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Technical furnishings and visualization system for the organization’s Network Operations Center.

THE CHALLENGE

At the time when it requested a proposal, Novabase was the leading Portuguese company in business solutions based on information technologies. It started out in 1989 and has grown by learning how to adapt to the times up to now. Its turnover in 2012 was EUR 212 million (29% outside Portugal).

Novabase had undertaken the renovation of its main center for operations in Portugal, and they got in touch with Eyevis, a company with expertise in visualization systems so they could advise them on which video wall to install. Eyevis is a regular partner of the Floria Group and facilitated contact with the client to work both on defining the visualization systems that would be required, and the most suitable technical furnishings for the operations center and the meetings room.

The challenge was to provide an offer and technical consultancy for the integration of the main visualization system and 35 workstations in a 24/7 operations room. A meetings room attached to the main control room was also included.

A very technological client

This was a highly technological client, and the end result also had to emphasize this image. They wanted to have a center of operations that was modern, contemporary, and served as a reference point. One essential prerequisite was to install the highest number of operating workstations as could be ergonomically distributed and, of course, to use the latest technology in the control center.

An additional problem was that the project was already underway and the property owner was refurbishing the room. For this reason, Floria had to reconfigure the works that were being proposed, since in certain cases they concluded that other options than those provided were the best solutions to use.

As part of this reconfiguration, the following proposals were made:

• Solutions for the acoustic insulation of the video wall equipment.
• Control of external sunlight.
• Scaling and distribution of the technical floor.
• Enclosure of the adjoining meetings room.

The experience of the Floria Group in working with similar work environments was called upon to obtain a next-generation visualization system that met all of the operational requirements, and technical furnishings that fully met present and future needs.

As part of the project for creating the NOC, Floria was given the special task of studying the visualization and 24/7 technical furnishings systems to be installed.

THE SOLUTION

As per usual in the Floria Group, the first step was to understand the client’s needs in detail in order to present a solution that met with its requirements—one that was also pleasing, surprising, lasting, and timeless.

After contacting Eyevis, and given that Floria used its products in Spain and Portugal, the Group first visited Portugal so that Novabase could get to know its products and capabilities. After this initial visit, the client was offered the chance to collaborate in completing an ergonomics study for the distribution of operators and solutions for audiovisual systems.

With the data gathered, various options for the distribution of operators were prepared and provided, including ergonomic sections, and issues regarding the positioning of the video wall and management software for the audiovisual equipment were resolved. The Floria Group conducted an ergonomic study in which all requirements raised by the client were studied in the minutest detail.

Once the definitive solution had been chosen and considered, both in terms of the visualization and the furnishings, Novabase contracted the Floria Group to install this equipment.

At the same time, during the initial study stages, manufacture and installation, Floria advised on different features of the arrangements to be implemented in the NOC room.

Renovatio and Eyevis

After an in-depth analysis, it was concluded that the Floria Renovatio furnishings model was the one that perfectly met the needs of the client as it was ideal for 24/7 working environments where there is a large number of operators in a very small space. Eyevis equipment was proposed for the visualization systems.

The preparation of the project or bid involved an engineer as the internal coordinator of the project, a draftsperson who worked up the plans, an engineer who prepared the study and calculated the costs, and a designer who prepared 3D images for the integration of the equipment in the environment. This was all conducted in perfect coordination with the sales department. They also collaborated with the technologies department in the search for solutions and consultancy on the visualization systems to be installed.

After the works were contracted, a technician was assigned for the coordination of the manufacturing and assembly sections. The sales department continued the relationship with the property owner to maintain the technical support at all times.

Consultancy for the overall project

The Floria Group advised on the overall development of the project in certain aspects that were not specifically contracted to Floria but where the proper development would influence the solution and end result of the room. There were two kinds of aspects in relation to the room:

• Solutions for the acoustic insulation of the video wall equipment. The best way to acoustically insulate the technical room behind the video wall.
• Control of external sunlight. Advice was given on the best screen and materials systems to prevent reflections on the video wall and disruptions to the operators.
• A staggered distribution of the technical floor to position the operators according to the finally adopted ergonomic distribution.
• Enclosure of the meetings room, including doors for access, visualization systems, and storage spaces for documentation and technological equipment.

In regards to the technical equipment:

• Solutions for fitting technical furnishings in 24/7 environments
• Solutions for the distribution of light fittings that avoid reflections and obtain lighting conditions suitable for the workstations.
• Solutions for the visualization equipment in terms of the most suitable hardware and software and in terms of positioning and configuration.

THE BENEFITS

Novabase now has a room with an ideal ergonomic distribution of operators, with high-quality, durable, and timeless technical furnishings and visualization systems suited to the operations being developed, all perfectly integrated as part of the overall aesthetics of the room.

Using the Floria Group therefore brought the client a series of benefits, such as:

• A perfect ergonomic solution that improved interaction and relations among operators.
• New-generation furnishings with a contemporary look.
• Durability of the materials.
• Latest generation visualization systems and the best operating performance with integration fronts with high-end finishing.
• Simple assembly.
• Perfect coordination with the other contractors working in the room.

CONCLUSION

Despite starting work on a project that was already in an advanced stage of development, thanks to the experience of Floria in this type of 24/7 environment and its varied range of technical furnishings, as well as the combined experience in Eyevis visualization systems that the Floria Group could rely on, it was possible to offer an ideal solution that was easy to implement. Not only that, but Floria’s experience meant that the client received highly specialized advice on how to improve aspects of the project that hadn’t already been provided with the best solutions, which could have an impact on the workers and the overall performance of the space.