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Case Study
Los Angeles Police Department relies on
NEC displays in emergency operations
Quick Facts
Facility: Los Angeles Emergency Operations Center,
LAPD RACR Division
Location: Los Angeles, California
Challenge: Constructing a brand new facility that
encourages productivity with high-tech
digital screens for information display
Solution: 46” NEC X461UN, 46” P461,
40” MultiSync® LCD4020-AVT
Date: September 2009
When the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Real-Time
Analysis and Critical Response (RACR) division needed a display
solution in its control center, it looked to Spectrum Video, Inc.
to design workstations and a video wall that would allow its
staff to work swiftly and efficiently, without worrying about the
dependability of its technology. The workstations allow RACR
staff to work in teams and enable collaboration, while area
monitors mounted from the ceiling helps with decision-making
in emergency situations. The ultra-narrow bezel video wall is
viewable from virtually anywhere within the brand new facility.
The RACR division of the
LAPD is a 24/7 fusion and
information processing
center where resources,
situation status of the city
and developing tactical
incidents are tracked. This
department also includes
daily detective support to
Los Angeles and complete
analysis on emerging crime
patterns.
AV Design Consultant
Spectrum Video is based
in California and provides
complete, custom solutions
for businesses looking
to communicate more
For its RACR facility, the LAPD chose NEC’s 46” X461UN to outfit a video wall that
displays critical news and information from off-air and closed-circuit sources.
© 2010 Ron Baker Photography
effectively. Spectrum offers a variety of services, including audio
visual design, engineering, control system user interface and project
oversight, living up to its motto of “clarity without complexity.”
The Challenge
Originally, the LAPD resided in the basement of City Hall.
Cramped and pressed for space, the City worked to build a brand
new facility for multiple stakeholders, including the Emergency
Management Department (EMD), LAPD RACR and the Los
Angeles Fire Department’s Main Dispatch and Department
Operations Center. Primary design plans for RACR featured a
rear-projection system with mirrors and projection screen that
showed emergency situation status in an area where officers
developed a course of action. Staff members were not looking
forward to constantly replacing projector lamps, and realized
bringing in a new flat-panel system would provide real estate
behind the displays, which could be used for equipment racks full
of AV-related gear.
The City had previous experience acquiring AV design from
Spectrum with other projects, so the choice to hire their services for
the new installation was easy. Bringing in Spectrum as architect
of the Audio Visual systems in the new facility allowed the LAPD
to verbalize its wants
and needs and let this
trusted consultant take
care of the vital features
and specifications of the
solution.
In designing the system,
Spectrum wanted to
dramatically improve the
RACR facility by creating
a seamless video wall that
would support a variety
of content and have
the ability to alternate
each screen’s content.
Spectrum determined
that the project would
require displays with high
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resolution, image
clarity, thin bezels
and commercial-grade
panels. Finding a
manufacturer with
a broad lineup of
industrial-strength
LCDs would benefit
the project, as
the facility also
required large-format
displays for several
workstations and area
screens.
The Solution
Spectrum’s solid
previous experience
with NEC and the
company’s prestigious
reputation in the
digital signage
industry led the
design team to discuss the project’s possibilities with NEC’s
representatives. The conversation quickly moved to NEC’s preannouncement of the 46” X461UN ultra-narrow LCD display.
This advanced notice generated interest among both Spectrum’s
design team and LAPD RACR division management, and a
product demonstration was performed for a variety of LAPD
personnel. Spectrum’s recommendation in selecting the X461UN
was approved by the LAPD when it recognized the benefits and
substantial change, such as rugged design, TileMatrix video wall
capabilities and near-seamless bezel.
Spectrum designed the layout, architecture and engineering of
the 28 X461UNs and integrated the 7x4 news and information
video wall into the control room, giving operator positions in
the center bay unimpeded views. The video wall displays critical
news and information from off-air and closed-circuit sources,
promoting the LAPD’s confidentiality. The RACR division benefits
from the ease of exchange and maintenance offered by the NEC
product, when coupled with the structural mounting frame (“Swing
Wall”) designed by RP Visuals of Santa Ana, CA. The video wall
is driven by a unique hybrid technology design by Spectrum,
utilizing both a primary path (“PixelNet” image processing by
Jupiter) and secondary path (direct-to-display Digital Image Signal
Routing that leverages NEC’s TileMatrix capability) for failsafe
image display in the event the primary path is compromised.
Additionally, Spectrum specified 40” LCD4020-AVT displays at
each “Team Pod” workstation in the east and west bays. Each pod
NEC’s 7x4 video wall utilizes TileMatrix technology for a near-seamless look, along with a
Swing Wall mounting frame and a unique failsafe imaging technology.
© 2010 Ron Baker Photography
houses six individuals
who focus on specific
support tasks and
use the 40” display
for local viewing of
digital imagery. Images
produced at the Team
Pods have the ability
to be displayed on the
news & information
video wall for all staff
to view.
In three corners of
the facility, Spectrum
utilized “Decision
Making Monitors” with
NEC’s 46” P461-AVT,
suspending them
from the ceiling. The
industrial-strength
P Series display
offered the LAPD
enhanced features for long-term digital signage use, such as an
ambient light sensor, full connectivity and real-time scheduling.
Management offices and conference rooms to the north of the
Command Positions have windows allowing a birdseye view into
the RACR facility.
“The commercial design of the X461UN allows the LAPD to use
the data wall 24/7, and its NEC name assures us that the product
is reliable and durable,” said John Bilar Jr., CTS, Vice President of
Technology at Spectrum Video. “In a time-critical environment,
there is no room for failure. NEC’s X461UN has not only
transformed the space, but allows those in the LA-EOC facility to
focus efforts on their jobs and increase productivity.”
“Bob Downs and John Bilar from Spectrum did an outstanding job
on the AV design and engineering of our facility,” said Captain
Joel Justice, Commanding Officer, LAPD RACR Division. “They
recommended NEC as a dependable display company with a
responsive staff that stands behind its product. The final design
works so well that we sometimes forget we’re looking at 28
screens, since they work together impeccably and have flawless
imagery.”
“The outcome of the new digital signage is beyond incredible,”
said Bilar. “We’ve received many compliments and dropped jaws
from liaison agencies that come to work in the LAPD RACR
facility. NEC’s screens are worthy of becoming the benchmark in
the Command, Control and Emergency Operations market.”
2010 NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
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