Weighted Visibility Classification and Seating Plan for the Aitken University Centre

This paper describes the requirements for a weighted visibility classification of seats in the University of New Brunswick's (UNB) Aitken University Centre (AUC). Price levels for seats are typically set for sections of seats based on promoter preferences. In a visibility classification, the digital elevation model (DEM) is created for the AUC and includes possible view obstructions. The view obstructions taken into account for this design were the penalty boxes, player bencher, and the rink boards. There were no other major obstructions in the AUC. The visibility calculations compute the number of visible pixels of the rink surface for each seat. It is expected that seats with a higher number of visible pixels will also have better visibility. The number of viewable pixels is weighted by distance to the center of ice surface to account for the preference of seats that are closer to the rink surface. This paper outlines the collection of data, weighted visibility classification method, and the development of information products. There are two main objectives of this weighted visibility classification and seating plan: (a) to demonstrate that a weighted visibility classification is a viable method to classify seats, and that this methodology could be used to set price levels for a venue and (b) create online web applications to suit the functionality for users and venue administrators. The user web application allows the user to pan, zoom and perform limited searches in the interactive map.