Ridgefield Emergency Operations

The facility name and identifying details have been changed at the client's request, for security reasons. 

Technology reached an inflection point. Large format displays (LFDs) and large monitors, including 49-inch curved ultrawide monitors, hit price points that made them accessible for municipal budgets. Leadership secured funding for a monitor and display technology refresh, with an agreement that the new devices would supplement existing equipment, not entirely replace it. The facility's varied monitor inventory, accumulated across multiple purchasing cycles, would stay in service alongside the new screens.

This dual requirement reflected fiscal responsibility and operational pragmatism. Some legacy applications simply work better on traditionally proportioned displays; wholesale replacement would have created unnecessary complications. The upgrade needed to add capability without disrupting established workflows or forcing operators to abandon tools that still served their purpose.

Atdec's modular mounting system addressed these requirements through design flexibility rather than predetermined configurations. 

The solution included:

• Custom monitor arm configurations for multi-monitor consoles, in single and dual-layer arrangements. 
• A small number of individual components to create each of the custom setups, to simplify installation and - later - reconfiguration. 
• Smooth ergonomic adjustment of monitors throughout their shifts without tools or interrupting active calls. 
• Flexibility to align monitors of varying sizes and models into cohesive viewing arrangements.
• Wall mounting systems for large format awareness displays positioned for multi-operator visibility. 

The modular approach mattered for rapid deployment. Installers could preconfigure mounting assemblies to match documented workstation requirements, then execute desk-by-desk installation during available windows. 

Overall, the operators gained the workspace they'd advocated for. 

The 49-inch curved ultrawides improved parallel viewing of dispatch software, mapping systems, and communication interfaces without the cognitive overhead of window management during critical incidents. Each dispatcher could arrange their application suite according to their processing preferences, then adjust display positions throughout their shift as fatigue patterns emerged or incident intensity changed.

Legacy monitors alongside new displays created graduated capability rather than wholesale replacement waste. Applications suited to traditional aspect ratios stayed on appropriate screens while new large-format displays handled data-dense interfaces that benefited from expanded real estate. This coexistence extended equipment lifecycle while delivering ergonomic and operational benefits where they mattered most.

Wall mounted displays expanded information sharing. Rather than each operator maintaining isolated awareness of city-wide conditions, shared visual references created situational intelligence that informed decision making across the operations floor with simplified verbal confirmation.

Command and control environments resist console uniformity by nature. Roles differ, applications vary, even operators in identical positions develop distinct workflow preferences shaped by training, experience, and how they process information. Imposing uniform workspace configurations onto this diversity creates friction that degrades performance when performance matters most.

Modular mounting systems acknowledge this reality and enable the workspace to conform to the user rather than forcing users to adapt to predetermined configurations. When technology evolves and new display formats or application requirements emerge, the same modular infrastructure adapts through component substitution rather than wholesale replacement.

For facilities under continuous-use constraints, this adaptability extends beyond initial installation. Future upgrades happen incrementally; individual workstations can receive new components during normal operational rotation without facility-wide disruption. The mounting infrastructure becomes a stable foundation for evolving technology rather than a constraint requiring periodic replacement.

The driving force of front line operators was central to the project's success. Dispatchers and operators understood their requirements better than any external consultant could; leadership's decision to act on that expertise produced a solution aligned with operational reality rather than differing entirely to theoretical best practices.

The phased installation approach, though operationally necessary, provided unexpected benefits. Early workstation deployments generated user feedback that informed subsequent installations, allowing refinements before the full facility received equipment. This approach reduced risk while maintaining operational continuity.

Budget constraints that initially seemed limiting ultimately produced a more sustainable outcome. Preserving functional legacy equipment while adding targeted new capability created an environment where operators could choose appropriate tools for specific tasks rather than forcing all applications onto identical displays regardless of suitability.

Command and control upgrades don't require operational shutdown or wholesale replacement. Modular mounting solutions, implemented with user input and phased deployment, can transform high-pressure environments while respecting fiscal constraints and operational continuity. When infrastructure adapts to users rather than the reverse, technology serves its proper purpose - enabling better decisions when seconds matter.