What the acronyms mean and why integrating them matters
Modern buildings and campuses depend on many technical systems. Systems integration is the work of making those systems function as one. Four terms come up again and again.
AV: audio-visual
Displays, projection, sound, video walls and conferencing. AV is what people see and hear in meeting rooms, lobbies and control rooms.
ELV: extra-low voltage
The low-power systems that keep a building safe and connected, for example CCTV, access control, fire alarm, public address and structured cabling.
ICT: information and communication technology
Networks, Wi-Fi, servers and communications. ICT carries the data that AV and ELV systems produce and use.
Datacenters
The facilities where servers, storage and network equipment run, with the power, cooling and resilience they need.
Why integrate them?
- One network and one management view instead of separate islands.
- Fewer faults, faster troubleshooting and clearer accountability.
- Room to grow: new displays, sensors or services plug into a design that was planned for them.
Questions to ask a contractor
- Which standards will the design follow, and who signs it off?
- What documentation will we receive at handover?
- Who supports the systems after go-live, and how quickly do they respond?
Our smart systems integration team delivers turnkey and bespoke projects for smart cities and urban transformation. Contact us to discuss yours.