Control room solutions - what do you need to know?

When you are monitoring and managing mission-critical environments, having a dedicated, centralised operations hub is integral to the success of your efforts. That's why critical infrastructure organisations such as Emergency Services, Airports and Government agencies airports take advantage of bespoke control room solutions, achieving the best possible outcomes in the process.

But what is a control room? Who needs one? And how can they be designed to benefit business operations?

In this article we aim to equip you with the information you need to know about control room solutions in order to determine if they are suitable for your organisation and make an informed decision when it comes to choosing a strategic partner.

What are Control Rooms?

A control room is a physical space where critical monitoring and control of systems and processes occur. The people who work in control rooms are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the organisation or facility they are managing and carrying out essential tasks such as incident response.

The control room environment is unique. It brings together various technical systems, human operators and data sources, all of which need to be monitored and managed in real-time. This can include CCTV cameras and access control systems to fire alarms and weather monitors.

To carry out their duties effectively, control room staff need access to clear visualisations of the data generated by these various systems. They also need the ability to interact with them quickly and easily. This is where control room solutions come in.

As an agnostic end to end systems integrator, we work with end users to design control room solutions that give operators the tools to do their job effectively. Thoughtful design can include anything from large video walls that display real-time data visualisations to bespoke control room furniture designed ergonomically for comfortable and efficient working.

When choosing the right control room solution for your organisation, there are several factors to consider, such as your control room personnel needs, the size and layout of your space and your budget.

Designing a Control Room for Maximum Operational Efficiency

The efficiency of a control room directly impacts the overall efficiency of the organisation or facility it is managing. The control room is responsible for carrying out essential tasks such as incident response, which can often be the difference between a minor disruption and a major disaster.

To maximise efficiency, control room design needs to be carried out with the specific needs of control room staff in mind, particularly when it comes to functionality and meeting operators' needs.

Design Layout

The first aspect to consider is the layout of the control room. This includes the placement of furniture, equipment and monitors. You want to make sure that everything is within reach of your operators and that there are no obstructions in their line of sight. It is also essential to create a comfortable space. Comfort means consideration of lighting, temperature and noise levels.

Control Room Equipment

Next, you need to think about the type of equipment you will be using in the control room. This includes hardware and software. You want to make sure that all of your equipment is compatible and that it meets your operators' needs. For example, if you are using video monitoring equipment, you should ensure that it integrates with other systems to maximise efficiency.

Longevity

Finally, you need to consider the future when designing a control room solution. Make sure that your space can accommodate and embrace new technology in the future. This means thinking about things like cable management and power requirements. By predicting and designing for these needs, you can avoid redesigning your space in the future.

Organisational Benefits of Control Room Solutions

Control room solutions can benefit your organisation, both in terms of operational efficiencies and bottom-line results.

Some of the most notable advantages of control rooms include:

• Improved response times to incidents: By centralising all of the data generated by your organisation's various systems into one control room, you can give your staff the ability to identify and respond to potential incidents quickly and effectively.
• Enhanced security: Control rooms allow you to monitor and manage your organisation's critical systems in real-time, allowing you to spot potential security breaches before they happen.
• Increased situational awareness: With all of your organisation's data available in one place, control room staff can gain a better understanding of what is happening both inside and outside of your facility at any given time.
• Improved decision making: With clear visualisations of data and the ability to interact with systems quickly and easily, control room staff can make informed decisions when managing critical incidents.
• Enhanced communication: Control rooms provide a central point of contact for your organisation's critical systems, allowing you to coordinate your response to incidents more effectively.

Control Room Solutions in Action

Since 2005 Ajar Technology has been working with critical infrastructure organisations to provide their Audio Visual, Security and Control Room solutions. An example of this is our work with Heathrow Airport who we have been working with since 2011.

In 2014 Ajar Technology worked with the Airport Operations Leadership team at the airport to optimise and improve the organisation's control room setup.

By consolidating IT systems, simplifying workflows and automating actions where possible, Ajar and Heathrow have realised benefits in terms of operational capabilities and enhanced and more effective airport operations management.

The result is a redesigned control room solution that features consolidated IT systems and has reduced Opex costs, operating systems resilience improvements and enhanced operator functionality to perform their role. Heathrow's control room solution is also scalable and flexible to match future strategic operating models.

We are subject matter experts in the end to end design and build of control room solutions, and as a result we add genuine value to our client's projects in the form of translating their strategic visions into a technology project scope of work.