Pasadena, Texas
Ford AV delivered a technology transformation for the City of Pasadena’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), modernizing the space into a premier command center. This renovation replaced legacy projection systems with a fully integrated digital ecosystem designed to support rapid decision-making during high-stakes city operations. This highlights Ford AV’s ability to manage complex, multi-departmental government upgrades while delivering the reliability required for 24/7 situational awareness.
Increasing Situational Awareness with Precision Engineering
The central focus of the EOC renovation was the engineering and installation of a massive, high-impact video wall. Ford AV replaced aging projectors and screens with an array of thirty 55-inch Samsung commercial displays. This configuration stretches approximately 40 feet wide and 9 feet high. From real-time traffic feeds to disaster response, the display system ensures city departments have a unified view of the data.
“The video wall is the centerpiece of our operations. It gives us the ability to monitor multiple sources of information simultaneously, which is critical during a full-scale activation of the EOC.”
— Andrew, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Pasadena
Engineering such a large-scale display required coordination with the facility’s structural teams. Because the video wall carries significant weight and generates heat, Ford AV implemented specialized mounting systems and ensured precision power placement for each panel. Every display was calibrated for color uniformity and alignment, reducing eye strain for operators working long shifts.
Secure and Scalable AV Distribution for Emergency Operations Centers
Beyond the video wall, Ford AV implemented an AV over IP distribution system with a Crestron NVX backbone. This transition from traditional analog to a digital network allows the city to route approximately 20 different source signals. The system integrates the main EOC floor with surrounding conference rooms, the dispatch center, and community rooms. This enables content sharing across the entire municipal facility. This IP-based architecture provides ultra-low latency and 4K signal integrity, which is vital for monitoring high-resolution GIS maps or live surveillance feeds.
The choice of Crestron NVX also addresses the security requirements inherent in government operations. By leveraging the city’s existing IT infrastructure, Ford AV created a secure network that prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data feeds while allowing IT staff to manage the system remotely. The modular nature of the system means it can integrate new data sources or remote communication tools into the network without requiring a hardware overhaul.
Human-Centric Integration for High-Pressure Environments
In an active Emergency Operations Center, the acoustic environment is just as critical as the visual one. Ford AV integrated an audio ecosystem featuring Shure microphones and advanced digital signal processing (DSP) to ensure speech intelligibility throughout the room. During a full-scale activation, the EOC hosts representatives from IT, finance, public works, and volunteer organizations like the Red Cross. The audio system filters out ambient noise and facilitates clear communication between these groups, ensuring critical commands and updates are heard accurately even during the chaotic peaks of an emergency response.
The room’s control interface was designed with the end-user in mind, focusing on making decisions under pressure. Ford AV’s intuitive touch-panel interfaces allow operators to change the video wall layout or audio routing with a single command. These presets allow the room to pivot from a daily monitoring mode to a full-scale disaster response configuration in seconds. By automating the technical complexity of the room, city leaders focus on strategy and community safety rather than troubleshooting hardware.
A Foundation for Future-Ready Emergency Management
By moving to a fully digital, networked environment, Pasadena has effectively future-proofed its emergency operations for the next generation. The scalability of the AV over IP framework ensures the city can incorporate emerging technologies, such as drone-based surveillance, AI-driven data analytics, or advanced security system upgrades, as they become available. Ford AV continues to provide ongoing support and training for city staff, ensuring the system remains at peak operational readiness. This commitment to long-term value ensures the EOC will remain a premier example of public safety technology for years to come.
“Our EOC continues to be viewed as a premier operations center, thanks to the design and ongoing support provided by the Ford AV team.”
— Andrew, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Pasadena
Partner with America’s Leading AV Technology Company
- Government AV Upgrades – Ford AV brings decades of experience to command centers, emergency operations, and municipalities.
- Flexible and Resilient Operational Environments – Our AV solutions are for high-stakes environments that require real-time monitoring and secure content sharing.
- Nationwide Installation and Lifecycle Support – Local teams backed by a comprehensive national network of engineers and technicians, we ensure consistent execution and long-term support.
- Trusted by Leading Cities and Agencies – Our history of success in mission-critical environments makes us the first choice for leaders.
Planning your next emergency operations center or public safety technology upgrade? Partner with Ford AV for solutions that enhance operations, improve community safety, and support disaster response.
