control room display screens free sample

HDR or High Dynamic Range, provides the ability to display a wider and richer range of colors, much brighter whites, and much deeper, darker blacks than standard signals allow. This gives your imagery a more ‘dynamic’ look and allows for natural true to life colors to be communicated to your audience.

HDR workflows can also benefit from AJA"s Control Room application and it"s companion, AJA Control Panel, which comes complete with built-in HDR test patterns.

AJA Control Room also provides VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry and Luminance transfer characteristics over SDI, bringing flexible output options to your AJA device.

AJA Control Room can also feed HDMI HDR displays, offering HLG and HDR10 support with HDR Infoframe metadata, in accordance with HDMI 2.0a/CTA-861.G, for compatible KONA, Io and T-TAP products. HDMI ports that were already HDR compatible will work simultaneously, for HDR output via both SDI and HDMI.

AJA Control Room software further offers HDR Auto Playback Detection. Embedded HDR metadata in a recorded .mov file, is read and used to automatically set the HDR format on the monitor(s) connected to the AJA HDMI and/or SDI outputs.

Support for file-based .mov HDR outputs with metadata from Adobe Premiere Pro/Adobe Media Encoder HDR files is also available. Screening those rendered outputs is a simple and hi-quality experience with AJA Control Room. Every frame is presented in its full-quality, at the timing intended, and with the proper HDR format set correctly and automatically.

When we talk about technology evolution in control room environments, the transformations that truly make a difference are thought out and planned to improve operator safety, comfort, efficiency and situational awareness. To accomplish this, there are a variety of factors of new technology and room design that need to be evaluated with the advancement of integrated systems.

But, one of the major factors that is often top-of-mind when updating these mission-critical spaces is the impact on operations. Whether your control room is small, large or multifaceted, this encompasses not only the potential disruption of the actual implementation or install, but also the short-term and long-term impact on overall operational flexibility and controller experience.

Because of the need to rapidly adapt operations during the COVID era, with remote and hybrid work gaining traction and the continued decentralization of control room environments, quickly sharing information and content is of the utmost concern. When critical information needs to be conveyed to decision-makers across a campus, state, country, or even the world, content streaming is a secure and inexpensive way to maintain situational awareness.

While there are many ways to perform content streaming, the most flexible platforms allow information/content to be shared out from the control room to remote stakeholders as well as into the operation center from the field. Whether it’s a Real Time Crime Center sharing a video feed with a first responder, or a substation technician sharing content back to a utility control room from the camera on their cellphone, content streaming is designed, built and deployed for the task. All that is needed to receive or send content is an internet connection and a web browser.

With more and more data points coming into control rooms, the ability for operators to monitor every source is nearly impossible. While there are numerous AI technologies on the market that generally apply to specific technologies, Color Detection monitors computers for color changes and can automatically trigger alarms, which improves response times and enhances productivity in control room environments. Additionally, Color Detection analyzes computer screen images on desktops or video walls for color changes without any assimilation with the specific applications being monitored. Color changes are important in a wide variety of command and control centers ranging from equipment status in Process Control, SCADA maps in utility environments, and access control in security.

Depending on an organization’s ConOps, or Concept of Operations, video conferencing may be best served at individual operator desktops, while other organizations may have a need for room-based video conferencing; regardless, the right integrator partner will help tailor your conferencing setup to particular operator needs and business functions. Desktop video conferencing is as simple as having the necessary software installed, a USB camera, and a high-quality microphone and speaker. In control room environments, headsets are often the best option for providing the most consistent and intelligible microphone and speaker.

When it comes to room-based video conferencing, these operational considerations multiply. Understanding specific workflows in a given control room will often dictate the types of microphone(s) and camera(s) that need to be deployed. Whether it’s Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx, a flexible, platform-agnostic video conferencing solution will meet your needs and is best for any mission-critical environment. This is often accomplished by leveraging a PC or laptop that launches the specified meeting platform, while the room microphone and camera are converted to USB for connection to the PC or laptop.

As has been a consistent theme throughout this blog, more and more data points or information ingested from an end-to-end system require more screen “real estate”, or space on the COP (common operational picture). In the past, organizations have typically added more monitors to an operator’s workspace rather than simply increasing the size and/or resolution. By leveraging a higher resolution desktop monitor with a larger aspect ratio, it is easier to view multiple different data points on a single pane of glass. As with all desktop monitors, there are a plethora of sizes available on the market and should be chosen based on a few factors: available space on the work surface, number and types of inputs, feature set that could be beneficial to an operator, and overall sightlines within the control room.

