Audiovisual Design Standards. October Audiovisual Design Standards (July, 2011)

Transcription

1 October (July, 2011)

2 Table of Content Executive Summary... 4 More information... 4 Review Room design for learning and teaching spaces Sight lines and screen-viewing distances Vertical and horizontal projector placement Minimum projector brightness Minimum projector contrast ratio Projector, display and screen aspect ratio Dual displays Flat panel technology Acoustical design in learning and teaching spaces Acoustic performance Ambient sound levels Reverberation times Lighting design in learning and teaching spaces Relevant lighting standards Lighting control and lighting zones Ambient light spill on projector screen Target light level Occupancy sensing Lighting control system and AV control system integration Audio system design in learning and teaching spaces Audio replay and voice reinforcement Speaker system selection and placement Audio mixing Power amplifiers Equipment installation Hearing augmentation and induction loops Grounding Integration into EWIS Lecture recording systems Audio recording Screen capture Camera provision Dual screen recording Whiteboards and writing surfaces Standard specifications and board height Multiple sliding boards Board lighting Centralisation and structured cabling systems Audiovisual centralisation approach Centralisation exceptions Signal delivery and cabling UTP converters Power management, climate control and risk mitigation Specific room types (July, 2011)

3 1.8.1 Lecture theatres (tiered teaching spaces) scope Class rooms (flat floor spaces) scope Meeting rooms (videoconference rooms if required) scope Flexible teaching spaces scope Audiovisual equipment specifications Projection screens Data projectors General minimum specification Data projectors Large venues (Auditoriums) Data projectors Lecture theatres Data projectors - Classrooms Flat panel displays Projector and flat panel mounts Central controller AV Control system interface (Touchpanel) Audio and video router Scalar Audio signal processing Speaker systems Amplifiers Lectern microphones Radio microphones Document cameras DVD/Blu-Ray players Desktop Computer Cabling and management Cable labelling Connector types Equipment rack Service Desk phone in learning and teaching spaces In-house phone Outside of venue (at door) phone Documentation Construction drawings Post contract documentation Testing, commissioning and handover Glossary and Definitions About this Document Appendix 1 UTAS AV Design Standards Metric Table Appendix 2 Mobile Lecture Recording Solutions Appendix 3 Lectern Design (July, 2011)

4 Executive Summary The purpose of this document is to set out the definition of Audiovisual (AV) Standards for the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and the application of those standards across all supported learning and teaching spaces. It specifies the standardisation and categorisation of audiovisual equipment, design standards, learning and teaching spaces and amenities available to all staff, students and associates. The objective of these standards is to define: the minimum AV requirements for all learning and teaching spaces a framework to standardise AV technology and infrastructure to provide a means of identifying and upgrading, where required, any sub-standard learning and teaching spaces. All AV technology and infrastructure is to be of a standardised environment in all supported learning and teaching spaces. It is the purpose of this document to identify this standard and to provide a framework that all learning and teaching spaces are to adhere to. More information For further information, contact Frank Andrews: Review frank.andrews@utas.edu.au In line with the Policy Development and Review Procedure (Section Stage 14 Review), this document will be reviewed in its entirety every three (3) years. Consideration for the review of this document will be governed by the mechanisms within the Policy Development and Review Procedure. Minor amendments, pertaining to the progression of technology and the redefining of technical terminology and specifications will occur every six (6) months and are undertaken as an operational requirement of AV Services, ITR. 1.1 Room design for learning and teaching spaces Room design is integral to providing a best practice solution for all learning and teaching spaces. It is recommended that at the project design stage all considerations of the following provisions are entered into, to produce the best possible solution for these spaces. This is the responsibility of the appropriate organisational unit who is accountable for the room design features in a given learning and teaching space Sight lines and screen-viewing distances Learning and teaching spaces at UTAS require the capability to display information by means of data projection and other display technology. Consideration and advice to the responsible organisational unit at the planning stage of allowable sight-lines and screen viewing distances is fundamental to the success of any learning and teaching space. Having these standards accepted and incorporated at the design stage forms a critical aspect to delivering an acceptable level of information display recognition by the viewer. Consideration must be given to the ability to view and interpret the information displayed from all areas of the learning and teaching space. These specifications form the nucleus of any design for learning and teaching spaces. The following guidelines on appropriate sight-lines and screen-viewing distances are to be considered when designing, refurbishing and upgrading any learning and teaching space: 4 (July, 2011)

