A Key Tool for Measuring the Attractiveness and Attendance of France’s Oldest Botanical Garden

Founded in 1593 at the request of King Henry IV, the Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier is France’s first botanical garden. Now managed by the University of Montpellier and the Faculty of Medicine, it plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation, public engagement, and the organization of cultural and scientific events.

With 500,000 annual visitors, a detailed attendance tracking system was essential to better understand site usage and optimize management strategies.

"Even for us, working here daily, we don’t always realize the full scale of visitor attendance."

The installation of a Kiomda counting device has provided reliable, continuous data, offering a detailed view of visitor flow and the impact of organized events.

Detailed Monitoring of Visitor Flow and Events

Each year, the Jardin des Plantes hosts numerous events that generate peaks in attendance:

✔ May and September see high visitor numbers, with 49,000 visitors in May and 41,000 in September.
✔ In March, the Prima Verra event (March 23, 2025) attracts up to 7,000 visitors in a single day.
✔ Cultural events like the 24 Hours of Biodiversity and Heritage Days welcome a large audience.
✔ Private evening events are held for corporate partners and students, averaging 200 guests per event.

"Our scope of use is extremely broad. We are a botanical garden with a university status, but also a unique venue that attracts a diverse audience and a variety of events."

The Kiomda counter enables precise quantification of these visitor flows, their evolution over time, and the impact of events on overall attendance.

An Essential Tool for Site Management and Preservation

Visitor tracking is not limited to event analysis—it also plays a crucial role in security management and biodiversity preservation.

"We are fortunate to have a staff member at the entrance controlling access, but we also need to protect fragile plants by relocating them to more secure areas."

During an October event, organized as part of the Action Cœur de Ville initiative, the Jardin des Plantes team chose to restrict public access to certain areas to preserve the fragile environment. These decisions were partially based on counting data, which helped evaluate the impact of high visitor numbers.

Attendance data also helps highlight unexpected trends, such as significant visitor numbers during winter months. These insights are valuable for refining communication strategies and improving visitor services.

"What we lack now is a public survey to better understand our audience. Now that we have attendance figures, it would be beneficial to analyze visitor profiles."

Data Utilized by Multiple Institutional Stakeholders

The data collected through the Kiomda counter is shared with key stakeholders:

✔ Jardin des Plantes management – for daily site operations.
✔ Faculty of Medicine & University of Montpellier administration – overseeing garden management.
✔ City of Montpellier & Metropolitan authorities – involved in urban planning and green space management.
✔ Tourism Office – using attendance figures to evaluate the site's attractiveness.

With detailed attendance reports, these various entities have access to reliable data to guide their decisions and assess the garden’s impact on the region.

A Reliable Solution with Areas for Improvement

Overall satisfaction with Kiomda’s solution is excellent, with a 9/10 rating. Customer service and support have been particularly praised.

"We are very happy with this solution. It’s a French company that listens to its customers and provides high-quality service—something increasingly rare today."

However, a few areas for improvement have been identified:

✔ Data visualization enhancements – The current data export format (15-minute intervals) could be streamlined to facilitate easier analysis.
✔ More intuitive filtering and sorting tools – A smoother interface experience would be beneficial.
✔ Logistics improvements for device servicing – Clearer instructions on shipping addresses could help avoid unnecessary back-and-forth between departments.

A Counting Solution Adapted to a High-Traffic Site

Thanks to Kiomda counters, the Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier has gained a clearer understanding of annual visitor trends, optimized event management, and strengthened conservation efforts for both the site and its biodiversity.

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