Do Son 
The right video wall setup helps control and security centers stay on top of potential crises, even with dozens of competing feeds. In this post, we’ll show you how these tools improve response times and keep your site safe.
The Importance of Situational Awareness
A team can only respond to an incident if it’s aware of a developing situation. An analyst or other staff member depends on many streams of information – all of which are vital for flagging up any potential issue. These streams can include:
- CCTV or IP camera feeds
- Thermal imagery
- Access logs
- Visitor management systems
- Asset tracking
- Inventory management
- Motion detectors
- Fire/smoke alarms
- Environmental sensors
A team struggling to read all of this information is sure to miss something – a risk made greater if they have to switch between displays constantly. With a video wall controller, you could connect multiple screens together and keep all essential information visible simultaneously.
Fighting Cognitive Overload
Cognitive overload happens when a team is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data they are working with. This leads to missed cues, poor decisions, and overall fatigue.
Keeping everything on one cohesive display naturally helps your team notice issues, such as an intruder, more quickly. However, the real benefit is in how this setup counters cognitive load.
Your team won’t have to switch between tasks constantly to keep up with their workload. They’ll instead see everything they need on one screen, without relying on their working memory.
Real-Time Reactions
Security operations centers often rely on split-second decisions. These can include:
- Noticing potential intruders
- Dispatching security guards
- Full/partial lockdowns
- Directing first responders
- Locking out wrong credentials
- Shutting down equipment
It’s possible to automate some of these – but even then, a human monitoring the situation helps verify a system’s actions. A video wall controller ensures there’s enough space for each source on a single display.
Keeping everything on separate screens and windows means issues might not get noticed right away. For example, an intruder might have a crucial few extra seconds before being spotted, or malfunctioning equipment could be left running.
Seeing everything simultaneously and as soon as possible is vital for noticing serious workplace situations.
Better Security Team Collaboration
Your security center might have over a dozen people monitoring different screens and metrics – but keeping it all on one screen makes everything cohesive. Your team will see how the different sources connect.
For example, one person can check a security camera’s feed and then instantly snap their focus to the relevant access logs. If there’s a problem, they can contact security guards.
Alternatively, your team can split camera duty, checking the logs, and contacting guards across three people, but without any delays, as they’ll all be using the same display to coordinate.
24/7 Reliability
Modern video wall controllers can withstand the strain of mission-critical environments, including continuous 24/7 operation. They also typically have hot-swappable components and redundant power supplies, allowing them to continue operating even if a fault or a power failure occurs.
Example: Milan Bergamo Airport
Airport security and control centers regularly use video walls to track high volumes of data. One key example is Milan Bergamo Airport, Italy’s third-busiest international airport – which relies on technology supplied by Dexon Systems (including video walls and controllers).
Milan Bergamo Airport uses over 700 HD cameras to guarantee complete coverage. These are linked to complex sensors; when an alarm is tripped, the video wall automatically plays the last few seconds of that “event” from nearby cameras.
The airport’s security and control rooms also use a specialized layout system that can run on a set schedule. Alternatively, these layouts can be selected from a playlist. This lets teams quickly jump between situations while focusing on the right sources.
Final Thoughts
Video wall controllers are a great innovation that streamlines security centers while maintaining a clear focus on developing crises. No matter the size of your security team, consider investing in these AV tools to improve long-term performance and overall site safety.