Customer Stories
Al Kamel Systems Builds Racetrack Control Room Solution at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Matrox Video Wall Technology
Al Kamel Systems, a leading provider of motorsport technology, has revolutionized race control monitoring with Matrox Video’s powerful video wall technology. At Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a racetrack known for hosting Formula 1, MotoGP, WEC, WorldSBK, and European Le Mans Series races, Al Kamel Systems deployed a robust video wall solution using Matrox Video technology to create a seamless, real-time decision-making environment in the race control room, setting a new standard for efficiency and precision in high-speed event management.
Background
With over 20 years of experience, Al Kamel Systems (AKS) is an established name in motorsport timing and technology. Known for their in-house developed software and custom-built solutions, AKS has provided turnkey systems for top-tier championships and circuits worldwide. Their timing software, AKS Timing Manager, is known as a reliable and versatile timing system globally, capable of handling events across diverse racing environments. AKS had worked with Matrox Video in the past, leveraging other products for video transport and other workflows. When it came time to find a reliable partner capable of meeting their standards for racetrack monitoring, choosing Matrox Video was an easy decision.
Challenges
AKS’s goal for this project was to build a high-performance, real-time control room at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya capable of overseeing every aspect of the racetrack. Key challenges included integrating and displaying 44 HD CCTV camera feeds at 60 fps, managing eight IPTV streams, and ensuring a synchronized, high-resolution view across 18 screens in the race control room. This setup needed to provide instant visibility of track conditions, incidents, and other critical events, all of which demanded a powerful and reliable solution for real-time decision-making.
Solution
To meet these demands, AKS implemented a sophisticated video wall solution centered on Matrox Video products. The setup included:
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Matrox QuadHead2Go Video Wall Controller: These controllers allowed AKS to expand its visual display to 18 screens, enhancing visual coverage of the circuit and providing a comprehensive view of race activities and incidents in progress.
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Matrox MuraControl Software: This software enabled seamless management of video wall displays, allowing AKS to monitor both CCTV and IPTV streams effortlessly. With MuraControl, AKS was able to dynamically adjust layouts and optimize video feeds for real-time incident management.
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Matrox D-Series Graphics Cards: Four D-Series graphics cards powered high-resolution visuals across the video wall, providing race control personnel with clear, detailed views of critical track information.
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Matrox Mura IPX Capture Cards: The configuration included three IPX capture cards—two HDMI and one SDI—each capturing video feeds from different sources around the circuit, ensuring full HD video capture and streaming with exceptional clarity and responsiveness.
This setup allowed AKS to process and display high-definition video from multiple sources with split-second accuracy, ensuring that every detail was available to race control personnel for critical decision-making.
Sergi Galbany, Head of Racetrack Infrastructure & Services at Al Kamel Systems, shared his thoughts on the collaboration: “Matrox Video products are at the core of this project, enabling our team to monitor everything in real-time. Their technology empowers our race control room operators to make accurate, rapid decisions during events, giving us the confidence to manage every detail with precision.”
Results
The success of this project highlights the value of Matrox Video’s video wall technology for complex, high-stakes environments like motorsport control rooms. AKS continues to expand its use of Matrox Video products across international circuits, including major racetracks in Europe and the United States. Future enhancements are anticipated, with plans to incorporate 4K resolution and deeper integration with AKS’s proprietary software, further supporting their commitment to delivering the highest quality and reliability in race control operations.
