32 TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: CONTROL ROOMS
July/August 2018
Key Points Facilities designed with ergonomics prioritised enable operators to respond quickly when incidents occur
Balancing act
The layout of the control room has evolved to remove clutter and provide a more operator-friendly environment IP-based KVM solutions allow companies to move bulky computer equipment away from the operator’s local environment
Given the rise of KVM solutions and IP infrastructures, Duncan Proctor looks at how command and control centres are evolving and continuing to balance complex functionality with simple operation
D
ue to the nature of the work being done in control centres, solutions, first and foremost, need to be easy to use as any human error can result in major problems. However, the simplicity of operation from the solutions sought is in stark contrast to the inherent complexity of control rooms systems, and the associated knowledge requirement, which continues to increase. “Accounting for technology developments in terms of control room infrastructure, 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,” says Nicolas Jaud, product marketing manager at Aten UK. “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 AV systems can account for the need for essential decision-related content being available in remote spaces.” As networked AV solutions have emerged, traditional matrix switchers for signal management in control rooms have fallen out of favour. In part, this is due to the ever-
increasing number of signals that control rooms are managing, as well as the fact that facilities receive more data than ever before. “These high-density installations need solutions that efficiently transport AV and control signals at low bitrates, and maximise the available bandwidth by putting more streams on the network,” explains Caroline Injoyan, business development manager for Matrox Graphics. Jaud agrees, and elaborates: “What is needed are control room solutions that provide such a networked distributed collaboration system, ones that take into account the complexities of signal distribution, the connectivity of both physical and virtual servers, data visualisation and professional videowalls, and intuitive workflows and operator controls.” Another development, mirrored by the wider industry, is the move to higher resolutions. “Video feeds are becoming high resolution with 4K commonplace and expected to be the standard in the future,” states Manuel Greisinger, head of sales at IHSE. “The ability to handle high resolution with no delay or artefacts is crucial.” Darren Allen, control room business development manager EMEA at Adder, notes the importance of avoiding delays: “From receiving data and information from a variety of sources, to analysing it and making missioncritical decisions; any delay, be it mere seconds
or minutes, has the potential to negatively impact operations. “Making sure these environments remain productive and successful comes down to their design. Of course, staff, technology and operations play a key role, but the layout creates the right foundation for all of the other components to fit into place.”
‘Control rooms are no longer limited by the maximum distance an analogue signal will travel from the rack room’ Daniel Hinton, Argosy
Set-up and operation The technologies that have had the biggest impact on command and control rooms in recent years are KVM and the move to IP infrastructures. But how have they changed how control rooms are set up and operated? “Traditionally control rooms would house banks of computers and displays,” says Allen. “However, today the aim is for a room that is smart, uncluttered and comfortable for