5 The maximum viewing distance can be determined by the height of the screen, which will, in turn, determine the furthest allowable viewing position at a factor of 5.3. This is displayed as the following: Screen Height = the furthest allowable viewing position/5.3 The minimum viewing distance is determined by the closest viewer position (at the front row, centre). This position shall not be any closer than twice the screen height at that position. The maximum allowable horizontal viewing angle will be no more than 45 degrees to the centre sight-line of the screen. The maximum allowable vertical viewing angle will be no more than 15 degrees to the centre of the display measured from the front centre viewing position. The bottom edge of the screen shall be no less than 1.3 metres above the floor. The minimum ceiling height will be determined by the maximum viewing distance rule and the screen height above the floor. In learning and teaching spaces existing geometry may prevent this specification from being met. Consideration will need to be given to determining the best outcome for sight-lines and screen-viewing distance when refurbishing. Special provisions to meet this standard may be needed Vertical and horizontal projector placement Careful consideration needs to be given to the placement of the projector. The placement of the projector is determined by the following guidelines: The vertical position of the projector must not obstruct the view of the screen for any viewer in that space. The vertical and horizontal placement should adhere to the projector manufacturer s recommended vertical position. Use of key-stoning must be kept to a minimum. The placement of the projector must provide ease of access for the performance of maintenance and repairs. Consideration to reduce projection glare in lecturer s eyes. UTAS approved security mount must be used. In existing learning and teaching spaces current geometry may prevent this specification from being met. Consideration will need to be made to determining the best outcome for the viewing of information on these displays and special provisions to this standard may need to be met Minimum projector brightness The recommended projector brightness is determined by screen size, which, in turn, is proportional to the venue size. The following guidelines are to be taken into consideration when deciding minimum projector brightness: The targeted projected Lux for small to medium sized venues, where screen sizes are no more than 3.5 metres diagonally, must be no less than 500Lux, preferably 600+ Lux. The target projected Lux for larger venues, where screen sizes are more than 3.5 metres diagonally, must be no less than 315Lux, preferably 500+ Lux. These specifications will help to determine the correct projector for the venue and will help to identify the ANSI Lumens specification for that projector. In larger venues, reduction in ambient light at and around the screen will need to be considered to reduce loss of projected Lux on the screen. This is addressed in the Ambient light spill on projector screen provision of this Standard. 5 (July, 2011)

6 1.1.4 Minimum projector contrast ratio Contrast ratios will allow for the legibility of information that is projected on the screen from all viewing angles within the learning and teaching space. The following guidelines outline the minimum required contrast ratio: Text and numerals, when displayed on the projector screen, must meet an aspect ratio of 5:1. Photos, pictures and any graphical representation, when displayed on the projector screen, must meet a contrast ratio of 10:1. Videos must display on the projector screen at a contrast ratio of 25:1. These measurements are defined as the ratio between the measured values of incident light on the projection screen when outputting full field white and full field black. This takes into consideration all sources of light, both projected and ambient Projector, display and screen aspect ratio Due to the move away from 4:3 aspect ratios and the subsequent phasing out of the production and support of these devices, and the adoption of a high definition environment, the standard aspect ratio for displays in centrally-managed learning and teaching spaces will be a minimum of 16: Dual displays Centrally-managed learning and teaching spaces are to incorporate dual displays where practical and where this requirement is stipulated in the design process. The following guidelines detail the requirements for dual displays implementation: Dual projection with dual displays is a requirement for lecture theatres. Not all venues are able to meet these requirements and may need only one single projection, single image configuration. A variation to this provision can be sought from the project manager Flat panel technology Flat panel technologies can be implemented into small venues. These venues are defined by the Specific room types section of this standard. The following guidelines are to be followed for installation of flat panels: Placement is in accordance with all rules that govern the placement of projector screens, see Minimum projector brightness, Minimum projector contrast ratio, Vertical and horizontal projector placement, Sight lines and screen-viewing distances and Projector, display and screen aspect ratio. Flat panel technology is the preferred visual display in meeting rooms that perform videoconferencing functions. 1.2 Acoustical design in learning and teaching spaces Acoustical design is integral to providing a best practice solution. It is recommended that at the project design stage that an acoustic consultant be contracted to advise on and recommend the best possible solution Acoustic performance It is essential to the delivery of best acoustic performance that the acoustical design is considered when upgrading, refurbishing or designing any new or existing learning and teaching space. Acoustic performance in learning and teaching spaces must comply with the following Australian Standards: 6 (July, 2011)