If the control room is the brain of operations, then its technological components make up the nervous system that drives all decision-making. When optimized with state-of-the-art technology and outfitted so operators can benefit from mission-critical capabilities, the brain of the operations is able to think clearly and strategically—and isn’t overwhelmed with information that’s difficult to see, share and react to.

Consider the aforementioned technology solutions to upgrade control rooms and better-equip your operators. While this is not without its challenges, working with an experienced integrator and control room technology experts will ensure your operation center is future-proofed with platforms and tools tailored to specific user needs. Contact our team today.

Multiple screens form the focal points of the entire control room system. They are the point of delivery for mission-critical information. This is why the world’s leading cube manufacturers use optical rear-projection screens from dnp for their cube walls and control room display systems.

dnp manufactures projection screens for all types of control rooms – from CCTV surveillance at local police stations, to giant cube walls in power plants and traffic control centres.

Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. These professional-grade displays provide vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior decor.

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.

Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).

Carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility for various installations including virtual production and extended reality.

a line of extreme and ultra-narrow bezel LCD displays that provides a video wall solution for demanding requirements of 24x7 mission-critical applications and high ambient light environments

Since 1983, Planar display solutions have benefitted countless organizations in every application. Planar displays are usually front and center, dutifully delivering the visual experiences and critical information customers need, with proven technology that is built to withstand the rigors of constant use.

LCD video walls have been common for more than a decade, and they have changed much Resolution increased, brightness improved and bezels were minimized, but they’ve reached their limits. LED videowalls, on the other hands stand on the cutting edge of large format display

LED large format videowall give content creators a single, seamless digital canvas that isn’t restricted by frames or standard dimensions, they now provide better color accuracy and control, better off-

• WELS 4 is a FREE 3D control room design tool. With it you can design your control room with any product. • On-screen toolbars and windows allow quick selection of products and accessories.

Security Control Room Market was valued at USD 8.97 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 14.70 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.34 % from 2021 to 2027.

For many years, control rooms have acted as critical information hubs for various organizations around the globe. A crucial element of any properly functioning control room is the latest display technology. To monitor multiple information streams efficiently, decision makers must be equipped with crisp and clear information, delivered with the finest level of detail for optimum outcomes. It is also critical that any display operates without any downtime, providing the reliability and operational efficiency that can make all the difference in a mission-critical environment.

Increasing productivity and efficiency in today’s modern control room begins with building an integrated control room, where operators can focus on their mission and not on the technology. The challenge is being able to display the relevant combination of information in the right place at the right time on the video wall, the operators’ desktops, in a crisis room or a director’s office. Having all systems and applications interoperable and controlled from a single unified platform is the key to creating a seamless visualisation experience. This article describes how to do just that.

The primary purpose of a control room is to provide a central space that can effectively monitor and control complex systems, whether it is a large industrial process control application, a complex transport network or a command centre for emergency services.

For the most effective operations, control room operators must have up-to-date information that is accurate and complete. That data must be presented to them in a clear and logical way, in a layout that can be changed quickly as needed so that they can respond rapidly to changing situations and emergencies.

Modern control rooms generally include a large video wall for common access and visualisation of data and group analysis, coupled with individual workstations. These workstations typically have the same data as the large screen along with additional information, allowing specialist operators to extract the additional information required for their specific roles.

Here are the three critical steps to achieving the ultimate integrated control room installation: Select the right video wall displays & video wall control system

The first step is to select a high performance and flexible large screen video wall and control system.  It is important to choose a video wall that can display high quality images and data, offers a thin-bezel or no bezel (LED) design, is modular for scalability and delivers a great viewing experience in various lighting conditions.

There are various manufacturers that can offer such high-end displays. A great example is Samsung’s The Wall, a proven next-generation MicroLED display that is redefining the industry with a one-of-a-kind visual experience. The Wall brings superior colour purity with innovative colour enhancing Ultra Chroma Technology, a perfect black presentation with Black Seal Technology LED HDR and HDR 10+ support for optimum peak brightness and accurate grayscale expression. It is a real game changer for control rooms. In July 2021, Samsung certified VuWall’s VuScape video wall controller as the first to ensure a seamless interoperability and optimized visualisation experience. READ PRESS RELEASE

Reliability: A video wall control system is expected to be operational 24/7, while the quality of the control system is important, verifying with what level of built-in redundancy this system comes will ensure the highest availability of your video wall.

