Emergency Operations Center and Commissioner’s Court
NCS designed and installed a complete audio and video system for San Patricio County emergency operations center and commissioner’s court to enhance response capabilities, streamline operations, and improve civic engagement.
About San Patricio County
San Patricio County covers 693 square miles with nine cities, ranging from agricultural farmlands to coastal living.
Emergency Operations Center
San Patricio County Emergency Management & Safety coordinates programs and activities to enhance the community’s ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made incidents and disasters. Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) are where crucial decisions are made. In today’s world, it is more important than ever for these centers to have the most efficient, reliable, and intuitive technology. This technology is crucial for gathering and interpreting data, as well as planning and implementing the best emergency responses in high-risk situations. Given the high stakes involved, choosing the right technology during these centers’ planning and design stages is of utmost importance.
Unlike traditional control room environments, Emergency Operations Centers are characterized by noise, bustle, and tension. Staff work intensively to respond to complex and stressful situations, necessitating providing up-to-date information to all stakeholders in this fast-paced and challenging environment.
San Patricio County now stands fortified with a new emergency operations center. The newly built emergency management building in Sinton, a collaborative effort, is dome-shaped, has two levels, and is designed to withstand a hurricane. The data center, which houses communication equipment and information technology specialists, is upstairs. This dedicated space, equipment, and supplies are a testament to the county’s commitment to working efficiently and effectively during a disaster, aiding in the safety and security of nine cities in the county. The emergency operations center has a 60-foot tower outside with repeaters for the radios and a dedicated space for hand radio operators, indicating our dedication to a unified response.
Emergency Operations Center AV Solutions
NCS has designed a system that allows the emergency management and safety team to display content on any screen as required to coordinate and oversee the county during an emergency. This thorough system helps provide critical information and updates to people who depend on easily accessible and reliable information in real time.
Video Presentation Systems:
The 146″ Samsung LED video wall is the EOC’s central and most critical visualization element and can show four independent displays that switch between multiple inputs as circumstances and events demand. Throughout the EOC’s additional workspaces, crisis room, and conference room, NCS installed ten 75″ 4K Philips LED displays, and 8 AOC LED monitors to seamlessly visualize content from the main video wall or send content from the rooms to the main video wall.
Audio Systems
To ensure seamless collaboration and communication, NCS has deployed an adaptable audio system that significantly enhances the EOC’s capacity for rapid response and effective crisis management. This system, featuring Biamp audio processing and Shure wireless and handheld lavalier microphones, ensures that the person speaking is always heard clearly, even amid background noise. Each ceiling microphone unit, with its 16 microphones, contributes to the total of 288 in the ceiling mic arrays, with two in the conference room and 16 in the central rotunda, ensuring complete and intelligible audio. The microphone system is also a key component of the audio and video conferencing ability in the space, facilitating clear communication with others on the far side when needed. The rooms are equipped with 28 JBL Professional ceiling speakers in the central rotunda, conference room, and other essential rooms, providing clean audio coverage throughout the facility.
Control Systems
A Crestron control system was integrated to allow the County to display from their devices to appointed displays. The system, designed with robust security measures, will consist of a central control processor and three touchscreen controllers with tabletop, wall-mounted, and wireless controllers strategically positioned throughout workspaces, meeting rooms, and offices. The touchscreen in the conference room will be able to lock out the remainder of the building’s systems, ensuring confidentiality and privacy in the conference room when needed. When not required for a private meeting, the room can be joined with the rest of the system, allowing two-way presentation for the main floor and the conference room as needed. The touch screens were custom-programmed by NCS’ control programmer to ensure the system operates and controls just as the client wants.
Video Conferencing Solution
The system also has 3 HD Logitech video cameras, each able to be aimed, zoomed, and angled as needed right through the three touch-screen controllers. When the system is needed, the ceiling mic arrays, ceiling speakers, and cameras will all become part of the video conference and be controlled with the touch screens and control system.
NCS utilized Chief, Extron, and Liberty cables, connectors, mounts, and installation hardware to ensure complete connectivity of the audio and video systems.
The Commissioner’s Court AV Solutions
Several county offices have moved out of the courthouse, a necessary step as it undergoes renovation and expansion. The new county administrative offices, their operational base for the next few years, will ensure smooth functioning while the new justice center is being built. In addition to providing audiovisual solutions for San Patricio County’s Emergency Operations Center, NCS also delivered systems for the new Commissioner’s Courtroom, which will now accommodate 75 people instead of 25. This move is part of the County’s ongoing efforts to enhance communication and create a more efficient, connected, and user-friendly environment.
Video Presentation and Conferencing Systems
To provide precise, reliable, and secure audio and visual technologies for presenting content via monitors, video conferencing, and communications and enhance the effectiveness of the commissioner court’s proceedings and live stream broadcasting, NCS installed five 85” 4K LED Samsung displays, two 75” 4K LED Philips Professional displays with Chief adjustable mounts, MAXHUB 55” digital signage non-touch display and Peerless-AV mounts for digital signage displays. These solutions ensure presentations run smoothly with instant wireless media sharing from Windows, Apple, and Android devices.
Additionally, there is a video conferencing bar, complete with a 4K video camera, multi-microphone array, and speakers. This makes the room accessible for video conferencing and more straightforward presentations. There are connections at the room table for a laptop or other device.
Audio Systems
The audio system in the space is designed to cover the entire area with complete and intelligible audio when needed. The system can follow the video signal of choice, ensuring the presentation is heard clearly throughout the room. Each person and the podium are equipped with gooseneck microphones, ensuring clear communication. The microphone systems are also part of the audio and video conferencing ability in the space, allowing others on the far side to hear clearly when needed. NCS has carefully selected Biamp, JBL, and Shure equipment, renowned for their high quality, to provide a seamless audio experience and inspire confidence in the effectiveness of future commissioner court meetings.
Control Systems
The Crestron control system offers high flexibility with its central control processor and touchscreen controller. One tabletop controller will reside at the control desk and can be wall-docked by the control desk. This controller allows for fast and precise system control, empowering users to operate the system as they see fit. The touch screen will be custom programmed by the NCS control programmer, providing custom service to ensure the system operates and controls just as the client wants, further enhancing the sense of control and empowerment.
Video Conferencing Solution
The system has an HD Logitech video camera that can be aimed, zoomed, and angled using the touchscreen controller. When the system is in use, the microphones, ceiling speakers, and camera are integrated into the video conference and can be controlled using the touchscreen and control system.
24/7 Environments to Drive Effective, Efficient Action for San Patricio County Officials
The new audio and video system facilitates efficient emergency management and coordination efforts. It enables the emergency response team to prepare the facility for routine emergencies and ensures seamless collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies. The new system also supports EOC personnel in influencing decisions related to each emergency support function. Additionally, it allows the Commissioner’s Court to conduct transparent and interactive meetings and public hearings, ensuring active participation from residents and making them feel included and heard. This transparency and inclusivity ensure that residents are well-informed and involved in decision-making.
