Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, India

• Case Studies

The Director of INCOIS provides further details regarding the function of the institution and how technology plays a pivotal role in its operations: “INCOIS deals with ocean observation, ocean modelling, forecasting data for ocean management and provides ocean information, early warning and advisory services. We have real-time systems that bring data into INCOIS, and these data sets must be processed and visualised with minimal latencies. These data sets could be twodimensional or three-dimensional, and our operators and scientists need to make critical decisions based on this data, so the visualisation must be top notch. And as more and more data is pumped in, more modelling is happening, resulting in more services for a wide spectrum of maritime users. We need technology and infrastructure that can handle all these increasing requirements.”

The critical nature of INCOIS’s operations is elaborated by the Director: “INCOIS serves as the tsunami and multihazard warning centre for not only India but for almost 28 other countries as well. It receives tsunami warning information from seismic stations, gauges, and satellites. This information needs to be received by not only people on campus, but users who might be sitting at remote locations such as coastal towns. We need that interaction and that can only be enabled by technology. And we need this technology to be operational 24/7.”

He further sheds light on INCOIS’s relationship with technology: “Starting from high performance computing systems working on the back end, to IT and AV, we have always recognised the importance of technology in what we do. But we have evolved our approach. It is no longer about what black box you have, but what you can do with technology. And for us that comes back to processing information and then visualising it. We must be able to model data, get it into a predication system, and provide integrated services for a wide range of stakeholders.”

With this demanding background, it is no surprise INCOIS conceived the idea of having a synergistic facility that can provide all the needed information to the operators in one place, in order to make informed decisions while issuing ocean information, early warnings, and advisory services.

The institution took a measured and considered approach to fitting this facility out with the systems and solutions the space needed to perform at the highest level. The same level of thought was given to the decision to partner with the right solution provider.

The Director details: “We needed someone who understood our requirements and who was familiar with the vertical and with delivering critical infrastructure. There was a tender process once we put our requirements together and after a very detailed process of technical and financial evaluations, Sigma AVIT came in and realised our designs married with solutions that fit our requirements. The implementation process was very collaborative, interactive, and iterative because technology is always evolving, and we must be flexible and open to an exchange of ideas to get the best results.”

Sigma AVIT was appointed as the solution provider for the INCOIS project.

Raymond Vijay Soans, director at Sigma AVIT, explains how the integrator proceeded with the project: “It all began with us planning to meet their requirements with a simple and straightforward NOC for control and visualisation. But as the project progressed and we began to iterate the designs and plans began to evolve in collaboration, so did the scope of our involvement in the project. To really bring INCOIS’s vision to life, we realised that all the elements of the facility, from the interior design, the back end, the CCTV, the IT, even the carpeting, had to work together. INCOIS trusted us to deliver a turnkey project considering all of these elements and their trust and their efforts to empower us helped us go above and beyond. We were driven by the passion and the vision they had and wanted to be a part of their success story.”

Sigma AVIT was given 15,000 sq ft of raw space and it was their job to get it functional. The spaces included meeting rooms, reception area, conference rooms and cabins of varying sizes, external areas, and the control room.

Without fuss, the integrator got to work. Raymond details: “When it came to recommending products to INCOIS, we presented what was existing in the market as well as what would fit their bill of requirements. We didn’t go in with a preconceived notion of specific products to sell, our job was to make them aware of what technology options were available to them.”

The focus was on the control room and Raymond elaborates: “It was very clearly communicated to us that visualisation without latency was the key requirement. And to help select the right technology, we conducted proof of concept activities and even scheduled visits to demo centres to make sure that INCOIS could understand the technology and see what it would deliver. And after the evaluation period, we decided that Cyviz was the best option for INCOIS.”

The control room is divided into two, an area for the operators to sit and perform their duties and another serving as a viewing room for VIPs, officials, and scientists. The two areas are separated by glass which can change its opaqueness based on the circumstances.

The control room section where the operators sit has a complete Cyviz solution. A customised AV solution in present in the VIP areas and the two systems are linked together.

Why Cyviz? Raymond answers: “Cyviz allowed us to provide a complete visualisation solution for the entire control room, and this is a very different proposition from normal AV solutions. We can create a system for the control room that looks at displays and switching and KVM, but control rooms require specialised applications. We did our research, and we did start with the customised AV solution option, but we realised that we could achieve better functionality with Cyviz while also having an easier time with integration and deployment.”

He continues: “One of the requirements for the NOC at INCOIS was that the Prime Minister of India should be able to join a call with the click of a button in case the situation demands their presence. INCOIS has chosen Teams as its VC platform and Cyviz has Teams included in the solution by default. So, this also helped us create that seamless experience while also meeting the requirements of the client.”

