The Media Center is dedicated to supporting the Situation Unit Leader, Plan Development Unit
Leader, Operations as needed, and the Joint Information Center (JIC) Information Officer.
Tasks include having large format maps and photos of the coastline and sensitive areas
premade for immediate display in the Information Center. These drawings can be quickly
altered to reflect the current existing situation. In house capability includes
Macintosh Adobe graphics production and a HP 755 CM DesignJet large format color printer
capable of producing graphics up to 3 ft. x 9 ft. in size. Preproduced, altered, scanned,
or CD Rom and Digital Camara input can be produced for use by Operations and Planning.
The Joint Information Center (JIC) may request large format presentation materials
for a press conference. Imagery may be loaded onto the CIC Website for pass code viewing
via the net.
A second but no less important task for this room is to bring near real time, real world
information into the spill center from the field. This information is then displayed
throughout the Spill Center on large format televisions running "S" video format.
All manner of information media can be brought into the center. Digital imagery can be
brought in via the internet or direct modem. Digital camera images stored on PCMCIA
disks or the newer "photo" cards can be loaded directly into the computer for large scale
printing and/or television viewing. Video in VHS or Hi-8 format can be immediately
loaded and shown on the television network. The capability is in place to video tape up
to 4 different news broadcasts simultaneously for rebroadcast to the JIC and Unified
Command. Live presentation from cable can be shown throughout the spill center. The
television distribution network consists of 6 medium and large format televisions
that are driven by "S" Video feed from a Extron Matrix 8 x 8 (8 channels in x 8
channels out) switcher. We have the ability to show 8 different
programs to selected televisions at the same time. For example those televisions directed
to the JIC and the Unified Command may be watching a compilation tape of the latest news
reports. The WAR Room and Training Room may be watching a digital
image photo slide show of current field operations. The purpose of this capability is to
bring the visual reality of current field operations into the command center for the benefit
of the management team. Within two hours of the beginning of an event, near real time digital
imagery may be continually supplied to the center even for events on the neighbor islands.
