The Thai government Excise Department in Bangkok has moved into an upgraded command and control space based on iMAGsystems’ Lightning video-over-IP encoders and decoders. The system integrator for this innovative installation was Bangkok-based Vichai Trading 1983.
Initially, the installation was to be based on a software video wall solution. At Vichai’s insistence, this decision was reviewed due to less than satisfactory experiences related to the software’s reliability — it required updates and regular reboots that interrupted the video wall’s pivotal role in monitoring the collection and control of customs and excise and other import duties.
When approvals arrived for the construction of a new command and control room, authorities were determined to have the best, most reliable and flexible room possible. After a tender process, the department appointed Vichai Trading 1983 as project integrator.
Representatives of Vichai Trading 1983 discussed the project with iMAGsystems vice-president of international sales, Chris Smith at the 2017 ISE show earlier this year. Vichai had previous experience working with compressed video-over-IP systems and felt comfortable specifying the higher-performing, uncompressed, latency-free Lightning product.
The versatile video wall takes the output of three PC workstations in the room, along with input from a Wolfvision Cynap wireless collaboration system, a Sony Blu-ray player and an Apple TV, and sends it to the 16-panel video wall via iMAGsystems LZ1501E video-over-IP encoders.
The 4×3 centre section of the video wall takes the output from 12 iMAGsystems decoders and, via iMAGsystems’ on-the-fly, instantly-reconfigurable video wall and multi-view capabilities can display a whole host of different viewing profiles.
The four additional screens flanking either side of the main video wall are each addressed by an iMAGsystems LZ1502D decoder.
Thanks to an elegant AMX control system interface (via an iMAGsystems LZ500DS API bridge), it’s easy to select the source, destination and video wall configuration that best suits the purposes of the three command and control room operators.
More than a command and control space, the space can be reconfigured as a teaching theatre at other times.
An operable wall seals off the control room, and a Stewart screen drops down for presentation and movie sessions. A 5.1 Cornered Audio sound system and Audio-Technica wireless microphone complete the picture.
An adjoining assembly area with a 16 000-lumen Panasonic projector also takes a video output.
To address the two projectors (in the theatre and the assembly area), an iMAGsystems’ decoded feed, along with two HDMI inputs, go into an Extron DTP Crosspoint matrix. In this way, the projectors, thanks to iMAGsystems’ ability to instantly provide a composite multiview source, can display a wide variety of sources — from a full HD video for movie night to a tiled feed of nine or more individual sources in a multi-view configuration. The flexibility of this space is formidable.
“Lightning offers uncompressed, latency-free performance. When you’re in an environment like this where you’re using a keyboard and mouse, that feature is crucial — latency is unworkable,’ observes iMAGsystems’ Chris Smith. “It was a pleasure collaborating with Vichai Trading 1983 on the design of this project. Implementing our Lightning product range we were able to supply a fully-configured video-over-IP system that met all the design requirements of the state of the art project.’
“Vichai Trading has an unparalleled reputation in the region for delivering high-quality results, often in very complex technical environments,’ observed iMAGsystems CEO Gerry Raffaut. “It’s great to partner with Vichai Trading to deliver on a project such as this using Lightning’s unique feature set.’
