Engineering Approach
How we design these systems
Display technology: LCD vs direct-view LED vs rear projection
LCD video walls (Samsung VM, LG LAA, NEC UN) with 0.88mm-1.8mm bezels are the most common command center choice — 24/7 duty rated, excellent color accuracy, cost-effective. Direct-view LED (1.2mm-2.5mm pitch) eliminates bezels and gives unlimited scalability but costs 2-3x. Laser rear projection (Barco Clickshare Prizm, Christie Velvet) is legacy but still used in some government installs for TEMPEST-rated environments. We pick based on operator viewing distance, ambient light, source types, and budget.
Video wall processor: the heart of the system
The processor is what makes a video wall different from a bunch of displays. Hardware wall processors (Barco TransForm N, Christie Phoenix, tvONE CORIOmaster, RGB Spectrum Galileo) accept dozens of HDMI, SDI, DVI, IP, and RTSP sources and window them anywhere on the wall. Software-defined walls (Hiperwall, Userful, Datapath Aetria) run on commodity servers and are easier to scale but have different latency characteristics. KVM-over-IP (Adder, IHSE, ZPE) is often layered on top for operator workstation access.
Sources: cameras, workstations, dashboards, maps, video
Command centers pull from more source types than any other AV environment. Security cameras (ONVIF, Milestone, Genetec) over RTSP/ONVIF. Operator workstations (Windows/Linux, often classified) via KVM. SCADA HMIs (utility, transportation). Dashboards (Grafana, Splunk, Tableau) via browser appliances. Emergency video (cable, satellite, IPTV). Geographic information systems (Esri, Cesium). We design source integration around least-privilege — each source type gets its own path with documented failure behavior.
Redundancy: because 99.9% uptime isn't 99.99%
True operations-grade walls have redundant power feeds (A/B circuits from independent UPS), redundant processors (hot-standby with sub-second failover), redundant network paths (dual switches, LACP), and N+1 display spares. We document the failure modes for every path — what the operator sees, what alarms trigger, and what the recovery procedure is. This is the difference between a boardroom wall and an operations wall.
Operator ergonomics and workstation design
The wall isn't the whole system — operator consoles are equally important. Height-adjustable sit/stand consoles (Winsted, Evans Consoles, Americon), triple or quad monitor arrays per seat, KVM switches for classified/unclassified separation, proper task lighting, and acoustic treatment to keep operator stations from interfering with each other. We partner with console manufacturers on integrated designs.
Security and compliance
Government and defense command centers often require TEMPEST shielding, separation of classified and unclassified networks, and NIST/DISA alignment for the AV/IT stack. We coordinate with cleared specialist firms, work alongside your ISSO, and produce documentation suitable for accreditation review. Commercial installs (utilities, financial, healthcare) typically require NERC CIP, HIPAA, or PCI design standards.