7 AS/NZS 2107:2000 Acoustics Recommended design sound levels and reverberation times for building interiors AS/NZS ISO 717.1:2004 Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements- Airborne sound insulation. Acoustical performance must be measured using the Speech Transmission Index (STI). No learning and teaching space may score less than good with an STI less than 0.6. The desired score for acoustical performance for any venue is excellent with an STI of 1.0. The signal to noise ratio is to be kept to a minimum with a benchmark 25dB(A) to ensure audio intelligibility Ambient sound levels The level of ambient sound must be kept to a minimum. Conversely, a sound-dead room is to be avoided as well. Ambient noise generators such as air-conditioning units and mechanical delivery devices located near the learning and teaching space must be avoided or mitigated at best. Advice from the acoustic consultant must be adhered to in the design process of any new or existing space to deliver acceptable levels of ambient sound. The following guidelines detail the acceptable and best practice standards for ambient sound. The room types are defined as per the Specific Room Types section in this Standard: Room type: Lecture theatre (Tiered Teaching Spaces) must have a minimum ambient noise level of 45db(A) and a best practice level of 35dB(A) Room type: Classrooms (Flat Room Spaces) must have a minimum ambient noise level of 35db(A) and a best practice level of 30dB(A) Room type: Meeting Rooms (Videoconference/Board Rooms) must have a minimum ambient noise level of 40db(A) and a best practice level of 35dB(A) Room type: Flexible Teaching Spaces must have a minimum ambient noise level of 35db(A) and a best practice level of 30dB(A) Reverberation times Reverberation and all associated audio anomalies such as standing waves, early and late reflections need to be considered. The following guidelines, as defined by the Australian Standard AS , are to be considered to mitigate reverberation issues in these spaces. These are meant as general guidelines only as the RT60 will vary depending on room size: Room type: 50 seat classrooms will have a maximum reverberation time of 1.0 second and a best practice level of 0.7 seconds. Room type: Lecture theatres will have a maximum reverberation time of 1.0 second and a best practice level of 0.7 seconds Room type: Flexible teaching spaces will have a maximum reverberation time of 0.6 seconds and a best practice level of 0.4 seconds Room type: Conference and meeting rooms will have a maximum reverberation time of 0.7 seconds and a best practice level of 0.6 seconds The reduction of shiny surfaces, the use of sound traps and the mitigation of box or rectangular rooms and regular surfaces will reduce the occurrence of standing waves and alleviate most reverberation issues. Reverberation is unavoidable but measures need to be in place to minimise its effect, especially where it makes the delivery of audio un-intelligible. Technology-based solutions are available to address these issues, such as a focussed sound field solution through the use of array-style speaker systems. These solutions can be implemented only in the case where no other option is available. 7 (July, 2011)

8 1.3 Lighting design in learning and teaching spaces 8 (July, 2011) It is recommended that at the project design stage a lighting consultant is contracted to advise and recommend the best possible solution Relevant lighting standards Lighting is governed by the Australian and New Zealand Standards - AS/NZS 1680 for Lighting (as amended) and the government and building codes. The sections of the standard that must be adhered to are as follows: AS/NZS :2008 (as amended) Interior and workplace lighting - Specific applications - Circulation spaces and other general areas. AS/NZS :2008 (as amended) Interior and workplace lighting - Specific applications - Office and screen-based tasks. AS/NZS :2008 (as amended) Interior and workplace lighting - Specific applications - Educational and training facilities Lighting control and lighting zones Lighting will need to be controlled centrally through the AV control system. This will require the zoning of particular lights on particular circuits to allow control of the lighting. The following points detail the guidelines to follow when considering the implementation of lighting that will be controlled and zoned by the AV control system in supported UTAS learning and teaching spaces. The number of lighting zones will be dependent on the room type: Front lights and board lights that spill directly onto the screen and white board respectively. Directional lighting to illuminate the lectern position or other front of house task areas. This may incorporate the use of multiple lighting zones to cover larger venues front-of-house areas and/or task areas. These lights will not produce any spill on to the screen and will have the ability to control the beam onto the specific intended area. Aisle, step and emergency lights for venues that have steps and/or aisles. This is a legislative requirement (General Fire Regulations 2000 S.R. 2000, No. 236) and must be part of the design. Room lights depending on the size and purpose of the room and may have multiple zones to configure the room with differing levels of illumination in different areas of that room. All the zones that are to be controlled by the AV control system can either have a dimmable or switching function depending on the role of the lighting and the size of the venue. Task-specific lighting may be switchable, whereas room lighting will need to be dimmable. It is the responsibility of the appropriate organisational unit to provide, on recommendation from the lighting consultant, the correct light fittings with the capacity and compatibility to be controlled by the AV control system Ambient light spill on projector screen An acceptable amount of ambient light on the projector screen is determined by the dimensions of the room, ambient illumination measured on the screen and the projected versus ambient light ratio. The following guidelines provide acceptable ambient light measurements: The amount of ambient illumination on the screen in small venues will be no more than 100Lux maximum. The amount of ambient illumination on the screen in large venues will be no more than 60Lux maximum. Consideration must be given to light-coloured chattels, furniture and flooring near projection screens. These may inadvertently reflect an unacceptable level of ambient light onto the screen.

