What Communication Equipment Should Be Inside A Command Center
A. Basic Design:
Application note:
This basic design is applicable to Emergency Operation Center (EOC) of small LGUs. An EOC is more suited to LGUs to provide a central location for local teams to address/manage up-close local events fire, typhoon, earthquake, public safety threats, etc. A Command Center application is wider in scope, although can function as EOC also, is more capable to handle big or national events with more emphasis on command and control.
Below are basic list of equipment, design and configuration for a Emergency Operation Center (EOC) or Small Command Center.
B. Advance Design
Application Note:
This design will require use of radios, PABX, network equipment, audio-video system, etc.. except that more meticulous planning and selection of technology are made to make the EOC/Command Center work flow more efficient and effective in addressing the situation. This design can enhance “situational awareness” by using selected technology to provide a real-time information and updating to incident commander.
Space, Capacity and Layout:
Critical to designing an advance Command Center is the planning of building space utilization, capacity or projected number of people to man the center plus (in an event or emergency) the swelling of expected number of personnel and guest that will enter the CC premises. A good layout design is to have separate rooms for data center, conference room, collaboration room and main command center.
Technology considerations:
Some technology platform have features that combine and integrate hardware/software components to support seamless operation of voice, data, internet and video communications. In choosing this type of systems, a significant improvement in the workflow, space and time-saving as well, lesser requirement of dedicated operator.
Hybrid System:
For example, a certain brand of hybrid IP-PABX system with integrated features can interface and make possible the cross-communication between telephone (analog, digital or IP-phone), paging system, two-way radio, computer, video-intercom, mobile phones, door-access control and emergency-alarm system. This system is so versatile it can even integrate with application servers such as building management, nurse-call (hospital set-up) and property-management system (in hotels).
Below is the System Block Diagram of a Transtel TDS Hybrid IP-PABX that can be truly useful in an EOC and Command Center.
A. Basic Design:
Application note:
This basic design is applicable to Emergency Operation Center (EOC) of small LGUs. An EOC is more suited to LGUs to provide a central location for local teams to address/manage up-close local events fire, typhoon, earthquake, public safety threats, etc. A Command Center application is wider in scope, although can function as EOC also, is more capable to handle big or national events with more emphasis on command and control.
Below are basic list of equipment, design and configuration for a Emergency Operation Center (EOC) or Small Command Center.
- Phone System: Direct Lines Telephone for direct outbound and inbound-calling and Analog/Digital PABX System or Pure IP-PBX System with C.O Trunk line for managing office-to-office phone communication inside the command center.
- Two-Way Radio: an indispensable component in any operation center, two-way VHF/UHF radios, are the work-horse voice-communication platform for military, police, fire and emergency teams owing to its mobility, simplicity, portability, long-range (depends on base station power and antenna gain).
- High-speed Internet and data network: Gigabit routers, switches and Access Points for good Wi-Fi coverage to support all wired/wireless IP communication devices
- Computer Systems, Peripherals & Devices: PC Desktop Computers for accessing public safety and environmental, emergency sites; the computers rigged for multi-screen displays and mirroring on TV monitors via VGA, SDI or HDMI cable. Additional computers and laptop plus scanner, printers
- Display Monitors: Large TV screen maybe needed and strategically mounted on wall to display important events, TV broadcast, live video and data on the screen.
- Audio: Public address (paging) system connected to PABX for internal & external paging; PA system to be manned by radio/telephone operator/dispatcher. A separate conference audio system will be needed inside the conference or board room.
- Security Camera and Broadcast Camera System Component: CCTV or IP-Camera System for security-monitoring inside and outside of the EOC. A handy video-camera will be useful to record meetings and/or stream live video for public consumption via social networks.
B. Advance Design
Application Note:
This design will require use of radios, PABX, network equipment, audio-video system, etc.. except that more meticulous planning and selection of technology are made to make the EOC/Command Center work flow more efficient and effective in addressing the situation. This design can enhance “situational awareness” by using selected technology to provide a real-time information and updating to incident commander.
Space, Capacity and Layout:
Critical to designing an advance Command Center is the planning of building space utilization, capacity or projected number of people to man the center plus (in an event or emergency) the swelling of expected number of personnel and guest that will enter the CC premises. A good layout design is to have separate rooms for data center, conference room, collaboration room and main command center.
Technology considerations:
Some technology platform have features that combine and integrate hardware/software components to support seamless operation of voice, data, internet and video communications. In choosing this type of systems, a significant improvement in the workflow, space and time-saving as well, lesser requirement of dedicated operator.
Hybrid System:
For example, a certain brand of hybrid IP-PABX system with integrated features can interface and make possible the cross-communication between telephone (analog, digital or IP-phone), paging system, two-way radio, computer, video-intercom, mobile phones, door-access control and emergency-alarm system. This system is so versatile it can even integrate with application servers such as building management, nurse-call (hospital set-up) and property-management system (in hotels).
Below is the System Block Diagram of a Transtel TDS Hybrid IP-PABX that can be truly useful in an EOC and Command Center.
Transtel Hybrid IP-PABX Video Materials
Below Transtel video showcase analog-digital set-up and capabilities
Transtel TDS Hybrid IP-PABX can be equipped with straight IP communication trunks and extension
Transtel TDS Hybrid IP-PABX can be equipped with straight IP communication trunks and extension
Virtualization and Thin Client Computing:
Data Center plus Virtual Desktop and Thin Client Computing: In order to save space and declutter the EOC, a virtual desktop and thin client computing set-up is a good approach. By using a powerful. A thin client computer consumes less space and is optimized for establishing a remote connection within a server-based computing environment. The server does most of the work, which can include launching software programs, performing calculations, and storing data.
