Delaware Emergency Management Agency; 165 Brick Store Landing Road, Smyrna, DE

INTRODUCTION

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead state agency tasked with coordinating comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery and mitigation for the state and residents of Delaware. DEMA’s focus on mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from weather-related, technological and other human-related disasters requires the ability to partner public, private and non-profit resources to streamline information and communications related to decision-making processes. It’s existing facility was moved to Smyrna, Delaware in 1998.

THE CHALLENGE

DEMA’s critical facility, used by state government officials including the governor’s office, during statewide emergencies, was using an analog, VGA-based, rear projection and audio visual system that had reached the end of its useful life and was due for replacement. 

The DEMA facility had a large main Emergency Operation Center (EOC) floor (approx. 80 x 100’) accommodating 50 seats but needed to add modern Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) conferencing capabilities. Six existing large rear projection systems allowed viewing of appropriate content by participants in the EOC and adjacent first and second floor spaces, as well as the ability to join separate and combined UCC meetings. DEMA’s requirements for the new space:

• Comprehensive design enabling enhanced viewing of critical streams from multiple sources
• Advanced meeting functionality 
• Distributing high resolution video via existing coax CATV infrastructure 
• Little to no downtime

THE SOLUTION

Visual Sound proposed the design, fabrication, and installation of:

• Building-wide video and audio visual over IP (AVoIP)
• A large video wall within the main EOC
• Multiple digital signage displays around the facility 
• UCC conferencing systems throughout the building in many conference rooms and offices 

All spaces were designed to accept video feed from the Main EOC, a central function supporting and recovering from any emergency.

THE TECHNOLOGY

The Main EOC center is equipped with a curved 29’ x 11’ video wall on a 29’ x 15’ structure which has processing to support 64 total video windows from various sources across the wall. Larger windows support 4K resolution appropriately.

Supplemental cameras are wall mounted at the back of the room for UCC conferencing, recording, and streaming in the main EOC.  Various laptop inputs into the system are provided throughout along with dedicated PCs that host day-to-operational information such as weather, news, and call logs. Desktop microphones and line array loudspeakers are installed for phone conferencing applications along with multiple touch panel interfaces controlling room video and audio, and building-wide routing for emergency operations.

The OPS room is where dedicated operators control the facility and generate content for the Main EOC. Built into the OPS room are control system interfaces, encoders, and owner-furnished PC’s where dedicated operators control the facility and drive content to the main EOC. The planning room is equipped with UCC conferencing, six displays, wired and wireless computer interfacing, overflow video and audio from the main EOC, and a touch panel interface for routing controls.

The many conference rooms each have a wall mounted display, local computer inputs for presentations and connectivity, ceiling microphones and speakers supporting both UCC conferencing and overflow video and audio from the main EOC.  

The training room offers instructors six displays and two cameras to support distance learning and streaming applications. This space is equipped with local computer inputs for presentations and overflow video and audio to and from the main EOC.  

The equipment room houses all the headend equipment, a high-resolution video encoder for the CATV distribution system, video over IP system, control system processing, dedicated audio visual networking, audio DSP and amplification. Pre-existing coax systems are integrated via multi-channel HDMI to Coax encoders. 

RESULTS

This new facility-wide audio visual system has given the Delaware Emergency Management Agency the ability to configure and operate for any emergency management and coordination effort needed to service situations where multiple local, state and federal agencies would need to be involved.

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Planar | MGP Series LED Custom 150 panel, 1.5mm pixel pitch video wall

VuWall | Config Custom I/O configuration including support for 64 sources

Sharp/NEC | Various Commercial displays of all sizes

Netgear | 4300 Series Dedicated audio visual network in core/edge topology

Biamp | Tesira SERVER-IO Supporting AVB and Dante routing of audio sources

Biamp | Parlé series Push-to-talk microphones and ceiling microphones

Vaddio | 999-9952-200W PTZ Cameras

Minrray | UV510A UCC conferencing cameras

Crestron | VC-4-PC-3 Control System Processors with various touch panel interfaces

BluStream | AV over IP Video distribution endpoints with Dante audio

Shure | QLXD Wireless microphonesCisco | RoomKit Plus Dedicated VTC codec for the Governors’ conference room