Command Agility, Control Evolution
Control rooms have always been the dynamic nerve centers of organizations that adapt and reconfigure to support evolving needs, and the last few years have been no exception. While the control room’s core purpose, to effectively visualize data to improve situational awareness and support collaborative decision-making, remains paramount, catalysts such as the pandemic, massive digitalization, and the explosion in data to be analyzed have forced us to re-imagine faster and better solutions. The control rooms of the future are here.
Security Control Room Market in USD by 2028
71
The Security Control Room market exceeded USD$4.5 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at over 6% CAGR from 2022 to 2028, as reported by GMI. 1
Increase in AI & Machine Learning Adoption
85
Researchers 3 highlight 85% of responders citing they used/were looking to adopt AI-assisted analytic systems to enhance control room operations.
Savings from Optimizing Ergonomics at the Console
1000
Adopting a human-centered approach to control room console design can save thousands of work hours per year when aggregated to the whole system level. 2
Control Room LED Displays More Energy Efficient
75
Direct view & fine pitch LED displays meet the demanding requirements for command and dispatch center control rooms and are up to 75% more energy efficient than LCD panels. 4
Trends
Flexible Visualization is Key to Agile Data Management
With IoT in full swing, control room data flows are becoming more numerous and more complex. These massive amounts of data need to be organized and visually presented to drive effective decision-making in the shortest period of time.
In order for this increase in data complexity to not become overwhelming, powerful collaborative tools and a high degree of flexibility are required when it comes to visualization and data integration. 1
Advances in AI Overcoming Structural Obstacles
For quite some time, control room offerings from solution providers have been moving towards applications for AI and machine learning implementations. These are now on the verge of overcoming the structural hurdles that have held them back, especially in the fields of AI threat detection in surveillance control rooms. Soon, for any control room utilizing metadata platforms, decision-making will be made using visual classifications supported by AI-augmented analytics. 2
Improved Ergonomics can Streamline Cognitive Processes
Moving on from physical comfort, screen line-of-sight, lighting, and uncluttered workspaces, advanced ergonomics now embraces not only biophilia 3 but also how operators interface with the technology they are using to perform their tasks. Data management agility tools can help to provide user-focused environments that minimize the risk of human error and maximize performance and efficiency. 4
Cybersecurity Concerns Driving Security Infrastructure by Design
In critical control room environments, information security concerns should be at the forefront of planning. An increase in data sources, access points, and content management systems brings an increase in cybersecurity concerns.
Many of these threats can be mitigated in the server room, where data security management can be strengthened through mechanisms such as multi-level access control, encrypted transmission, and operational logging. 5
Challenges
An explosion of new data sources in tandem with networking advances has created many new possibilities and some unique challenges for control room solution providers. Here are some of the key challenges:- More Data requires More Screens, More Flexibility
More screens and larger video walls are required for effective data visualization, along with multiple display options such as split screens and zooms for flexible monitoring. - Informed Decision-making requires Intuitive Multi-system Access
Access to controls should be intuitive in order for operators to stay agile while monitoring multiple subsystems so that data can be processed quickly and resources can be rapidly deployed. - Decentralized Workflows require Collaboration Technologies
Prompt collaboration, data sharing, and troubleshooting tools between workstations and the video wall are needed for streamlined workflows that include field-based remote workers. - No Interruption of Service requires Reliable 24/7 Operation
Control rooms must be supported by reliable technology with back-up and redundancy mechanisms for equipment, power, and network that support ever-shifting workflow priorities.
More screens and larger video walls are required for effective data visualization, along with multiple display options such as split screens and zooms for flexible monitoring.
Access to controls should be intuitive in order for operators to stay agile while monitoring multiple subsystems so that data can be processed quickly and resources can be rapidly deployed.
Prompt collaboration, data sharing, and troubleshooting tools between workstations and the video wall are needed for streamlined workflows that include field-based remote workers.
Control rooms must be supported by reliable technology with back-up and redundancy mechanisms for equipment, power, and network that support ever-shifting workflow priorities.
ATEN Solutions
ATEN provides a wide range of control room solutions that are perfectly suited to mission-critical applications where secure KVM over IP agility, real-time monitoring, and ergonomic desktop operations are demanded, including command centers, emergency response centers, broadcasting NOCs, ATC towers, and production line monitoring.- KVM over IP Switch & KVM over IP Matrix Solutions for Monitoring
For situational awareness to monitor system status for abnormalities and to ensure that faults can be debugged immediately. - Video Matrix Switch, KVM over IP, & Control System Solutions for Reporting
To gather experts and competent authorities, provide information to persons in charge, and discuss optimal strategies. - KVM over IP Matrix & Cat. 5 Extender Solutions for Dispatch
To dispatch front-line support as quickly as possible after operators are notified of an incident in the field. - KVM over IP Switch & KVM over IP Matrix Solutions for Operations
To perform workflows that require high concentration and efficiency in order to ensure the smooth functioning of an overall process.
For situational awareness to monitor system status for abnormalities and to ensure that faults can be debugged immediately.
To gather experts and competent authorities, provide information to persons in charge, and discuss optimal strategies.
To dispatch front-line support as quickly as possible after operators are notified of an incident in the field.
To perform workflows that require high concentration and efficiency in order to ensure the smooth functioning of an overall process.
ATEN Solutions in Action
Control Rooms for City Surveillance, State Police
The State Police in Turin, Italy, required a system of new public surveillance control rooms to improve public safety and coordinate crime prevention efforts on a day-to-day basis, while also being able to double as operations rooms for major events, such as football matches, international summits, or crisis control scenarios.
