lightning over open fields full of people - Heat and dehydration - Noise complaints that threaten the licence - Networks overwhelmed by the crowd **02** What must be measured ## What, where, how often, and under which rules. Each measurement names where it is taken, how often, and the public standard or regulation behind it. Numbers in the sources column open the cited source below. | Measurement | Where | Cadence | Sources | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wind at stages and structures | Anemometers at the tops of stages and towers | Every second, gusts | 12 | | Lightning and storm approach | A thunderstorm warning sensor on site | Continuous | 3 | | Heat stress | Stations in the crowd areas | Every minute | 4 | | Noise at the neighbours | Sound level meters at sensitive receptors | Continuous | 5 | | Power and fuel | Generators and distribution | Continuous | 6 | **03** The observation stack ## From one base unit to a network. The same blocks at every scale: instruments and a base node, a site with its radio, a fleet run as one, and a network federated on the open protocol. 1. **01** Base unit A point: an anemometer, weather sensor, sound meter or camera on a node. [Build a station →](https://observatory.global/studio/builder/) 2. **02** Site A festival site: points across the site, a cell on wheels, an edge node and backhaul, set up for the event. [Plan a site →](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) 3. **03** Fleet An organiser's events using the same kits and thresholds season after season. [Managed offers →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/solutions/) 4. **04** Network Organisers share event records with licensing authorities and emergency services. [The open protocol →](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - **01** Compact weather station - **02** Acoustic sensor - **03** Fixed camera - **04** Cell on wheels (deployable) - **05** Edge node (Wedge) - **06** LEO flat-panel terminal - **07** Point-to-point microwave - **08** Telescopic mast - **09** Generator Radio and links ### Private 5G A cell on wheels gives crew, stewards and sensors their own network that the crowd cannot overwhelm. Radio and links ### Point-to-point microwave Microwave links the site to the nearest fibre. Radio and links ### Satellite Satellite backs up the site where there is no line of sight. Edge computeThe node compares wind with each structure's limits, stages lightning warnings, tracks heat stress and noise against licence conditions, and keeps a decision log for the event team. PowerGenerators and batteries on site, monitored with the rest; sensors carry their own batteries. **04** How it works ## From the instrument to the product. One observation's path, tier by tier, with the interface on every link and a bill of materials below; then how the one node grows to a site, a fleet and federated networks. Outdoor festivals: data path – of 07 01 Instruments Measurement with sensor identity andcalibration 02 Radio access 03 Node – Wrap in an observation envelope with timequality– Measure quality and uncertainty, attachquality flags– Buffer locally (store-and-forward when thelink drops) 04 Backhaul Commit with transactional outbox andpublish, delivered at least once 05 Site Consumer inbox deduplicates and applieseach record once into governed data 06 Data store Governed product through API, map orexport, correction-aware 07 Products MQTTCAP 1.2OGC SensorThings API 08 Power and structure Supplies AC mains to the field equipment 01 Compact weather station SDI-12 · RS-485 · Ethernet 02 Acoustic sensor SDI-12 · RS-485 · Ethernet 03 Fixed camera Ethernet Thunderstorm warningsensor Not in the reference kit Subscriber phones andmodems Not in the reference kit 04 Cell on wheels (deployable) Ethernet · Fibre 05 Edge node (Wedge) Ethernet · Fibre · USB · RS-485 ·BMC 06 LEO flat-panel terminal Ethernet 07 Point-to-point microwave Ethernet · Fibre Site MQTT 5 with Sparkplug B Governed data store Versioned, correction-aware Wind and lightning alerts Heat stress alerts Noise reports Event network 08 Telescopic mast 09 Generator RS-485 · Ethernet LTE/NR Ethernet · MQTT 5 Ethernet · MQTT 5 Ethernet · RTSP/ONVIF Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Satellite IP Microwave link From the instrument to the published product: each band is a tier, each connector names its interface, and the numbers match the bill of materials. Hover or focus a block to trace its path; scroll or step to follow one observation. | Item | Equipment | Data ports | Protocols | Power in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 01 | **Compact weather station** All-in-one or compact station for temperature, humidity, pressure, wind and rain at a site. | SDI-12RS-485Ethernet | SDI-12, Modbus, MQTT 5, OGC SensorThings API | 12 V DC | | 02 | **Acoustic sensor** Sound level meter, acoustic event detector or infrasound array element. | SDI-12RS-485Ethernet | SDI-12, Modbus, MQTT 5, OGC SensorThings API | 12 V DC | | 03 | **Fixed camera** Fixed visible-light camera for site