It can now be revealed that Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series for audiovisual distribution has been installed for the $646m upgrade of Cardiff University’s STEM environments, in Wales, the UK. Over the past year, Cardiff University has partnered with GVAV to integrate the technology, which is designed to enhance collaboration, learning and information flow between educators and students across various buildings, including the schools of healthcare, engineering, and maths and computer science.
The investment will introduce a wide array of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programmes, which leverage innovative teaching methods and provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. GVAV, a European integration firm, integrated an AVoIP system to unite the audiovisual components and offer a scalable, flexible solution for AV distribution. This system utilises IP technology to distribute audio and video signals across each area.
Visionary PacketAV Matrix Series, specifically the E4100 and E4200 encoders, capture audio and video signals from the facility’s input sources. The system includes a total of 55 encoders, including 27 E4200 encoders designated for lectern and learning pods, two E4100 encoders replicating the main 86in Clevertouch Screen, and 26 D4100 decoders units for the learning pod displays.
As each display required the ability to receive two local inputs and one wireless source, they were equipped with the E4200 model, which supports two HDMI and USB-C input sources. The technology setup includes control systems, cameras, audio equipment and other standard AV components typical of such environments.
Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series provides real-time transport of audio and video over IP networks. It supports current technology standards, including Dante, AES67, H.264 and others.
The project has been ongoing for a year, with the most recent deployments being in the school of maths and computer science. The first installation was last year, when Cardiff University relocated the school of healthcare to the Heath Park West site, incorporating the PacketAV Matrix Series. This installation, solely focusing on AV and IT, amounted to a substantial investment of £2.5m. Its success encouraged the university to continue with its plan.
Pete Dunsire, senior project manager AV/IT for Cardiff University, said: “We integrated the PacketAV Matrix Series into the school of healthcare alongside a smart system with training mannequins to simulate a healthcare environment. The patient data is seamlessly transmitted from hospital beds and mannequins to a control room via smart cameras.”
He added: “Additionally, the PacketAV Matrix Series has been deployed in other buildings onsite, including the school of engineering, with two installations already in place. Additionally, our recent project involves the school of maths and computer science, where the success of previous implementations has led to the adoption of the PacketAV Matrix Series.”
Dunsire concluded: “The PacketAV Matrix Series has revolutionised information flow, facilitating information from educators to students and students to students to foster collaboration….Specific to the STEM classrooms, this innovative design now includes 12 independent work zones, allowing groups of students to pursue diverse projects simultaneously. This setup empowers students to exchange ideas within the classroom environment freely and, as a result, redefined teaching dynamics, particularly for engineering students, opening up new opportunities of learning and collaboration.”