They needed a solution that took into account the importance of visualization and information integration for fast decision-making and responses in these situations, so that they could improve operational flexibility with control room operators monitoring different urban areas, allowing them to inform agents in the field in real time.
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SCADA System Control for Process Automation, Oil Refinery
An oil refinery with the capacity to process around 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day needed a solution that allowed operators to control SCADA servers both locally and remotely in order to manage large amounts of information from their process automation systems. The facility has server rooms at four separate sites that, in addition to running various automated processes, also monitor downstream sensor information via long range wireless. The server rooms required local control functionality, but for security reasons, no PCs or notebooks were allowed in the remote site control room, while the solution also had to support FHD, be rack-mountable, and support barcode scanners.
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Control Room for Traffic Management, Municipal Government
A large city in Southeast Asia has an increasing number of tourists each year. Due to the growth in the number of cars on the road, traffic incidents, and other related crimes in the city, the municipal government decided to implement an upgrade of the digital surveillance system on the city’s main streets to monitor public areas and to help ensure public safety via a centralized control room. Other vital tasks to be undertaken include proactive real-time traffic signal management to avoid congestion and providing video support for law enforcement.
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Tactical Operations Center for Military Command & Communication
A government defense ministry wanted to establish a new tactical operations center that was designed around a large, main video wall with extra displays, optimized for reporting. Quick switching between AV sources was imperative, since commanders rely on the video wall for real-time reports on dispatch status and all combat resources. They were looking for a flexible solution that was able to be easily and quickly customized to support the fast-paced display needs required for effective decision-making efficiency. Furthermore, stability and reliability are vital in military control rooms, so the solution needed to provide backup mechanisms to suit the 24/7 operational needs.
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Information Visualization for Disaster Relief & Rescue Center
A government organization planned to relocate its Disaster Relief and Rescue Center to a new building. As the front-line contact window in the event of emergencies, the center must be able to dispatch personnel and vehicles quickly and properly allocate all relief resources. Since this was a new build, a dedicated server room was set up, with two teams of personnel working in the main control room and a second conference room. The status of disaster relief and resource information needed to be displayed on the main control room video wall for real-time monitoring to increase efficiency and avoid delays, as well as a separate meeting room video wall for overview procedures.
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New Control Center for Air Traffic Control System Optimization
As part of a regional modernization effort to maximize safety while handling increased air traffic, a civil aviation agency upgraded its existing control center and built a new center and server room with the latest ATM (air traffic management) system in order to enable their airspace capacity to be fully optimized. Along with the new FDP (flight data processing) system, they also needed to install a new HMI (human/machine interface) for 2K x 2K radar data display and monitoring. The old and new centers are connected through IP network optical fiber, and the controllers needed to remotely operate the old and new servers.
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Media Management & Visualization for Production & Broadcasting
A vocational high school that collaborates with industry and further education institutes wanted to upgrade its classrooms to provide students with a more convenient learning environment when utilizing educational resources. Their multimedia classrooms needed to provide one display to be shared between every two students so that each can watch lecture content clearly. Further main requirements for the multimedia classrooms were to improve teaching content accessibility, integrate interactive whiteboards to support joint focus in collaborative learning, and to be BYOD-enabled so teaching assistants and visiting instructors could bring their own laptops.
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Monitoring
The main demands of this control room scenario are maintaining monitoring efficiency, so target system status/situation awareness must be clearly shown via remote video in real-time along with relevant supplemental information.
- Video wall for information visualization and integration plus comprehensive overall operation status
- KVM extension so the least amount of operators can monitor multiple systems as well as manually handle emergencies
- Multiple display options so that different video sources can be monitored on the same screen, such as multi-view, split-screen, etc.
- Push/pull content sharing so control room operators can collaborate effectively
Example applications: Network Operation Center / Operation Control Center / Security Control Room / Industrial Control Room / Traffic Control Center
Reporting
For critical situations such as disasters and emergences, a response team is established in a space similar to a conference room that provides the chairperson/commander with the most actionable insight for decision-making reference.
- Video wall for information visualization and integration plus complete overall operation status for effective decision-making
- Audio functionality for reporting and giving commands
- Real-time switching of the console display content and the video wall for the highest accuracy
Example applications: War Room / Tactical Operation Center
Dispatch
The biggest challenge in this field is to shorten the time from receiving a notification to dispatching support; a clear presentation of available resources and real-time display of case processing progress can help operators make effective logistical decisions.
- Video wall to overview dispatch status and all resources in the field
- KVM extension so even a single operators can monitor multiple systems
- Multiple display options so that different video sources can be monitored on the same screen, such as multi-view, split-screen, etc.
- KVM data management agility so that dispatch can sync with communication and operations
- Push/pull content sharing so control room operators can collaborate effectively
Example applications: Emergency Command Center
Operations
Operators in this field have a high workload and need to focus on multi-tasking workflows. They also need a high degree of collaboration and cooperation, so that the system can operate smoothly.
- Video wall to confirm task status of each control room operator
- KVM extension so even a single operator can monitor multiple systems as well as manually handle emergencies
- KVM data management agility so that operations can sync with communication
- Push/pull content sharing so control room operators can collaborate effectively
Example applications: Air Traffic Control Center / Broadcast Center (SCR)
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Reporting
Reporting
Reporting
Reporting