security, scene monitoring and machine vision. | Ethernet | RTSP with ONVIF profiles, MQTT 5 | PoE | | 04 | **Cell on wheels (deployable)** Trailer or vehicle carrying a telescopic mast, RAN, local core, backhaul and power to stand up a cell quickly. | EthernetFibre | 3GPP NR air interface, 3GPP E-UTRA air interface, 3GPP 5G core service-based interfaces | Fuel, AC mains | | 05 | **Edge node (Wedge)** Rugged edge node that boots from signed media, attests itself and establishes a site cell from little or no infrastructure. | EthernetFibreUSBRS-485BMC | MQTT 5, DMTF Redfish, IEEE 1588 PTP, NTP with NTS, OPC UA | 12 V DC, 24 V DC, 48 V DC, AC mains | | 06 | **LEO flat-panel terminal** Electronically steered flat-panel user terminal for low-Earth-orbit broadband constellations. | Ethernet | — | PoE, 48 V DC, AC mains | | 07 | **Point-to-point microwave** Licensed or licence-exempt point-to-point radio link between two sites with line-of-sight. | EthernetFibre | IEEE 1588 PTP | PoE, 48 V DC | | 08 | **Telescopic mast** Pneumatic or winch telescopic mast on a trailer, vehicle or base. | — | — | — | | 09 | **Generator** Fuel generator with automatic start for backup or primary site power. | RS-485Ethernet | Modbus | Fuel | How it scales 01 Instruments Arbitrary qualified sensors and instruments whosemeasurements are ingested with calibration, units,geometry, time, custody and uncertainty. ×n 02 Node The minimum useful deployable unit: server, ruggedappliance, radio node, sensor gateway, satelliteterminal, AI, scientific, vehicle or virtual node. Node Node agent 03 Site The minimum independently operable localgovernance and failure domain: one or more nodesplus local network, identity, policy, evidence,storage, products and operator surfaces. SITE Node Node Node ×n 04 Cluster An optional scale or specialisation domain forscheduling, shared storage, accelerators or datalocality. CLUSTER ×n 05 Fleet Coordinates plans, acknowledgements,convergence evidence, update campaigns andcorrection propagation across nodes and sites. FLEET Fleet controller ×n 06 Federation An exchange of products, capabilities, events orwork across approved, independently administeredtrust domains, using explicit trust, policy,data-locality, version and correction contracts. TRUST DOMAIN TRUST DOMAIN TRUST DOMAIN ×n Verifier Applications Data in the field Telemetry Control Data upstream Control Data upstream Control Exchange Evidence Events Exchange The smallest deployable unit is one node; the same unit is replicated to meet the demand. Nodes form a site, sites may form a cluster, sites and clusters are coordinated as a fleet, and fleets exchange across independently administered trust domains. Each plane is a separate channel with its own open binding. **Data in the field**: MQTT 5 with Sparkplug B; connectors for LoRaWAN, OPC UA and instrument buses. **Telemetry**: OpenTelemetry OTLP. **Control**: TLS 1.3 with mutual authentication; protobuf messages over gRPC or HTTP/2. **Data upstream**: At-least-once publication with repeat-safe keys over the control channel or NATS JetStream; QUIC MAY be used on lossy links. **Evidence**: DSSE-signed in-toto statements; SLSA provenance; SCITT transparency receipts. **Events**: Event envelopes mapped to CloudEvents 1.0; channels described in AsyncAPI 3. **Exchange**: OpenAPI 3.1; the OGC API family; SensorThings; STAC; WIS 2.0. **05** From order to operation ## Every step, from the first call to a running site. The same crew and the same record carry the work from scope to maintenance. 1. 01 Order Scope with the event team The scope reads the site plan, structures and their wind limits, licence conditions, crowd numbers and emergency plan. Nexus Observatory Inc. returns the kit, network plan, thresholds and a price per event. The scope is agreed before any site work begins. 2 2. 02 Survey Survey the field Crews survey the site with the event team: stage and tower positions, crowd areas, neighbours for noise, mast sites and backhaul paths. Findings are mapped. Findings shape the kit for each site before anything is built. Every finding is kept with the site record for the crews who follow. 5 3. 03 Permits Licence conditions The licensing authority agrees how noise and safety data are reported, radio use is licensed for the event, and land owners approve masts. Every approval is kept with the event record. No crew goes to site before its approvals are in place. 4. 04 Build Build event kits Kits are configured with the site's thresholds, nodes enrolled with their identities and the network tested before the crew leaves the depot. Nothing ships until the whole kit has passed its tests together. Test results travel with the kit to the site. 5. 05 Install Set up with the build crew Crews raise masts, mount anemometers on stages and towers, place sound meters at receptors, install the cell on wheels and the node, and connect backhaul during the site build. Crews follow the site safety plan throughout the work. The site record is updated before the crew leaves. 6. 