Hardware vendor NEC Australia, with integrator partner Eo Design have completed a have completed a digital video wall for New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) headquarters in Homebush, Sydney.
The project comprises of 100 LCD screens and a digital signal distribution network and control system, to develop a comprehensive audio visual information centre for NSWRFS’ headquarters,
NSWRFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the need for communication and operational tools was critical.
"As an agency we will continue to explore any tool that will assist us in protecting communities from bushfires. As technologies evolve and expand we will endeavour to utilise all options available to us,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
The digital video wall is used for numerous purposes, but primarily as an information source to assist in organising firefighting teams and to develop emergency response plans.
The facility is also used to monitor media coverage during fire response times, to assess the various statements being delivered by the media and determine what public information the RFS needs to further provide when making formal statements to advise the public and the government on vital
information.
Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said by introducing a state-of-the-art video wall into the information centre, the RFS can now access and share incident information, and monitor weather data and bushfire movement in real time.
“The benefits of these new technologies will assist the NSWRFS to deliver on our organisation’s mission; to protect the community and our environment and to minimise the impact of fire and other emergencies by providing the highest standards of training, community education, prevention and operational capability,” he said.
“The benefits of these new technologies will assist the NSWRFS to deliver on our organisation’s mission; to protect the community and our environment and to minimise the impact of fire and other emergencies by providing the highest standards of training, community education, prevention and operational capability,” he said.
The Eo Design team developed and installed the solution and now provide ongoing support and service.
The solution comprises 100 NEC 46 Inch LCD energy saving screens with the entire system driven by a custom PixelNet digital networked modular video matrix solution, AMX control system and Tannoy digitally steerable line array loudspeakers.
The LCD solution displays visual information on the screen, with increased longevity achieved by using such high quality commercial products.
The digital video wall is supported by 14 computer systems, 4 dedicated servers and 32 digital video inputs including digital television, Sky News and a helicopter mounted camera system which can transmit video from the fire front back to the command centre video wall.
The installation was completed in three weeks and the entire project was finalised within seven weeks; from receiving the purchase order til having the new system up and running live.
NSWRFS looked into many alternate options during the tender process, but the final solution by Eo Design and NEC Australia fitted all of NSWRFS requirements.
In the past, NSWRFS used a projector stack with 4 projectors screening the information onto a blank wall, plus large stickers outlining emergency contact details below the projection.
The past solution limited the amount of information able to be displayed, was slow at uploading new information and restricted the types of data able to be presented. Now the solution provides the technology and speed to display any issues and crisis in real time, with great attention to detail in the accompanying data.
NSWRFS comprises over 2100 volunteer rural fire brigades with a total membership of just over 70000.
In addition, salaried staff are employed to manage the day-to-day operations of the Service at the headquarters in Homebush, in regional offices and at district fire control centres.
The Service is responsible for structural firefighting in more than 1200 towns and villages across the state.
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