EOC, NOC and Operations Center A/V system upgrades

Every agency or organization faces the challenge of aging technology whether it is operator devices, network infrastructure or audio/video systems. An operations center, EOC or NOC is vital to an agency's mission and can be critical throughout an emergency, disaster or special event.Audio/video systems in an operations center provide the eyes and ears of the operation. From live camera feeds in the field, to sharing of digital information, to weather alerts and much more- a reliable and scalable A/V system is essential to the mission.Upgrading your operations center A/V system can be daunting and overwhelming considering there are so many options and changes in technology in the last few years. Here are 6 main areas of focus and tips for upgrading your AV system.[caption id="attachment_3942" align="alignright" width="303"]

AV System in Operation Center, EOC, NOC[/caption]“Go Digital”Digital is the present and the future. Many new technologies and devices no longer support analog signals. You must invest in a Digital Core.Note: You will probably still have legacy analog products that you will need to incorporate into the system. These signals can be converted to digital in a well-designed system.ScalabilityWhen considering the scalability of your A/V system there are two areas to focus on: Inputs/Outputs and Resolution.

• The number of Inputs and Outputs must be scalable and have room to grow. Make sure you can expand your inputs and outputs as your operations center may grow, change function, and/or convert over to digital.
• Resolution needs to have the ability to scale higher- UHD/4K is the latest and is available now. Your agency may want to consider jumping to UHD/4K video.

InfrastructureWith a new system the infrastructure may have to change depending on what is currently in place. What type of infrastructure should I use? Copper, Fiber, Wireless? Actually, your new system will use all 3. A good design will incorporate all of them for accessibility, speed, security, and bandwidth.SecurityMost A/V components in today’s systems use a network for control and functionality. Consider installing a private local network for the system. A hybrid network can be established if video streaming or offsite control/monitoring is required. Security in infrastructure is best over fiber.System ControlThe most important aspect to consider when updating your Ops Center is the user interface/user experience. The interface should be easy to use with little to no training required. You will want to select the products and company that can build your user interfaces that are easily navigated, intuitive and do not require a professional on staff. Extron Electronics systems are the industry standard and have a user interface easily navigated is integrated properly.Video WallFinally you must consider the plan for your video wall. The two options for a video wall are projectors and LCD monitors or televisions. When deciding on the best upgrade for your ops center the main factors for your video wall will be budget and versatility. Projectors provide a budget friendly option while LCD monitors are much more versatile.When upgrading your audio/video system the main consideration should be how your agency and/or organization operates. Choose an integrator that understands your operational needs and are able to provide you with a solution that is user friendly, scalable and secure.