Traffic watch

While telecommunications technology underpins much of what happens inside a Control Room, the delivery of clear, accurate, real-time images and data is critical for effective decision-making and operation.

The ability to offer a detailed overview of a complex, changing environment has seen the emergence of a trend to consolidate transport management Control Centres with other related services (such as those administered by the police). For a great example of the ‘genre’, look no further than the Regional Control Centres operated by the Highways Agency – itself an executive agency of the Department for Transport.

The Highways Agency is directly responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England. As part of that remit it is also tasked with facilitating safety, security and reliability on strategic national routes by managing the traffic using the roads, while also administering the network as a public asset.

With the aim of putting drivers at the forefront of the Agency’s operations and tackling congestion, road-based traffic officers were introduced in early 2004. They engage in high visibility patrolling, helping to keep the traffic flowing by spotting and dealing with any problems. Traffic officers operate from distinctive vehicles, and support the traffic police in their duties. In effect, their role is very much akin to that of security officers in the private sector who carry out similar duties.

The 1500-strong team of traffic officers operates from five of the aforementioned Control Centres, located at Godstone, Surrey, South Mimms in Hertfordshire, Nottingham, Wakefield and Bristol – all of them important strategic locations on the road network. The Centres are run by 300 dedicated members of staff in partnership with the police and the emergency services, and provide support for the traffic officers by monitoring conditions on the network. They ensure officers take corrective action if needed.

In order that the Regional Control Centres can run operations effectively, a clear overview of the road network is an essential. To this end, traffic flow sensors and CCTV cameras transmit live data and images of on-road activity which are then visualised on a large screen display wall that acts as a shared visualisation tool.

Technical issues at the hub

It’s essential that monitoring staff can view fast-moving events in high resolution. Traditionally, this would happen via CRT monitors. One camera, one screen. Thankfully, times are changing! Large screen displays offer the end user the ability to ‘tile’ many separate images for a broad overview while focusing on a single image for closer analysis and action. For the security manager, such developments should help to improve the security regime’s overall effectiveness.

The key components of a large screen display wall system are the display devices, the controller and the interface equipment. However, the screens are usually the only part of the whole set-up visible to most. For this reason, a disproportionate amount of time can be devoted to the selection of displays – to the detriment of other items with a greater bearing on functionality.

The ‘brain’ of a large screen display is the image controller, or processor. It is the largest determinant of imaging performance in the system. For the uninitiated buyer, though, it’s also the most difficult component to assess. Spec sheet comparisons rarely reveal how different controllers will perform in the real world.

An effective Control Centre image controller needs to be able to accept a combination of video, graphic and computer feeds and, under instruction from the operator and/or external interfaces, instantly format them into window layouts on the display devices. Source switching and scaling duties must be performed.

The most important issues for the controller are the numbers and types of input and, crucially, the number that may be displayed simultaneously without compromising performance.

More and more controllers now embrace the delivery of feeds over IP networks. There are many benefits to be realised from doing so, not least the use of structured cabling. That said, compatibility with so-called standards demands close scrutiny. MPEG encoded by one manufacturer’s product may not successfully decode and display at the appropriate resolution on that of another.

A display system will only be successful if the Control Room staff members engage with it. In essence, this means seeking their requirements and opinions before, during and after the installation process

Hardware separation between the client’s networks and the controller can enhance the reliability and performance of a system. It side-steps the need to run resource-hungry virus checkers and risk corruption of the system by errant PC applications loaded on to the controller, and absolves the client’s IT staff from supporting a unit that contains specialist hardware and drivers.

The remainder of the display system is associated with operator interfaces and interaction with other systems. The operator interface must be as straightforward as possible: the Control Centre personnel are there to manage the road network, not the display wall. A simple set of buttons – usually located on a touch panel – is all that’s required to select pre-configured display layouts. Often, other systems (such as the CCTV controllers) can select sources and layouts on the display wall in the event of an incident.

Implementing the project

A number of factors must be considered to ensure the successful implementation of a display wall project. The most important is a close working relationship between the display system integrator, the consultants for the project, the main suppliers and, of course, the end user. A smooth-running project is often reliant on the skill and experience of the project manager and their installation team. This is particularly true when installing a system in a facility that’s operational.

Environmental factors must be considered at the outset of the Control Room design. Viewing angles and distances, the position of natural and artificial light sources and servicing needs must all be considered. It’s usually best to locate as much equipment as possible in air-conditioned rooms. This lowers noise levels, while also separating people from smoke hazards in the event of a fire.

Interfaces – including those to operator terminals and the display wall – can be extended over Category 5 structured cabling from the equipment room.

Future expansion needs of the display system should also be considered from the outset. It’s important to bear in mind that, as road networks and associated camera installations begin to grow, the display system needs to grow too. Therefore, it remains vitally important to consider the number of video feeds that need to be displayed both now and during the anticipated life of the facility. For example, the Eastern Regional Control Centre for the Highways Agency in England includes removable panelling to accommodate additional displays at a later date.

Engaging your security team

A display system will only be successful if the Control Room staff members engage with it. In essence, this means seeking their requirements and opinions before, during and after the installation process. These will often change once they gain hands-on experience, and the system must be flexible enough to accommodate this.

Any display system also requires a certain level of support. Displays contain consumable items such as lamps and colour wheels, after all. General highways maintenance contractors will rarely have the expertise necessary to perform support tasks. In the event of a failure, a timely response from trained personnel with access to the necessary spare parts is essential.

For the Highways Agency project, each wall supports the display of between 20 and 50 video feeds, although there is much room for further expansion. All feeds can be displayed simultaneously without dropping resolution or frame rate. Applications such as map displays, anemometer read-outs and other monitoring systems are seamlessly integrated within the wall layouts. An unlimited number of applications may be added to the walls at a later date without the need for upgrading the controller.

It cannot be stressed enough that a successful display wall installation will start with the design of the building itself. Environmental and aesthetic factors must be considered, then the functionality that will be required throughout the life of the facility. Strong project management swiftly followed by rapid response support will then ensure a timely delivery and ongoing systems performance. Isn’t that what all clients want?