9 Consideration must also be given to the location of light-generating devices such as computer screens and document cameras near the projection screens, as these too might inadvertently reflect and/or project an unacceptable amount of ambient light onto the screen. It is a requirement that a lighting consultant be engaged to provide the best solution for lighting. Computer modelling at the design stage is to be undertaken to determine if the lighting designs will or will not provide acceptable levels of spill light on the projection screen and the designs must be amended accordingly until these provisions are met. External ambient light sources need to be controlled. Blinds and/or curtains are to be used to control ambient light sources. Motorised blinds and/or curtains are to be installed in all venues and must be integrated into the AV control system Target light level It is a requirement in learning and teaching spaces to have programmable lighting modes to accompany differing stages of room use. The following guidelines stipulate these modes and define what the lighting state is to be: Full - Full room lights. Entry and exit mode Lux. AV Slightly dimmed room lights. Appropriate task areas lights on. Front lights off. Projection and note taking mode. Min light level 240 Lux. Dimm Fully dimmed room lights. All other lights off. Projection mode Lux. Off No room lights. No other lights except aisle and step lights. Presentation mode Occupancy sensing The lighting system must have the capability to monitor occupancy in the room and perform accordingly. The following guidelines details the lighting system actions required for differing states of occupancy detection: Full room lights when triggered. This desired state is stipulated as Full in the Target light level provision. Turn off all lighting when no motion is detected after 90mins as per energy management requirements. The occupancy sensing is complementary to the AV control system and is to be integrated into, and must be compatible with, the Building Management System (BMS) to trigger events controlled by this system such as climate control Lighting control system and AV control system integration Lighting systems must integrate into the AV control system, the BMS and the Emergency Warning and Information System (EWIS). These systems can interface either by a serial or IP interface. The following guidelines outline the necessary functionality and compatibility of the lighting control system: The AV control system must be able to control all lighting and light control devices such as blinds and curtains. The lighting control system must be able to trigger BMS settings such as occupancy sensing and climate control. Integration of the lighting control system is to be considered at the design stage for any new or existing learning and teaching space to allow for the proper selection of a system that will meet all of these guidelines. 9 (July, 2011)

10 1.4 Audio system design in learning and teaching spaces 10 (July, 2011) At all stages of design for learning and teaching spaces, audio system design is of critical consideration and will have to deliver the best audio solution for these spaces. Audio system design and all associated equipment implemented must comply with performance and installation standards defined by: AS/NZS 60065:2003 & Amendment No. 1 (January 2008) Audio, video and similar electronic apparatus Safety requirements. AS Hearing Aids Magnetic Field strength in audio-frequency induction loops for hearing aid purposes. Disability (Access to Premises Buildings) Standards These standards will be complied with when considering the design, installation and maintenance of all audio systems Audio replay and voice reinforcement The capability of audio replay from all sources and voice reinforcement will be incorporated into larger classrooms and lecture theatres as set out in the Specific room type section in this standard. The following guidelines outline the requirements for audio replay and voice reinforcement: Rooms that are classified as learning and teaching spaces are to incorporate a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to allow for the dedication of the required outputs to MyMedia Service. Rooms classified only learning (tutorial) spaces will only require an Audio Relay capability. Voice reinforcement systems are to have at least four microphone input facilities. If there is a requirement for a hearing induction loop as specified in the Hearing augmentation and inductions loop provision, refer to the provision for details. Background sounds will be at least 20 decibels lower than foreground sounds, or approximately four times quieter than the foreground speech. Further technical specifications of the audio replay and voice reinforcement systems can be found in the Audiovisual equipment specification section of this standard Speaker system selection and placement Selection of speaker systems for implementation in learning and teaching spaces will vary from venue to venue depending on size and function. This relates to the actual audio design required to provide full audio coverage and high intelligibility of voice reinforcement to the listening area, for those spaces that require it. Provisions will need to be made at the acoustical design stage, with the assistance of computer modelling, to determine the correct number, the placement and technical specifications of the speakers to meet the requirements in this provision. The following is a set of guidelines that provide a framework to assist in the selection and placement of the speaker system: A targeted distribution of voice reinforcement at all listening positions at a minimum of 65dBA. A targeted distribution of audio replay at all listening positions at a minimum of 80dBA. Measurement of audio coverage is determined by the ANSI/INFOCOMM 1M-2009 Standard. Consideration of complementary speaker systems (distributed speakers or speaker arrays), depending on the venue s geometry and acoustical performance to provide compliance with audio coverage requirements. A minimum of two Front of House (FOH) speakers in all venues. Zoning and speaker delay systems to be considered where there are issues with FOH and distributed speaker systems providing an unintelligible amount of delay variation to the listening position.

