Solutions
Solutions
The 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:
The Solution:
Visual Sound proposed the design, fabrication, and installation of:
During the initial site visit, Visual Sound tested and evaluated the venue’s existing equipment, identified areas for technical and acoustic enhancements, and proposed additional audio systems, including microphones, speaker arrays, and audio processing equipment tailored to meet the needs outlined in the program.
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.
The 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.
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