Scalability: A control room is a major investment and a place where requirements and technology evolve constantly. Look for a video wall control system that will be able to scale as the needs of the control room evolve (increased number of sources, new source formats, additional displays, interoperability with adjacent crisis room, etc…)

VuWall’s PAK video wall control nodes offer a simple, scalable and reliable solution for mission-critical operations. PAK delivers high-performance video processing and can easily control and manage any source to any display, offering the utmost flexibility and scalability with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface with a full-featured video wall management software.

In addition to the performance and processing power of the video wall controller, it is often the software that resides on these controllers that makes all the difference. There are many comparable video wall controllers out there, but it’s their software that differentiates them the most. The software is what determines the user experience and how productive control room operators will be. The most critical consideration for selecting the right video wall management software is interoperability; a platform that can route virtually any source type to any display and is compatible with third-party devices so that a single interface can be used to manage all devices on the network. Ease of use is another critical component; software that offers easy drag-and-drop operations both to configure and to operate the video wall.

TRx is VuWall’s centralized management platform – the only true interoperable platform that provides both AV-over-IP distribution and a fully-featured video wall management software. TRx even includes a control panel designer to create customized HTML-based control panels to facilitate day-to-day operations, all without any programming required.

Selecting the optimum switching solution is crucial in control rooms that must provide operators with the information they need when they need it. Providing operators with the correct information from a vast array of different sources can be challenging, but thankfully, this challenge can be overcome with the right technology.

With an increasing amount of data and visual information, an effective control room demands a system that unifies and routes information effectively so that each operator can select the most relevant data and easily control remote computers to accomplish their tasks.

One of the most efficient and flexible ways to achieve this is with a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switching system. Typically, the computers and source devices supplying the data that operators need to observe is located at a distance from the operators in a secure server room with a controlled environment. Access to those computers is possible using KVM extenders, an integral element of the switching system.

At the centre of the KVM system is a matrix switch that routes individual computers to operator workstations. Any operator can select any source computer and control it as though the computer was located only a few metres from their desktop; with no latency, interactive delay on the keyboard and mouse or misleading artefacts on the screen. It is also possible for several operators to view and control the same computer simultaneously – under strict access control to maintain operational integrity.  More information on the capability and application of KVM switches within control rooms can be found in the KVM in Mission-Critical Control Room brochure.

System control and integrity is an important consideration when giving operators access to all computers. Operators can also select between sources using simple keyboard commands or through an additional device such as a push button panel or touch screen. The IT system administrator is also able to control switching routes centrally and assign access permissions along with a series of other control parameters that suit just about every practical operational requirement.

Many workstations are equipped with several screens which would normally require multiple keyboards and mice. A KVM system allows a single keyboard and mouse to control any computer, simply by hovering the mouse over the appropriate screen and interacting with the presented data.

Presenting all the combined visual information on the large video wall at the front of a control room and across all operator workstations is essential in ensuring that decision-makers are equipped with the information they need to minimize response times and increase operational efficiency. This can only be achieved with a centralized management platform that is integrated with all the information systems used to provide data to those decision makers.

A key element to this infrastructure is the VuWall TRx Centralized Management Platform.  TRx software provides an easy-to-use user interface to fully manage both the content on the video wall and the routing of source computers to the operator workstations. It also provides an intuitive control panel designer tool to quickly and easily create an unlimited number of HTML-based control panels to select between various pre-set screen configurations for the most common operational scenarios and crisis situations.

Control room operators must have instant and reliable access to accurate information at all times even though this information comes from a wide variety of sources delivered in various formats.

In this new era of smart control rooms, unified, integrated and interoperable technology can handle all types of incoming visual information and deliver this information where and when it is needed.

A proven and tested integrated video wall controller and KVM switch solution with a simple-to-use control interface, achieves just that; ensuring operational staff have constant access to information to make the correct decisions, especially at the most critical times.

A major new central control room (CCR) was needed to enable train operators to visually monitor and manage over 500 miles of track on the Sydney Trains network.

Network controller workstations are provided with up to eight monitors to concurrently control remote source devices with a single keyboard and mouse.  A deep level of redundancy ensures that the system is operational 24/7 with no down time that might compromise the safe running of the network.