11 Further technical specifications of the speaker systems can be found in the Audiovisual equipment specification section of this standard Audio mixing All audio mixing will be performed by the specified range of Digital Signal Processors (DSP) as outlined in the Audiovisual equipment specification section of this standard depending on room type as outlined in the Specific room type section of this standard. The following guidelines outline the functionality, compatibility and capability that the DSP will need to comply with: Must be programmable. Must provide network control capability. Must be able to communicate to the AV control system via an RS-232 or IP interface. Must provide the specified amount of inputs and outputs for that room specification. Must be able to perform audio dynamic processing, routing and mixing, a range of equalisation tasks, filtering and delay controls. All outputs need to be able to be independently controlled and have the above processing applied to them independent of all other outputs. Learning and teaching spaces that incorporate videoconference capability, will require the DSP to perform echo cancellation. Further technical specifications of the DSP can be found in the Audiovisual equipment specification section of this standard Power amplifiers High quality power amplifiers that match the power requirements of the speaker system are to be implemented in all learning and teaching spaces. The following guidelines outline the requirements for power amplifiers: 10dB headroom to handle peaks over unity gain to accommodate target audio replay requirements as stipulated by the Speaker system selection and placement provision in this Standard. Power amplifiers will carry a D class energy efficiency rating. The number of amplification channels is dependent on the number of speakers to be implemented in the venue. Further technical specifications of the power amplifier can be found in the Audiovisual equipment specification section of this standard Equipment installation All supported UTAS learning and teaching spaces audio systems will be installed in accordance with InfoComm AV Installation Handbook The Best Practices for Quality Audiovisual Systems and in particular sections 2.9 and 2.10 of this reference, and in accordance with any other relevant Australian Standards Hearing augmentation and induction loops Section 3 (Situations Requiring Hearing Augmentation) of AS (Communication for people who are deaf or hearing impaired) states that a meeting space of 100m2 or larger that includes a voice reinforcement system, must have a minimum of 80% of its floor space covered by an assistive listening system. The requirements for an induction loop are contained in AS The following guidelines stipulate the hearing augmentation and induction loop requirements: Induction loops must be installed in all rooms that have voice reinforcement systems. 11 (July, 2011)

12 The induction loop amplifiers must be able to monitor induction loops for faults and report back to the control system for fault flagging. Induction loops must be designed on a room-by-room basis with initial noise analysis being completed prior to design and the systems commissioned to appropriate legislative standard Grounding Audio systems are susceptible to interference caused by a range of issues that are a direct result of nongrounded equipment. The following guidelines outline the requirements for the grounding of equipment to mitigate nongrounded related audio interference: It is recommended that all audio equipment is connected to a single power supply with all equipment on a single phase with a star earthing arrangement. A technical earth is also appropriate in complex systems and is to be considered in the design phase. The equipment rack is to be grounded to provide a chassis earth for equipment. All equipment is to be of the balanced type for common mode rejection and reduction of interference from Radio Frequency (RF) and Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) sources. Unbalanced equipment is to be used for short wiring runs. Balancing transformers are to be used to balance the signal on longer runs. This provision is to be implemented on all applicable AV equipment Integration into EWIS All audio systems will need to be integrated into the EWIS. Advice should be sought from appropriate stakeholder and/or organisational unit to recommend the appropriate actions the audio system will require taking in such events. The following is a guideline for emergency-initiated actions that an audio system should take: Mute all sound. Enable playback of alarms and/or announcements. The appropriate fire/electrical engineer responsible for the administration of the EWIS must be consulted and their recommendations must be followed. 1.5 Lecture recording systems Lecture recording services via MyMedia Service are installed in a number of learning and teaching spaces throughout UTAS. It is possible that additional venues will have this capability in the future. Therefore, all learning and teaching spaces that incorporate voice reinforcement should be designed with the intention of these recording services being implemented Audio recording All recordings from venues via MyMedia Service consist of an audio component. Audio is normally received from the venue through a number of feeds from various devices. The following guidelines outline the requirements for audio system capabilities in order to be able to provide appropriate services to MyMedia Service: Professional line-level audio input with bare wire termination for direct wiring of stereo balanced (non-powered) or unbalanced audio (+4dBu/1.228Vrms/1.737Vpk signal) 12 (July, 2011)

