ROOM WITH A VIEW
The two control rooms that form the nerve centre of the Museum of Islamic Art’s security facilities have been based around a modular design that can easily accommodate future upgrades to the museum’s security facilities
The specification decisions made when equipping the Museum of Islamic Art's two control rooms, with consoles to house CCTV screens, spot monitors and touch-screen controls to operate security management systems, were designed to make the best opportunities for the museum's security staff.
Working with systems integrator Specialized & Interactive Systems LLC (SIS) on the prestigious project to provide security systems for the museum, technical furniture manufacturer Lund Halsey Consoles supplied equipment for both of the control rooms at the 36,000m 2 building.
SIS’ general manager, Bruce Haigh, explains that as part of the construction process a number of different contractors were commissioned to provide various aspects of the museum’s overall building services requirements, with SIS awarded the important work of supplying the protective systems for the facility. This includes installation of 430 analogue CCTV surveillance cameras, including 14 units surveying the perimeter of the island building linked to a radar detection system.
Control over these cameras, as well as the digital recording of their images, is carried out by operators manning the museum’s main control room. Here too, information is received in real-time from other security systems, including the RFID tags protecting items of artwork and showcases, as well as the building’s access control network. This involves control of 110 doors with 402 inputs, including the dual use of door contacts and TriTec detectors.
Appropriate solutions
Lund Halsey was called in to suggest appropriate solutions to equip, firstly, the museum’s main control room, as well as a separate, smaller sub-control room located in a different part of the building and designed for daytime CCTV monitoring uses.
In the main control room it was proposed to site an operating console manned by two operators, situated in front of a monitor wall. Examining these initial operational requirements, Lund Halsey’s MD, Chris Lund, suggested the use of consoles from the company’s modular Centra range, since this purpose-designed console system is designed to meet a broad spectrum of client requirements including the need for easy future modifications to accommodate the rapid evolution of hardware.
Lund Halsey’s sales manager, Barry Kingsley, subsequently produced detailed design suggestions based on these recommendations, including plans for installation of a monitor wall comprising twenty four 21-inch monitors in a configuration eight wide by three high for optimal viewing comfort.
Considerations influencing the specification choices for both the console, monitor wall, and the six specially designed operator chairs, also supplied as part of the contract, included ergonomic factors aimed at improving the operators’ physical comfort over the length of their daily shifts. The ergonomic principles applied form part of the international standard on ergonomic design of control centres, ISO 11064. These are intended to maximise operators’ efficiency, effectiveness and user comfort in terms of practical details such as the optimum eye-level view for monitors and the ideal reach of keyboards, etc.
Finished in a modern light grey colour, with curved end sections, the main console contains sufficient space for eight 17-inch flat screens which are mounted on adjustable gas-lift arms for ease of use – for instance, through their finger tip adjustment capability.
The screens act as spot monitors enabling the operators to pull up images of particular interest, as well as providing touch-screen operational control over systems such as the RFID and access control protective equipment.
Situated immediately behind the console is a smaller one-man supervisor’s desk containing three flat screens. Like the main console, this unit also has removable panels at the rear for access when required.
Meanwhile, in the separate sub-control room, Lund Halsey has supplied a similar console from its Centra range manufactured with a hard-wearing marmoleum work surface covering. Housing six deskmounted CRT screens, this unit provides convenient pedestal unit storage space for PC ‘towers’ at either end of the console, allowing these to be kept safely out of the way and freeing up valuable desk space.
Commenting on the overall installation, SIS’ project manager at the Museum of Islamic Art, Ian Maurice, said Lund Halsey had been chosen as the supplier of equipment for the control rooms “because the company demonstrated to us its ability to make good quality equipment – a fact I saw for myself when visiting Lund Halsey’s manufacturing operation”. The museum is scheduled to officially open to visitors in the spring of 2008.
 For more information on Lund Halsey, telephone +44 (0)1296 489964, email: Charles.Evett@lundhalsey.com or visit www.lundhalsey.com.
Lund Halsey wins major regional contracts at key sites
In a separate development, Lund Halsey's expanding portfolio of Middle East projects includes the recently announced contract to supply its Centra control room furniture for Dubai Airport's new Terminal 3, where the company will be involved in helping equip several control rooms dealing with systems including security and fire protection, as well as building management. The US $4.1 billion Dubai International Airport Expansion Programme, which involves the construction of Terminal 3, Concourse 2 and 3 will enable the facility to handle up to 60 million passengers per year by 2010. Additionally, the project would greatly increase the airport's capacity to handle the new A380 super-jumbo with 24 dedicated gates, while its cargo handling facilities would also expand. This announcement from Lund Halsey follows other work for the company in the region, including Sabic (The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) in Saudi Arabia, Showtime Television, the UAE Air Force and the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, Saudi Arabia ued by pedestrians during the Hajj.
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