AV-over-IP and In-House IPTV:
Audio-Video Display transmission/distribution used to cumbersome and entails the use of legacy cables such as RF coaxial, VGA or SDI cables. The advent of HDMI technology simplified the sharing and splitting of HD video signal. HDMI cables length has limits but certain KVM and HDMI extenders are able to extend the distance. HDMI audio/video interface can transmit uncompressed video data and audio from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controller, to a compatible computer monitor, video projector, digital television, or digital audio device.
For practicality and efficient transmission, AV-over-IP video compression, encoding and streaming technology, is the best method .
An enhanced version of AV-over-IP is IPTV. Below video provides a good overview of how AV-over-IP works.
An In-House IPTV is the best, cost-effective, modern and versatile option for video-distribution and management for Command Center. An in-house IPTV can ingest, encode , stream and manage the video distribution over an existing IP or LAN network and. An IPTV can deliver video anytime, anywhere in any format for playback on desktop PC, laptop, mobile devices, TV monitors and even video-wall.
For Command Center application we featured VITEC IPTV as the best platform for video-distribution and management.
Below video links will explain more about VITEC EZTV System, an IPTV solution.
VITEC EZTV-IPTV provides an end-to-end solution for streaming IPTV content over LAN and WAN networks with cutting-edge encoding to provide the lowest latency possible. The IPTV system architecture is robust, doesn’t require any seat licenses, and provides flexibility to scale the system to support deployment requirements today and the future.
VITEC's EZ TV solution and the wide range of IPTV encoders enable enterprise and government facilities to easily transition from legacy cable-based TV systems to cutting-edge, cost-effective IPTV systems using the existing network infrastructure. Highly reliable head-end gear acquires any type of TV source and delivers broadcast-quality, secure video streams to TV’s, personal computers, laptops, smart devices and large-format screen and video wall.
VITEC's EZ TV solution and the wide range of IPTV encoders enable enterprise and government facilities to easily transition from legacy cable-based TV systems to cutting-edge, cost-effective IPTV systems using the existing network infrastructure. Highly reliable head-end gear acquires any type of TV source and delivers broadcast-quality, secure video streams to TV’s, personal computers, laptops, smart devices and large-format screen and video wall.
Multi-site Remote Video Contribution and Distribution Using VITEC Playout Server
The VITEC Playout Server allows organizations to deliver content anywhere, anytime. It provides a central location where IPTV streams can be received and transmitted. VITEC Playout Server can receive unlimited Zixi™ protected streams from any network (especially the Internet) and forward them as a user defined multicast or unicast MPEG Transport Stream over UDP (UDP TS) or as a Zixi protected stream.
Used in conjunction with MGW Portable encoders and decoders from VITEC, the platform supports H.264 and bandwidth-efficient HEVC streams with stream protection technology for delivering reliable video streams across lossy networks (up to 30% packet loss) ensuring a consistent video quality and a smooth playback. When used in conjunction with MGW Ace Encoder with its high quality/low bandwidth HEVC Gen2 codec, the platform provides a perfect solution to enable contribution over the Internet and avoids the use of expensive and less flexible fiber or satellite transmission infrastructure, leading to a dramatic reduction of operating expenses (OPEX).
The Playout Server allows simplified content delivery of encoded Digital News Feeds, Government Full Motion Video, House of Worship or Sports Venue channels over lossy networks.
Applications
Used in conjunction with MGW Portable encoders and decoders from VITEC, the platform supports H.264 and bandwidth-efficient HEVC streams with stream protection technology for delivering reliable video streams across lossy networks (up to 30% packet loss) ensuring a consistent video quality and a smooth playback. When used in conjunction with MGW Ace Encoder with its high quality/low bandwidth HEVC Gen2 codec, the platform provides a perfect solution to enable contribution over the Internet and avoids the use of expensive and less flexible fiber or satellite transmission infrastructure, leading to a dramatic reduction of operating expenses (OPEX).
The Playout Server allows simplified content delivery of encoded Digital News Feeds, Government Full Motion Video, House of Worship or Sports Venue channels over lossy networks.
Applications
- Contribution and multi-site content distribution
- Digital News Gathering from the Internet and field broadcast IP streaming
- House of Worship, Sports Venues, In-House and Multi-site Distribution
- Full Motion Video stream management and distribution
C. Modern and State-of-the-Art Command Center
Notes: to be discussed in a separate note publication. A modern and state-of-the-art Command Center will entail the use and combination of “advance-design” concept as discuss in # 2 above plus virtualization, internet-of-things, artificial-intelligence, cloud-based services, SD-WAN connectivity, Radio-over-IP and inter-operability solution for disparate communication systems. Such system or part of them is already existing in the Philippines NDRRMC Command Center.
Notes: to be discussed in a separate note publication. A modern and state-of-the-art Command Center will entail the use and combination of “advance-design” concept as discuss in # 2 above plus virtualization, internet-of-things, artificial-intelligence, cloud-based services, SD-WAN connectivity, Radio-over-IP and inter-operability solution for disparate communication systems. Such system or part of them is already existing in the Philippines NDRRMC Command Center.
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