13 1.5.2 Screen capture 13 (July, 2011) The majority of recording from venues via MyMedia Service contain screen capture (a visual feed + audio feed), that is typically captured from the data projector. This normally includes house computer screen, local (laptop) computer screen, document camera, and/or other similar content players. The following guidelines outline the current requirements for the video system capabilities to be able to integrate with MyMedia Service: VGA feed in supported capture resolutions only o 800x600 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1024x768 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1280x700 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1280x720 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1280x768 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1280x800 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1280x Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1366x800 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1440x900 60Hz, 70Hz, 72Hz, 75Hz, 85Hz o 1680x Hz o 1920x Hz o 1920x Hz. The following guidelines outline the preferred requirements for the video system capabilities to be able to integrate with MyMedia Service: Capture input resolutions from 640x480 to 1920x1200 (Scaled to the H.264 standard of 1088 maximum number of lines) All input aspect ratios supported Digital or analogue input via DVI-I connector, passively adaptable to VGA or HDMI input Camera provision MyMedia Service can also record a video feed (lecturer or other video content). The following guidelines outline the current minimal requirements for the camera capture capabilities for MyMedia Service: Analogue (composite) video input NTSC or PAL. The following guidelines outline the preferred requirements for the camera capture capabilities for MyMedia Service: Digital (HDMI) or Analogue (composite) video input NTSC or PAL Full Screen (4:3) standard definition input resolutions from QCIF to D1 Widescreen (16:9) high definition input resolution from 480p to 1080p Dual screen recording MyMedia Service can provide dual visual feed recording functionality. Currently it only facilitates a screen + video feed. From 2012 onwards dual screen recording will be possible. The use of dual visual

14 14 (July, 2011) feed recordings is currently low, but requirements for this functionality (and AV equipment to support it) may increase in the future and hence be provided for. 1.6 Whiteboards and writing surfaces Though annotation capabilities via the AV control system is said to supersede whiteboards, it will still be a requirement to have writing surfaces and, as such, these should be viewed as complementary to annotation technology Standard specifications and board height The following guidelines outline the general specification of whiteboards and the optimal placement height above the floor: All writing surfaces are to be whiteboards with surfaces of enamel on steel. The bottom edge of the rear board will be no higher than 0.9 metres and no lower than 0.85 metres Multiple sliding boards There may be a requirement in some venues to have multiple sliding boards to allow for projection space when not in use. The following guidelines specify how multiple sliding boards are to be installed: The bottom edge of the rear board will be no higher than 0.9 metres and no lower than 0.85 metres. Multiple sliding boards will consist of no more than three boards Board lighting Board lighting is to be designed so that boards are able to be viewed and are legible from all viewing angles. The following guidelines set out the requirement for board lighting: Board lighting to be zoned separately. No or little spill from this lighting shall impact on the projector screen and adversely affect the ambient lighting provision. Be able to provide 300Lux vertically without causing glare for the viewer. Please refer to the Lighting control and lighting zoning provision of this standard for further information about board lighting. 1.7 Centralisation and structured cabling systems All future design of new and redesign of existing learning and teaching spaces will adopt the centralisation approach for AV equipment and infrastructure. This relates to the removal of non-user interactive AV equipment from within the venue (usually under the lectern) to a Floor Communication Room (FCR) and the implementation of structured cabling systems. It is designed to utilise Unshielded Twisted Pair Technology (UTP) structured cabling and to communicate to AV equipment and devices via Internet Protocol (IP) or similar AV protocols. This will provide the following benefits to the AV infrastructure and function: Greater flexibility through the use of structured cabling systems and the ability for future expansion without the restraint of space. Greater security for AV equipment. Improved ability to integrate with other systems, audiovisual and non-audiovisual. Increase reliability of equipment e.g. cooling, dust reduction and power supply issues, including Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) in case of power outage. Ease of management for maintenance, upgrade servicing and auditing. Future proofing as in-field equipment takes on more of a plug and play approach towards interaction with AV equipment over the structured cabling system.

15 Meets sustainability requirements as less energy will be used where single devices can service multiple venues. This section is intended as a guide for the future of AV infrastructure at UTAS. The ideas discussed in this section cannot necessarily be matched with technology and/or current funding, however, the concept is to have in place the cabling so when the technology is available, costs are acceptable and funding available, the infrastructure is in place Audiovisual centralisation approach To accommodate a centralised approach, as many AV components as possible are to be locate within the FCR. The approach is to locate all non-user-interactive equipment within the FCR. This non-userinteractive equipment, to be located in the FCR, is detailed in the following guidelines: Control processors Switchers Codecs DSP Lecture recording systems Audio mixers Amplifiers, if less than 30 metres to speakers. Standard AV equipment that requires direct user interaction such as projectors, display screens, content players and the house computer will be mounted according to normal conditions in each room. If an amplifier is more than 30 metres away from the speakers then the location of the amplifier will be either in the ceiling space on a custom bracket with a clearly marked access panel or, where there is a local AV rack present, mounted in that Centralisation exceptions Exceptions should only be authorised where one of the following conditions are present: Only intended as a temporary setup In a small building without a dedicated communications room In a single stand-alone AV space without IT infrastructure In a single small AV space within a building with little likelihood of any form of expansion unless via a full internal refurbishment project. All steps need to be taken to accommodate the need for AV centralisation but in some cases these exceptions can be made Signal delivery and cabling Signal delivery for centralised AV will run over structured communications cabling with the preferred method being UTP, incorporating the use of existing IP networks present in most venues. Structured cabling design needs to take into account any AV cabling requirements additional to traditional network communications including: Patch panels within AV racks linking them to patch frames. Wall mounted outlets for field devices such as wall plates, displays and small racks with interactive devices or amplifiers. Floor box outlets used by laptops, microphones and amplifiers. Ceiling or in-ceiling mounted outlets for devices such as speakers, amplifiers, projectors and microphones. Cabling must meet stringent manufacturer standards to eliminate interference from external sources. 15 (July, 2011)