The entire Rail Operations Centre is managed and controlled with VuWall’s VuScape video wall controllers and IHSE’s tera Tool user controllers under administrator control to ensure that all operational staff and managers have access to accurate, up-to-the-second, information on workstation monitors and on the large video wall.

The ROC is one of the most sophisticated, data-driven, and ergonomically designed operations control centres in the world. This state-of-the-art deployment sets a new standard for other mega-city transit systems.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column]

A video wall more than just the organization’s showpiece or a large, fancy display—it is much more than just “nice to have.” This document will explain how video wall systems benefit operations in control room applications and help make your control room operations run more smoothly and effectively.

The primary purpose of the video wall in a control room is to provide domain experts (operators or control room users) with true situational awareness and a common operating picture where information from real-time sources such as computers, video, networked applications, CCTV or security cameras, etc., may be simultaneously shown and shared. This enables and promotes informed decision making on a unified level which is always important for mission-critical operations, in today’s fast-paced organizations and industry including:

For control room display of SCADA and OMS information along with other critical data and graphics, all utilities control rooms require visually high-resolution display systems where image clarity and reliability is not only critical, but imperative for smooth operations. It is impossible to display high-resolution SCADA on a small monitor without compromising quality and sacrificing readability. High-resolution graphics are displayed continuously for extended hours on the display wall and is monitored by operators who use it to ensure system reliability. The display wall is used not only to monitor operations, but also as a visual reference for critical communications with field operators.

Transportation Management Centers need the capability to display high-resolution graphic information from maps, multiple camera feeds, traffic management applications, etc. to ensure safe and continuous traffic flow.

During emergency operations, management and response teams need high-resolution graphics displayed from multiple applications readily displayable to be simultaneously shared between many different users and operators. With time constraints, multiple agencies often need to get together and collaborate to make informed decisions and take the right course of action. Emergency operations can run continuously for extended hours or even days through various shifts and the uniformity and reliability of the displayed information, as well as the display wall is critical.

When you are tasked to build a display for use in a command and control center, you are tasked with a mission-critical activity where image quality, reliability, scalability, and continuous availability could make the difference between life and death in some emergency situations.

Information from many different types of sources including computers, video, and networked applications, need to be displayed on multiple screens and shared between multiple operators to stay in control and make for efficient management of emergencies.

Security has become central to ensuring that society is kept free from the threat of terrorism and the worries of cyber or physical attacks, anti-social, or criminal behavior. These worries permeate our lives as never before. Control rooms providing situational awareness on a large common operating picture, are core to achieving this state of affairs in an efficient way. As such the technology for this endeavor is rapidly evolving. The continuous availability of shared information on large displays is becoming an operational necessity in keeping all members of society safe and free from these unwanted threats.

Vast amounts of information and activity need to be continuously monitored for smooth operations in the telecommunications and network operations industry. Data, graphics, and even videos are continuously monitored with the operators needing high-resolution and clear images that can be viewed and managed with ease. Displays for this information need to be flexible and highly reliable to ensure continuous system availability.

The video wall is also a central communications hub and show piece of an organization and is often used to demonstrate operational efficiency and capabilities to the stakeholders of the organization. In control rooms, the design of information presented to the operator is often distanced from the real-world process that it should represent. It becomes important for this information to be presented in a way gives operators the correct and optimal feeling for the process and its current status. The display should continuously support and update the operator’s mental and tacit model of the ongoing real-life process.

When a process is going well, there is no need for information to be shared on a common display. But when something starts to go wrong (and it often does in real-life), an early warning should show up with all relevant information required to diagnose the problem and take corrective actions to fix the problem. There may also be a need for new types of data and information and more advanced types of graphics. Operators and users may be required to zoom in visually on an issue when a fault is detected. This is where large-scale overview displays become invaluable.

It is a risk to put too high a degree of emphasis on local desktop displays. The desktop should provide detailed information, which is often a subset of the common operating picture. Frequently an operator works with several desktop displays in parallel with the main control room display and it is important that different displays represent different modalities.

We often hear of business reporting the losses organizations incur due to operator neglect and error. Any unplanned downtime can amount to billions of dollars every year. Similarly, in public service entities such as transport, dispatch, emergency services, and command and control, time lost through error and misdirection can be costly and sometimes, fatal.

