Divine Video System Design

Research and Develop a Plan Based on Available Technology

Once a baseline has been established and the desired functionality is outlined, it is often necessary to research product alternatives to determine suitable vendors and product lines. In some cases this involves the specification of a designated suite of products, while other clients prefer to define product functionality and leave the product selection to project bidders.

In either case, it is important to do some work up front and make sure your design reflects the overall desires of the client. This can range from current state-of-the-art technologies to “tried and true,” but should reflect choices that are up to date. If you are designing a system that will be bid by others, there’s nothing worse than specifying equipment that is no longer made or has been replaced with products that perform better for less cost.

Based on your research and meetings with the client, you will develop product and design recommendations and alternatives that meet the specific needs of the project, including future expansion capabilities. This should include reviewing architectural and engineering drawings specific to the site and making recommendations for changes or clarifications.

It is also helpful to assist the architect, general contractor and electrical contractor with the design of compatible systems (facility lighting, acoustical treatments, etc.) to address operational concerns of the system.

System Specifications Round Out Comprehensive RFP Bid Package

A design is essentially a roadmap of what equipment should be used, where it will be placed, and how it will be interconnected. If this is to be turned into a working system, ultimately it boils down to drawings and documents.

You will need to develop a preliminary system design and the materials necessary to communicate that design to other parties to ensure coordination of trades, as well as to the folks who will procure and install the system.

CAD drawings, schedules, transition plans and timelines are some of the surefire techniques to assure a smooth, thorough project process. For more on using these tools and methods to document your design, see the sidebar.

The final document is your system specification. When included with the aforementioned documents, it represents a fairly comprehensive design package that is often used as a request for proposal (RFP) bid package. As such, this system specification document includes more than just equipment definitions. It should outline system operational parameters and typical products required to meet these requirements.

The specification document can be defined by a number of sections: Introduction — Defines terms used in the document and often provides some background information on the project to familiarize the reader with overall project goals. This is followed by instructions for prospective bidders if it is part of a RFP package, and an overall “scope of work” that provides a project overview and definition of services required. It also goes on to describe requirements for training, warranty, documentation and other project parameters.

General requirements — The next section is something of a catchall that defines the required manufacturer experience, any particular software licensing concerns, cable and connector requirements (also outlined on a schedule), and overall fit and finish. This section also describes installation quality as best as possible, as well as placement of devices and other aesthetic concerns we had previously identified.

Equipment and subsystems— This section will include generic specifications that define the minimum acceptable standards for each type of equipment required. While occasionally there are components that are sole-sourced, for the most part it is best to allow the integrator to meet the functionality with
a variety of quality products.

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