Hurrairah bin Sohail visits the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration where integrator Vichai Trading 1983 has deployed AV systems that provide the prestige and functionality expected.
Government installations are tricky. The AV systems chosen for deployment must match the prestige and gravitas of the
spaces. However, the usual
considerations when it comes
to technology, ease of use as
well as enabling efficiency
and productivity, cannot be
disregarded. Treading this line
can be difficult for any integrator.
The Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration is the local
government of Bangkok, Thailand
and it wanted to modernise the
spaces it provides, which include
chambers, boardrooms and
meeting rooms, for its workforce.
Vichai Trading 1983 was given the
responsibility to bring the project
to fruition as the integrator.
Ponthep, sales executive at
Vichai Trading 1983, details the
integrator’s involvement with
the project: “For the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration we
saw the project through from the
equipment selection all the way to
the testing and commissioning.
The end user had a very detailed
specification regarding their AV
needs. It was our job to select the
equipment to meet their needs of
high-quality products that still
enabled the function of the spaces.”
The AV systems deployed
at one of the main chambers
of the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration building
highlight the care taken by
Vichai Trading 1983 during the
course of the project.
Communication was the key
requirement and a Shure DIS
discussion system was selected.
Ponthep says: “The Shure DIS
discussion system was the best
product for the job. It allows four
participants to communicate at
the same time and the rest of the
speakers are put into the queue to
talk. The chairman unit allows for
control over how the discussion
proceeds. This allowed us to
create the discussion system for
the chambers.”
Tannoy ceiling speakers are
used to provide sound when the
Shure DIS discussion system is
being used. Biamp Nexia DSPs
provide processing and QSC
amplifiers are also employed.
Acoustic panelling chosen
by the architect ensures that
the acoustics in the chamber
are favourable for speech.
Visuals are provided by
Panasonic projectors that can
be recessed into the ceiling
when not in use with a projector
lift that was engineered and
designed by Vichai Trading 1983
specifically for the space. At the
same time, an LCD videowall
comprising NEC flat panels can
also be found.
Video is transported over IP
with the help of SVSI encoders
and decoders. Processing for
the displays is handled by SVSI
processors.
Ponthep says: “The Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration
had specified for the best AV
systems available. Video over IP
fit the bill and made installation
very easy. We just needed the
encoders, decoders and a
network switch. The SVSI
handles all the scaling and
processing for the visual
systems. We have programmed
it to operate in different modes
according the specifications of
the client which they can choose
from an intuitive interface.”
When it came to providing
presentation and wireless
connectivity, Vichai Trading 1983
had to tread carefully. Ponthep
details: “Since the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration is a
government space, security was
one of their biggest concerns.
We are using Wolfvision Cynap
for presentation which works
over a closed wireless network
that is not connected to the
internet to insulate it for the
purposes of security.”
Regarding the selection of
Wolfvision Cynap for presentation,
Ponthep says: “We needed to
provide a true BYOD solution. As
the integrator we had to support
all devices and we could not have
the users downloading apps on
their devices to connect to the
presentation system. Wolfvision
Cynap supports Apple AirPlay
as well as Miracast for Android
devices. This makes it easy for
any user to present.”
Renkus-Heinz speakers are
used for audio in the chambers
during presentation. AudioTechnica wireless microphones
are used for audio pick up.
Showing attention to detail
and consideration for Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration’s
requirements, Wolfvision
document cameras have also
been provided.
Ponthep details: “Normally,
visualisers are used in
government installations
but they take up desk space.
We decided to use document
cameras which can zoom in
on any papers or presentation
materials that the speakers might
want to present.”
The main integration challenge
that Vichai Trading 1983 faced
when it came to the AV systems
for the chambers was ensuring
that the Lumens cameras, the
AMX control system and the
Shure DIS discussion system
worked in tandem to provide
speaker tracking features.
Ponthep details how this
challenge was overcome: “We
have a long history working
with both the Shure DIS system
and AMX control. In fact, we’ve
integrated the two systems
together previously so making
them work together for Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration
was not difficult.”
When it comes to the
boardrooms the audio systems
are similar to the chamber. Sound
is provided by Tannoy ceiling
speakers and Renkus-Heinz
speakers with QSC amplifiers.
Processing is handled by Biamp
Nexia DSPs.
Visual systems differ
according to the needs of the
different boardrooms. Panasonic
projectors and NEC projectors
can be found together with dnp
Supernova Infinity projection
screens. Samsung and LG flat
panels are also used. SVSI
encoders and decoders carry
video signals to the end points.
Ponthep details the major
challenge when it came to
installing AV systems in the
boardrooms: “The ceiling height
in the boardrooms is low due to
a false ceiling being used by the
interior designer. This really
didn’t leave us with a lot of room
to install the equipment. For the
projectors we had to eventually
have cut-outs so that they could
descend from the ceiling in
projector lifts. For audio, the
challenges were the long
dimensions of the rooms. We had
to make sure that the audio could
be heard all the way through.”
Ponthep concludes: “This was
a long project for us and we are
happy with the results. Working
with Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration was great. In the
end I feel that we were able to
meet all their requirements.”