16 All outlets should be installed and terminated in accordance with the relevant structured cabling standards and are not required to be differentiated for AV use during installation as every outlet should be able to handle both AV and IP signals UTP converters The type of UTP converters chosen need to be matched between the transmitter and receiver ends for an optimised solution. The following guidelines are to be followed when considering UTP converters types: The ability to convey the signal over the distance to the centralised AV equipment and back to the venue without data or performance loss. Demonstrate a long life cycle and be compatible with emerging and future technology. Designed to be able to convert and carry audio, visual and control data from all sources. Demonstrate the ability to integrate with existing network infrastructure. Ability to carry high definition visual signals over the required distance to and from the FCR and local room without a discernable loss in data and/or performance. Incorporate auto skew elimination for visual data paths. The implementation of UTP structured cabling and the use of FCR requires the rack-mounted equipment (matrix switches/switches) to be UTP based. This will eliminate the requirement for the signals travelling back from the local room to be converted, processed and then re-converted back to the UTP protocol and sent back to the local room Power management, climate control and risk mitigation Due to the nature of AV centralisation it is possible to apply power management to all devices in-house. With the use of UPS, in the case of power outages, the venues that have centralised AV equipment can still deliver a service. This provides the added benefit in emergencies allowing the AV equipment that is incorporated into the EWIS to display appropriate advice to those venues. The follow considerations need to be taken into account when designing centralised AV installations to mitigate risk and incorporate power management: All AV equipment, in local room and in FCR, must be connected to a UPS and be able to deliver service in case of outage. Contractors who are responsible for the installation of the network infrastructure need to conform to the AV equipment and especially the UTP converter standards to deliver the appropriate level of service. AV equipment in the FCR needs to have a dedicated power circuit and not share this with any other non-av devices. FCRs require cooling to mitigate the risk of overheating. As most IT node rooms meet this requirement, this should be taken into consideration if the introduction of AV equipment into these spaces exceeds the allowable operating temperatures. There is an inherent risk of the poor delivery of AV services to venues if manufacturer s standards are not met when implementing centralised AV equipment. 1.8 Specific room types Learning and teaching spaces come in different sizes and shapes and serve different uses. The following section deals with the specific room types and the AV requirement for these spaces. The definitions of the room types conform to terminology used throughout UTAS, in particular timetabling, to reduce confusion over the specific room type and use. 16 (July, 2011)

17 In practical terms there are four room types: They are Lecture Theatres (Tiered teaching spaces) Classrooms (Flat room spaces) Meeting rooms (Videoconference rooms) and Flexible teaching spaces. These room types will be referenced against the UTAS terminology for teaching spaces. 17 (July, 2011) The following provisions are designed to identify the AV equipment for these spaces separately Lecture theatres (tiered teaching spaces) scope The AV system in lecture theatres must provide the following levels of functionality. Lectern and control: Fixed lectern as per UTAS standard Occupancy sensors Interactive AV control interface integrated with lighting, audio and visual devices Lectern light with separate control from AV control system Service Desk direct dialling phone Remote AV system monitoring. Lighting Full control via the AV control system by user Separate control of lighting zones Automated control of lighting system to reflect differing projection states. IT and computing Lectern-mounted computer with adjustable monitor and network connections Separate monitor for display of other sourced content (Document Camera, DVD, Videoconference) 2 x USB (minimum) ports for user interaction Laptop connection point, on lectern, incorporating power, video (VGA), audio (RCA) and Ethernet port Wireless network coverage. Projection and display Dual fixed projectors displaying minimum 10:1 Projectors are to be WUXGA Appropriate measures to secure projector Preview monitor screen (as stipulated in the IT and computing section of this provision) Video signal processing and switching Whiteboards. Content players and imaging devices Multi format and multi zone content players for replay of video, DVD and audio sources Document camera AUX inputs for portable video equipment. Audio Voice reinforcement and program replay systems EWIS muting interface Lectern mounted gooseneck microphone Lapel microphone

