The UAE University is located in the city of Al Ain, an oasis city 140 km east of the capital city of Abu Dhabi. The new campus features modern architecture and zones for specialized research centers, leading- edge IT network infrastructure, classrooms and labs that feature the latest equipment and instructional technology to enhance student learning. The Campus provides accommodation for 6,696 students, who enjoy a full range of organised campus activities and events. This adds a unique educational value and vibrant dimension to each student’s academic program.
The modernity of the campus includes the use of cutting-edge audio-visual technologies that extend to classrooms, computer labs, online instruction, and on-campus special events. The IP-based AV technologies include projection, lighting, conferencing equipment and related system servers including classroom, IPTV, digital signage and presentations.
The
Solution.
Rashed Al Mazroui for Technology and Information Supplies (RAMCO), a leading system integrator of IT/IP solutions covering a wide range of industry sectors and businesses, was instrumental to the design and deployment of Exterity’s IPTV and digital signage solutions at UAEU. RAMCO is a part of Al Mazroui Group, a strong and efficient organisation of 14 companies specializing in IT and electro-mechanical systems that have delivered several high-profile projects including data center solutions, Network infrastructure, IP based telephony and video systems, low current security and surveillance systems.
As Hisham Hershi, General Manager for RAMCO IT Dubai explains: “The project at UAEU required a reliable and proven solution that could cope with a wide variety of use cases including IP video in the halls of residence, digital signage across the campus, plus live capture and streaming of lectures and Video-on-Demand.”
“Our choice of Exterity as the main video technology was based on its ability to meet all of these use cases along with its reliability that had been proven within similar university campuses. We also had a trusted relationship with the Exterity team based in Dubai, which supported us across the project,” says Hershi.
RAMCO initially installed an IPTV service offering live TV and VoD channels for common areas within 30 hall of residence buildings across the city. Exterity technology also powers digital signage content on around 250 screens within the campus, which are used to help direct visitors and within classrooms for video-based teaching.
The
Result.
Hershi added: “The University Arab Emirates University is always looking for reliable, secure and flexible systems. This is why it chose Exterity’s IPTV/Digital signage system. Exterity’s system has proven invaluable recording and displaying live classes and conference across a multi-campus environment. We were also greatly impressed by Exterity’s highly qualified and committed support team”
One of the most important features of the Exterity IP video and digital signage system is as part of the campus-wide emergency alerting systems. The 500 screens, including the 250 used for digital signage, can be accessed in real time to deliver urgent messages to staff, students and visitors. The Exterity solutions are also used within the VoD system. This enables students to view recorded lectures that can also be streamed across the campus or the internet as part of distance learning initiatives.
Hazem Abdel Razek, AV System Specialist for UAEU adds: “RAMCO and Exterity have delivered an IP video and digital signage solution that has been well received by both staff and students and we look forward to working closely with them both in the future as the system evolves.”