Research has proven that majority of such downtime is preventable and more than half is due to operator error caused mainly by poor monitoring and or visualization. This could be due to dramatic increases in sedentary work with little or no need for physical activity, possibly because of the technological advances in the tools used at work. Strain injuries from backache, RSI, and E-thrombosis to headache, mental fatigue, and eye-fatigue or strain, and even sheer boredom can be caused by staring at small screens for extended hours of operation.

Designing and building a good control room with better display and visualization tools create a work environment that promotes high levels of vigilance and situational awareness. Operators are vigilant when they are alert and prepared to act. They have a high level of situation awareness when they have an accurate perception of the current condition of the entire process and related equipment, and an accurate understanding of various key performance indicators.

A video display wall, when used in conjunction with local desktop monitors, provides such an environment where multiple operators can collaborate effectively with common information to jointly make informed decisions and take proper action.

A video wall helps create the optimal visual connection between the operators and the system, process, business, and organization. It helps promote operator alertness and helps minimize fatigue and distraction from reading information on smaller desktop displays, effectively enabling readiness and proactive action promoted by a combination of the large overview display and local desktop monitors.

Economics is often the major driving factor in choosing whether using a display wall in a control room is possible or not. It is all about maximizing the return of investment in the equipment and facilities without compromising performance and objectives. A key consideration is the expected lifetime of the control room and adapting the equipment to optimize the working environment for staff to perform at their very best.

Conducting a cost-of-ownership study will help evaluate what is available, prioritizing investment and making right choices for the system. Improving the working environment can lead to greater productivity—better concentration levels, better vigilance, better motivation. An investment in the display wall, control room interiors, lighting and ventilation, furniture, etc. help control room designers achieve an optimal environment that ensures maximize return through effective and efficient operations going forward.

Organizations today face tremendous pressure to run leaner operations in order to reduce costs and overhead without compromising effectiveness. It becomes important to use the right technology that helps enhance performance and is based on how people work. Display walls in control rooms help organizations streamline operations to enable effective decision making, thereby improving processes and reducing costs and overhead by minimizing or eliminating redundancy and operator errors or neglect.

Organizations that once operated multiple sites with a small control room in each site are seeing how they can consolidate and operate more efficiently with fewer but larger control rooms. Often, this trend is driven by economic considerations and the need to reduce costs. Consolidation has a number of other consequences, such as the impact on teamwork and the retention of local knowledge. Designers need to create systems that provide operators with better contextual information. New display wall technology that allows photo realistic mapping helps in such situations.

For example, where operators control a large complex facility in different regions, the use of detailed, intuitive mapping, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and SCADA systems can prove effective.

Technology has automated many processes, changing the role of the operator from hands-on, minute-by-minute control of processes to a supervisory function with intervention when and where necessary. This generates the need for a large screen displaying a common operating picture to support and maintain operational awareness at all times. Display walls also help with reducing individual workloads and increasing overall efficiency.

For example, with the increase in use of CCTV cameras, hundreds of images can create an overload for the operator, which could hinder rather than help him do his job. Sharing the images between multiple operators reduces individual operator overload and improves overall efficiency in the control room.

Other benefits of the display wall are its inherent characteristics and intuitive nature—making it safer, more efficient, with lower training costs for operators. The dynamic nature of a display wall gives added potential for shared controls and productive collaborative work. The challenge is to maximize the potential benefits a display wall offers and not simply installing it simply because it looks good.

The overriding element that draws this all together is the need to put people at the center of the design of control rooms and systems to realize the dual benefits of increased efficiency and cost savings.

The goal in designing a control room is to create a work environment that promotes high levels of vigilance and situational awareness. Operators are vigilant when they are alert and prepared to act. They have a high level of situational awareness when they have a true perception of the current condition of the process and equipment, and an accurate understanding of the meaning of various trends and key performance indicators.

In summary, when designed properly, a display wall system can benefit an organization tremendously, promoting informed collaborative decision-making, real-time situational awareness, improved operational efficiency, and visibility with low cost of ownership over the life of the system. It is also very often the show-piece of the organization.

Control rooms are vital for organizations to efficiently and effectively monitor multiple information streams and make accurate mission-critical decisions. With an ever-increasing number of content sources and applications to manage, in addition to collaborative information integration needs, today’s control rooms need to enable system management that is efficient and cost-effective, while at the same time offering maximum operator comfort.

