“To know where we are is to begin to understand who we are.”
— adapted from Ojibwe teachings on place and presence

🧭 Why RTLS Now?

In a world where presence matters—whether it’s a student’s safety, a misplaced laptop cart, or a community gathering—real-time location systems (RTLS) offer more than just dots on a map. They offer context, accountability, and care.

As schools and municipalities modernize, the convergence of cloud-managed simplicity (Meraki) and enterprise-grade control (Catalyst) opens new doors for location-aware infrastructure that’s both scalable and soul-aware.

🧱 The Hybrid Model: Cisco Meraki + Catalyst

We’ve designed a layered architecture that blends:

  • Meraki MR Wi-Fi 6/6E APs for BLE scanning and cloud-managed access
  • Catalyst 9300/9500 switches for high-throughput, policy-rich aggregation
  • Meraki MS390 hybrid switches for cloud-managed Catalyst hardware
  • Meraki MX for SD-WAN, firewall, and content filtering
  • Cisco Spaces as the RTLS and location analytics engine

This model supports smart classrooms, public Wi-Fi, and secure municipal operations—all with a unified policy and visibility layer.

📍 RTLS in Action: Cisco Spaces + BLE Anchors

Cisco Spaces turns your Meraki or Catalyst wireless network into a location-aware platform. Here’s how:

🔹 BLE Anchors

  • Meraki MT Sensors (MT10, MT14, MT40) double as BLE beacons
  • Meraki MV Cameras (MV2, MV12, MV63) act as BLE gateways
  • MR Access Points scan BLE signals and forward to Cisco Spaces

🔹 Tags & Tracking

  • BLE tags (e.g., on laptops, carts, badges) emit signals
  • Cisco Spaces triangulates location using signal strength and proximity
  • Real-time dashboards show movement, dwell time, and alerts

🏫 Use Cases: From Safety to Storytelling

Scenario RTLS Value
Student Safety Track presence in safe zones, trigger alerts if a student leaves a defined area
Asset Management Locate carts, laptops, or AV gear across buildings
Environmental Awareness MT sensors monitor temp, humidity, air quality—contextualized by location
Emergency Response MV cameras + BLE + Spaces = real-time visibility during drills or incidents
Community Events Understand crowd flow, optimize space usage, and tell stories with data

🌿 Energy, Equity, and Emotional Truth

This isn’t just about tech. It’s about:

  • Energy efficiency: PoE scheduling, sensor-driven HVAC optimization
  • Digital equity: Ensuring safe, connected spaces for all learners
  • Emotional truth: Knowing where we are—physically and spiritually—grounds our leadership

🔗 Next Steps

🌀 Final Thought

RTLS isn’t just about tracking. It’s about trust. It’s about telling the story of place—with data, with dignity, and with design that honors both efficiency and empathy.

Let’s build networks that know where we are—so we can better know where we’re going.