06 Commission Commission before gates open Each node proves its identity. Wind and sound readings are checked, lightning warnings tested with the regional service, the network tested at load, and the event team rehearses its weather and noise procedures. Acceptance is recorded with the owner before handover. 3 7. 07 Operate Run the show The event team sees wind, lightning, heat and noise live. Stage shows pause when wind exceeds limits, people are moved when lightning approaches, water points open in heat, and sound is turned down before complaints. Every alert and action is kept on the record. 24 8. 08 Maintain Strike and review After the event, kits are recovered with the site strike, data are compiled for the licensing authority and sustainability report, and thresholds are reviewed for the next event. Maintenance history stays with each site for its whole life. Spares and procedures travel with the crews. 6 **06** Data products and integration ## What it delivers, to whom, and into which systems. Data products - **Wind and lightning alerts** Event control and production - **Heat stress alerts** Medical and welfare teams - **Noise reports** Licensing authorities and neighbours - **Event network** Crew, stewards and sensors Integration - **Event control** Alerts and views reach event control. - **Licensing** Noise and safety records are reported to the authority. - **Sustainability** Power and fuel records feed the sustainability report. Exchanged through MQTT, CAP 1.2, OGC SensorThings API. **07** Questions buyers ask ## Before you scope it. How fast can it be set up? During the site build, in a few days. Will the crowd overload the network? Crew and sensors have their own cell. Can it keep us within noise limits? It shows noise at receptors live against the licence. What happens after? Kits leave with the strike and are reused. **08** Resources ## The sources behind this page. Public standards, regulations and guidance, cited where they apply. Each applies only where its jurisdiction or scope does. 1. **1** [WMO-No. 8: Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observation](https://library.wmo.int/) World Meteorological Organization 2. **2** [HSG154: Managing crowds safely](https://www.hse.gov.uk/) Health and Safety Executive 3. **3** [IEC 62793: Protection against lightning, thunderstorm warning systems](https://webstore.iec.ch/) International Electrotechnical Commission 4. **4** [ISO 7243: Ergonomics of the thermal environment, assessment of heat stress using the WBGT index](https://www.iso.org/) International Organization for Standardization · 2017 5. **5** [Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region](https://www.who.int/) World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe · 2018 6. **6** [ISO 20121: Event sustainability management systems](https://www.iso.org/) International Organization for Standardization · 2012 **09** Related ## Use cases and solutions. [Use case Deployable incident observatoryA trailer or vehicle with a cell on wheels, satellite backhaul, a mesh kit, a drone and weather and air-quality nodes for an incident base.The full use case →](https://observatory.global/use-cases/deployable-incident/) [Solution Deployable connectivity and sensing kitsA cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes for incident bases and events.Solutions for events →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/solutions/#deployable-kits) [Solution Private Wireless as a ServiceStandalone private 5G or LTE for a site, campus, port or mine: radios, core, SIMs, spectrum route and operations.Solutions for events →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/solutions/#private-wireless) [Solution Sensing as a ServiceObservation networks designed, installed, operated and maintained for a monthly fee: weather, hydromet, air, seismic and environmental stations, with data delivered under a licence.Solutions for events →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/solutions/#sensing-service) **10** Events: specialized fields ## Other fields of this industry. [Specialized field Stadiums and arenasCrowd density, entry flow, weather and lightning at stadiums and arenas, joined in the control room so safety officers manage crowds and weather before they become incidents.The full field →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/stadiums-arenas/) [Specialized field Marathons and endurance eventsHeat stress, air quality and weather along marathon, cycling and triathlon courses, so medical teams and race directors protect athletes and change plans in time.The full field →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/endurance-events/) [Specialized field Venue connectivityPrivate 5G and Wi-Fi at venues for broadcast, operations, payments and fans, with an edge server for video and safety, built so the network holds when the venue is full.The full field →](https://observatory.global/industries/events/venue-connectivity/) ### Bring us the site. Plan a deployment, configure a station, model it in the Studio or talk to sales. 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