Whether it’s for monitoring, decision-making, responding, controlling, collaborating, or communicating, control room solutions are an essential component to daily operations, allowing for more efficient work and better decision-making. Power plants can benefit from control room solutions in a number of ways: in their process facilities; for surveillance; in facility situation rooms; for command and control; for traffic management; and for broadcasting distribution monitoring (Figure 1).

1. Power plants can benefit from control room solutions in a variety of ways, helping operators work more efficiently and make better decisions. Rows of monitors visible from multiple workstations enable several workers to have input simultaneously on operations. Courtesy: ATEN Technology

In utilities and process control centers, operators continuously monitor and control constant flows of manufacturing, industrial control process, infrastructure/equipment status, and the dynamic change on demand to guarantee production and distribution in the best possible way. The challenges include providing an integrated real-time overview of process flow and equipment status for better situational awareness and decision making, along with a flexible and ergonomic system deployment for efficient yet managed access to devices. Information integration and visualization are especially important in these scenarios—from detailed network distribution information to topological overviews of the service area—in addition to redundancy/backup support to ensure continuous operations.

Control room operators are increasingly leveraging Internet Protocol (IP) networking technology. Utilizing “over IP” technology in control rooms for video, audio, and control data distribution and extension offers more flexibility and scalability for centralized or distributed control room operation. In control room scenarios, the migration from direct-connected systems to those that make use of IP networks has had various advantages—mainly, that controllers can configure connectivity architecture and the overall size of the KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) installation based on specific requirements, and systems can be designed to accommodate large distances, high performance, and varying levels of system redundancy and resiliency.

The major benefit of IP-based KVM in the control room is almost limitless scalability and flexibility. An IP-based KVM system also provides more extension options beyond traditional keyboard-monitor-mouse, including server sharing, video extension, and multicasting. For these reasons, IP-based control units mean you can upgrade your IP management efficiency by increasing productivity and reducing operational costs.

IP-based solutions that utilize TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/IP for the communication protocol allow control room operators to monitor, access, and troubleshoot control room assets from any networked computer. This also means that image data from secondary sites or anywhere else on the network can be displayed on the main control room video wall, enabling a faster response to mission-critical emergencies.

Visualization and information integration also are increasing in importance. Monitoring and sharing the ever-expanding amount of video and data streams are essential for control rooms. High-quality video performance with the best resolution available makes possible rapid analysis of evolving situations and real-time decision-making (Figure 2).

2. Control rooms that offer the ability for workers to monitor and share large amounts of video and data enable more rapid analysis of evolving situations, along with the ability for real-time decision-making and collaboration. Courtesy: ATEN Technology

Display solutions extend from desktop screens for operators to large-size video walls for better collaboration, while multiple displays at workstations help operators visualize more information and improve operation. The importance of visualization and information integration for monitoring and decision-making in a control room environment has crucial implications for a system’s video quality and content distribution capabilities. In scenarios where video walls must be operational 24/7, solutions must allow for high-performance processing that enables video signals to be converted and scaled to meet display requirements—single, dual, or multi-screen display formats—at resolutions up to 4K. And with multiple video and data sources connected to the system, it should also be possible to create individually tailored video wall solutions that deliver high-quality resolution images to all displays in the control room in any configuration.

Control room operators perform a demanding role in monitoring and controlling complex systems, where the consequence of error is potentially devastating. Ergonomics are therefore optimized to minimize the risk of human error and maximize performance and efficiency. A more ergonomic design (Figure 3) results in a better workflow and device management. Call it intuitive access and control.

3. This control room looks futuristic, and it’s a showcase for ergonomic design. The workstations are positioned for clear sightlines of the large video monitor at the front of the room, while enabling easy visualization of multiple desktop monitors in a larger and more open workspace. Courtesy: ATEN Technology

In addition to extending hardware lifecycle and performance reliability by locating machinery away from operators in ideal environmental conditions, it is imperative to consider the operators themselves. Control and peripheral equipment should be located optimally, and displays should be angled for comfort and ease of viewing.

More importantly, access to controls should be intuitive to create an environment that enables operators to stay alert and in control so that when incidents do occur, responses can be instant and appropriate resources can be immediately deployed. For these reasons, operator workspace and control solutions that enable multiple computer desktop workflows are the way forward.

