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Texas EOC Improves Incident Management with Multi-Image Display Processors
September 14, 2006, Alameda, CA - The Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management in Texas has enhanced its emergency preparedness capability with the construction of a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center monitors, manages, and is prepared to a variety of crises, including terrorism threats, weather calamities, industrial accidents, and other natural and man-made disasters. The Fort Bend County EOC coordinates disaster mitigation, response and recovery activities, and directs information gathering, dissemination, and inter-communication amongst a group of municipal, state, and, in some cases, federal agencies. The EOC works closely with first responders and others, such as the State of Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service.
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Texas's Fort Bend County has deployed a new state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center which uses RGB Spectrum's QuadView multiple image display processors to facilitate 24/7 monitoring, data gathering, response coordination, dispatch duties, and information dissemination between first responders and government agencies. |
The Fort Bend County EOC is equipped with two QuadView processors supporting computer and video sources. The QuadView processors receive high resolution computer-generated graphics from workstations managed by various local agencies, the Office of Emergency Management, local law enforcement, county health services, county-wide fire departments, the state Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the American Red Cross, as well as video surveillance recorded onto DVR units. Computer-generated images include maps, radar, law enforcement communication networks, National Weather Service data and satellite imagery, and logistical tracking and coordination data of materials and personnel. The QuadViews' video sources include DVD players, a VCR, surveillance cameras, and digital satellite broadcast feeds consisting of CNN, the Weather Channel, and local and national news broadcasts.
The computer and video sources are routed to a 32 x 32 matrix switcher which then feeds the two QuadView processors. The processors then merge these image sources and output them to a pair of ceiling-mounted DLP projectors for real time display.
The QuadView processors are controlled from a central station. EOC personnel can select input sources and control the QuadView's virtually infinite display arrangement configurations, including quad split, side-by-side, picture-in-picture, and overlapping windows. Each input can be scaled and positioned anywhere on the screen, and, in addition, panned and zoomed to emphasize areas of particular interest.
Danny Jan concluded, "The installation of the QuadView-based display system has dramatically improved the EOC's situational awareness capabilities. The QuadView technology has proved to be an invaluable tool to provide everyone in all departments with everything they need to know. The QuadView processors are key in providing a reliable flow of information and greatly contributes to our emergency response efficiency and effectiveness. This technology also supports our National Incident Management System (NIMS) emergency management compliance."
The Fort Bend County Emergency Operation Center, based in Richmond, Texas, is responsible for emergency preparedness monitoring and directing local first responder resources, managing and coordinating all emergency communication operations for the County. For more information, visit http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getSitePage.asp?sitePage=3234.
Audio Visual Technologies Group, Inc. (AVTG), located in Stafford, Texas, designs, integrates and installs advanced multi-media systems for video conferencing, digital video, educational media, and portable and integrated audio visual systems. For more information, call 866-544-2884 or visit http://www.avtg.com/.RGB Spectrum® is a leading designer and manufacturer of videographic and multimedia hardware subsystems. Products include the View™ family of video windowing systems, the RGB/Videolink® line of scan converters, the DGy™ digital recording system, Quadra® universal scaler and synchronizer, SynchroMaster® keyers and overlayers and SuperWall™, ComputerWall® and MediaWall® multi-screen display controllers. RGB Spectrum is based in Alameda, California, and can be reached at 510-814-7000 and on the internet at http://www.rgb.com.