18 Handheld microphone Hearing Augmentation and Induction Loop Appropriate sound proofing measures. Recording Lecture recording as per Lecture recording systems specification of this standard Image capture from all projected sources Desired (future) camera capture of lecturer. Videoconferencing 18 (July, 2011) If required, should conform and meet the requirements of the Videoconference section and provisions of this standard Class rooms (flat floor spaces) scope Lectern and control Either fixed or moveable lectern with suitable cable management Occupancy sensors Interactive AV Control interface integrated with lighting, audio and visual devices Lectern light with separate control from AV control system Service Desk direct dialling phone Remote AV system monitoring. Lighting Full control via the AV control system by user Separate control of lighting zones Automated control of lighting system to reflect differing projection states. IT and computing Lectern mounted PC with adjustable monitor and network connections Separate monitor for display of other sourced content (Document Camera, DVD, Videoconference) 2 x USB (minimum) ports for user interaction Laptop connection point, on lectern, incorporating power, video (VGA), audio (RCA) and Ethernet port Wireless network coverage. Projection and display Dual fixed projectors displaying at least 16:9 aspect Projectors are to be HD (WXGA) Appropriate security measure to secure projector Preview monitor screen (as stipulated in the IT and Computing section of this provision) Video signal processing and switching Whiteboards (wall mounted or mobile). Content players and imaging devices Multi format and multi zone content players for replay of video, DVD and audio sources Document camera Audio Voice reinforcement and program replay systems EWIS muting interface Lectern mounted gooseneck microphone

19 Lapel microphone Hearing Augmentation and Induction Loop Appropriate sound proofing measures. Recording Lecture recording as per lecture recording specification of this standard Image capture from all projected sources Desired (future) camera capture of lecturer. Videoconferencing If required, should conform and meet the requirements of the Videoconference section and provisions of this standard Meeting rooms (videoconference rooms if required) scope Please refer to the Videoconference provision of this standard Flexible teaching spaces scope Lectern and control Either fixed or moveable lectern with suitable cable management Entry and Exit switches and/or occupancy sensors Interactive AV control interface integrated with lighting, audio and visual devices Lectern light with separate control from AV control system Alternative AV control points throughout the space to allow flexibility within the space Ability to zone areas for audio and visual presentations throughout the venue Service Desk direct dialling phone Remote AV system monitoring. Lighting Full control via the AV control system by user Separate control of lighting zones Automated control of lighting system to reflect differing projection states The ability to accommodate zoned teaching areas within these spaces. IT and computing Lectern mounted computer with adjustable monitor and network connections 2 x USB (minimum) ports for user interaction Laptop connection point, on lectern, incorporating power, video (VGA), audio (RCA) and Ethernet port Wireless network coverage Incorporation of pod computer units throughout the space that are mobile and are able to be connected into the AV system via wall mounted connection points. Projection and display Fixed projectors displaying at least 16:9 aspect ratio and with at least a minimum of 1080p resolution Number of projectors and location throughout the space are defined by the design of the space Ability to project from different zones, sources and content Appropriate security measure to secure projectors Projector to automatically switch between 4:3 to 16:9 as required Video signal processing and switching 19 (July, 2011)

20 Whiteboards (wall mounted or mobile). Content players and imaging devices Multi format and multi zone content players for replay of video, DVD and audio sources Document camera(s) AUX inputs for portable video equipment. Audio Voice reinforcement and program replay systems EWIS muting interface Ability to zone audio in different teaching areas of this space Lectern mounted gooseneck microphone Lapel microphone Handheld microphone Hearing Augmentation and Induction Loop (if required) Appropriate sound proofing measures. Recording Lecture recording as per lecture recording specification of this standard Image capture from all projected sources Desired (future) camera capture of lecturer. Videoconferencing If required, should conform and meet the requirements of the Videoconference section and provisions of this standard. 1.9 Audiovisual equipment specifications The following outlines a standardised list of equipment and specifications for AV equipment in learning and teaching spaces. Due to the rapid change of technology this list should be considered as minimum requirements when deciding on equipment. This section is open to amendments and may change in accordance with the normal review process Projection screens The following guidelines outline the minimum requirements for projection screens: Screen to be matt white fibreglass surface, with 50mm black boarder. All screens to be in 16:10 format unless noted. Where the geometry of the room will accommodate, fixed frame screens are the preference. Tutorial rooms may require chain drive screens and motorised screens are required where the screen is over 100 size or cannot be accessed by the user. Motorised screens are to be top roller type up to 200, for over 200 a bottom roller is also required. Special application screens may be required for special purpose spaces that will include high gain or rear projections surfaces. In these cases it is up to the discretion of the project manager to provide advice on the implementation of these projection surfaces Data projectors General minimum specification The following guidelines are minimum requirements for any data projector deployed in any learning and teaching space. Suitable for permanent installation and continuous use 20 (July, 2011)