A state-owned power distribution company was looking to redesign and upgrade its large-scale dispatch control center to centrally monitor and manage dual-display and single-display high-performance workstations. Additionally, it needed to incorporate a KVM solution for up to 96 communication control servers for use by the internal IT staff.

■ Providing local and remote data center access from the communication control department to the dispatch center and remote access from outside the building by the internal IT staff.

Utilizing ATEN’s KE Matrix Management Software (CCKM), a DVI Dual Display KVM over IP Extender, and a 32-Port Cat 5 KVM over IP Switch with Virtual Media, the integrator was able to utilize the power distribution company’s existing network infrastructure to provide remote access, monitoring, and management capabilities, and extended control of both single and dual-view high-performance workstations. Users can now access and manage the company’s communication control servers remotely when away from the office or over the local network, allowing them to be more efficient in their daily routines, minimize downtime, and quickly respond to issues as they arise.

When contemplating control room changes, selecting the technology, vendor, and integrator are obviously important. However, the following aspects should also be considered:

■ Seamless AV and IT Integration. The convergence of audiovisual (AV) and IT is already evident in many control room solutions. Look for experts who leverage IT/IP technologies as a way of connecting AV and server/device-room components, integrating information for collaboration, and facilitating responsive operations and crucial commands. The solutions offered should provide unlimited scalability, utilize space efficiently, and include re-deployable architecture. The solution should also allow for advanced, interactive, single sign-on management of the whole system, and should be able to leverage existing infrastructure and equipment, or at the very least, the tools to integrate with disparate systems.

■ Ergonomic Approach. Control room solutions should be designed to merge into operator-focused environments that will minimize the risk of human error and maximize performance and efficiency. For example, over IP solutions allow operators to be separated from devices, while safe, secure, remote access is made easy, and desktops and servers are made clutter-free and centrally manageable. Easy-to-navigate graphical user interfaces for convenient, intuitive configuration and operation should be standard.

■ Visual Excellence. This is not referring to an aesthetically pleasing product on the outside (though that’s always nice), rather, the component capabilities must be first-rate. For collaboration-heavy deployments, look for solutions that deliver high-performance image quality to multiple display video walls (Figure 4), as well as to desk console stations for mission-critical operations. Integrated information and visual details in resolutions up to 4K allow for more accurate monitoring, contact collaboration, and proper responses for situations that have an ever-increasing number of sources, authentication mechanisms, and applications to control.

4. Power plant operations require collaboration, and it’s important to deliver high-performance image quality to multiple display video monitors. The integration of information, along with visual details in resolutions up to 4K, allow for more accurate monitoring, contact collaboration, and proper responses for situations that have an ever-increasing number of sources, authentication mechanisms, and applications to control. Courtesy: ATEN Technology

■ Flexible Deployment and Management. Solutions should be easily managed and controlled, either remotely or locally across the end-users entire IT infrastructure. Recommended features include flexible authentication, secure access, and instant response.

Overall, seek a partner that understands the increasing complexity of control room requirements and provides end-to-end design and manufacturing, with the goal of increasing security and improving operator efficiency within the control room. Additionally, by building an intelligent, secure, and collaborative control room environment, mission critical systems will be accessible in real-time with the ability to handle mission critical emergencies from any location.

Accounting for control room infrastructure technology developments, such as the migration to digital video and advances in computing devices, can often involve great complexity in terms of combining all these requirements to provide flexible information display and user access. Implementing solutions in control rooms requires a sound knowledge of current and future developments in not only network connectivity and multiple IT system management, but also in how the integration of computer operations/control and audio-visual systems (Figure 6) can account for the need for essential decision-related content being available in remote spaces.

6.Network connectivity, enabling management of multiple IT systems, is among the developments that can be employed in today’s control rooms. Networks aid in the integration of computer operations and control, audio-visual systems, and other applications that can enhance efficiency. Courtesy: ATEN Technology

As control rooms are a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with a myriad of technological challenges, meeting these challenges efficiently requires a certain level of technical expertise. System integrators are required to consider many different aspects—solution components need to be reliable, manufactured for quality, and secure—but, along with build quality, the solutions themselves should also ideally provide future-proof infrastructure and investment protection, in addition to guaranteeing network safety and improving operator workflows.

What is needed are control room solutions that provide a networked distributed collaboration system that considers the complexities of signal distribution, the connectivity of both physical and virtual servers, data visualization, professional video walls, intuitive workflows, and operator controls. ■