A NOTE FROM ME

I wrote the following blog about control room design after another frustrating visit to a facility asking “why does my security system not work very well?” All too often I find system interfaces, monitors, computers etc. shoe horned in to rooms that should only really be used as a cupboard. Or possibly even worse, on a reception desk where nobody is tasked with or trained to operate the system. The best you are going to get from this situation is a chance notice of something untoward going on.

These systems are little more that evidence gathering machines. By this I am referring mainly to CCTV but unless you are monitoring an access control system you will not see a door held or door forced alarm.

The current thinking is to avoid banks of monitors displaying all of the CCTV images. This is partly due to space allocation and energy efficiency but mainly due to “operator blindness”. This is not a health and safety issue but psychological problem that may lead to an operator missing the glaringly obvious due to constantly looking at the same images. Si if you don’t have loads of monitors and an operator that can attentively watch each and every one of them, how do you make the system proactive? Video content analysis and PSIM go a long way to resolving these issues but the control room needs to be designed with a proactive security approach in mind so that operators have all the tools they need to receive and act on information pertaining to the security of the facility. I have seen many discussions on the pros and cons of integrating other disciplines in to the control room such as BMS, Fire etc. In principle this is a good idea if the control room is properly designed but could be a disaster if the equipment sits in the corner and the operator has other distracting duties.

It is horses for courses when it comes to control room design. If all you need is an evidence gathering machine then fine, locate it in an equipment room somewhere. If you need a fully managed and proactive system then consider the most efficient methods tailored to your needs.

My final point for this note is to consider the Data Protection Act when you have the control equipment on the reception desk!

CONTROL ROOM DESIGN

A suitable and proportional control room along with its associated areas is essential to the implementation of a robust security strategy. Operators will undertake a mixed range of tasks from VDU/GUI operation to producing reports and documentation. In order to achieve the most success from a security system, the control room must be designed with the operators in mind. Consideration should be given to the following.

• Security Policy
• Security Procedures
• Security Mechanisms
• Task Identification
• Time and Motion Analysis
• Sociotechnical Interfacing
• Proportional Accommodation
• Resilience
• Disaster Recovery
• Compliance with regulation and standards
• DDA Assessment

The control room suite should be located in a position where it cannot be isolated or compromised, as it must be able to continue to operate in the event of a serious disturbance. A Briefing Room may be necessary for management during a serious disturbance. The location of this room needs to have safe access for emergency personnel and services.

Access to a restroom/kitchen should be available. The staff toilets should ideally be separate male and female, but unisex toilets may be considered when space is at a premium.  A disabled toilet facility should be available as required by the DDA assessment. A staff shower room should ideally be provided incorporating sufficient dry area for changing and storage of clothes whilst showering.

Adequate space must be provided for the services that are essential for the operation of the control room. Adequate height must be provided to allow for raised floors. Raised floors and ceiling voids must be secured within the envelope of the control suite.

Lighting should be appropriate for all the tasks being performed. However, consideration needs to be given to reflection and glare on monitor screens.

The control room should be designed as a low noise environment with sound absorbing ceiling tiles, etc. The use of cross talk attenuation may need to be considered where ducts pass between separate rooms.

The ergonomics of the room needs careful consideration with respect to the positioning on monitors and display technology in relation to the operators. Headaches can result from and signle or combination of the following.

• Screen Glare
• Poor Image Quality
• Stress and Anxiety
• Long Periods of VDU use
• Poor Posture

The sociotechnical interfacing considerations should take in to account all of the above along with issues relating to watching images that don’t change very often, which can lead to “change blindness”. Black screen technology and PSIM solutions increase operator efficiency.

Control room design has many facets of consideration, from ergonomics to integration. Control room design, whether large or small must form part of the overall security strategy and mechanism.

JAILBREAK CHALLENGE

On Friday we spent the day raising money for charity on behalf of Crimestoppers Sussex. Fantastic day out, fun, team building and exhausting. Team c-hq came through and rescued me from a cell in the Brighton Police Museum. A huge thank you to our sponsors that generously gave up some of their hard earned cash for Crimestoppers.