Microsoft Teams is the VC platform of choice for INCOIS and it meets their security protocols and requirements, significantly lessening cybersecurity concerns for Sigma AVIT.

Planar 1.2mm pixel pitch LED tiles are used to create the displays in the control room.

In the VIP section of the control room however the requirements were not as stringent, and hence Sigma AVIT has gone with an AV solution. Raymond says: “We are using Extron switching and Sennheiser TCC 2 ceiling microphones in the control room to make sure that the content can be effectively shared across the two spaces of the NOC. Our approach shows how you can have specialised and customised solutions to give the client the best of both worlds.”

Moving away from the control room, the other spaces follow templated technology systems. Audio duties are handled by QSC speakers and amplifiers, paired with Q-SYS DSPs where needed. Display duties are performed by Samsung flat panels.

A perfect example of these technology solutions can be found in the divisible training rooms where two Samsung 65-in displays are used together with the QSC audio solution. But bearing in mind the desired functionality of the space, Sigma AVIT has provided Sennheiser TCC 2 ceiling microphones for audio pickup.

Raymond says: “INCOIS wanted to establish a hands-free communication system that catered to the presentation style of their users. They wanted people to be able to stand and present and walk around the rooms and spaces without having to worry about microphones. And when the position of the speaker is not fixed, the best solution is to go with ceiling microphones so you can cover the whole area. With the Sennheiser TCC 2, we have been able to give them audio pickup without limitations.”

In the divisible training rooms, as well as the meeting spaces, Poly serves as the videoconferencing codec.

The choice of Poly was an easy one as Raymond elaborates: “INCOIS was already using Poly systems, they exist in their other spaces and rooms, and the users have experience with them. So, rather than changing it up, we decided to keep these positives and stick with Poly for the new spaces and rooms as well.”

In addition to the meeting spaces, cabins, or smaller meeting rooms, have also been created. These have been equipped with basic displays and HDMI connectivity allowing users to bring their own devices and leverage the AV system available.

Simplicity seems to be the name of the game at INCOIS, and the AV systems deployed in the reception area prove this. Deviating from the usual layout for reception areas or lobbies as seen in corporate facilities, the experience is built around a Samsung 65-in display and a PA system comprising QSC speakers and amplifiers, with a Q-SYS DSP at the back end.

Lastly, to add an element of wonder and fulfil INCOIS’s commitment to education, a sphere with projection mapping on it has been created. Raymond elaborates: “The client had visited a museum in Bangalore where they saw content on a sphere and that was the germination point for this idea. We suggested both options, projection mapping and LED for the sphere, and the client decided to go with projection based on their experience and their desired outcome.”

NOAA’s Science on a Sphere, which is a room-sized display system that projects visualisations of data onto a 6ft diameter sphere, has been deployed for INCOIS. Panasonic projectors deliver visuals while JBL speakers provide audio.

Raymond talks about the result: “We are showcasing a range of data from the weather, the information from the met, a selection of the 400 plus data models that INCOIS has, and more. All this data is being updated in real-time and it serves as a living study tool for students and visitors.”

Regarding the challenges faced during the project, Raymond says: “One of the biggest challenges for us was the scope of the project. Delving into the world of interior design, furniture, carpeting, facilities equipment, all of this was new for us. But the team at Sigma AVIT took up the challenge and empowered by INCOIS we were able to learn as the project progressed and delivered on our promises. This has been a project that has helped us grow and has helped us see a different way of doing business, engaging with our clients, and providing them value.”

He concludes: “This was a tight installation when it came down to time, we had approximately 60 days to turn the project around, but we went the extra mile because of the close bonds we had built with the INCOIS team and their support, encouragement, advice, and direction which helped us overcome all obstacles. Working with government agencies and institutes can be tricky, and we primarily work with enterprise clients, but this experience has given us the confidence to be able to widen our client base.”

The Director of INCOIS gives us his closing thoughts: “Oceans are occupying more that 70 percent of our planet and they influence our lives to a great degree from monsoons to our climate, to our everyday weather, and much more. Our oceans also have a lot of resources such as fish, minerals, and even energy. We need to understand how we can sustainably manage our oceans and not just exploit them, and to this effect a lot of countries are coming up with ‘blue economy’ policies and India is working on a blue economy framework as well. INCOIS has an essential role to play in providing data-driven insight and feedback that will shape the future of not only our oceans but our country, and we need the technology and the infrastructure to do this effectively."