Client: Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business & Management — Ground School
Industry: Higher Education / Aviation Training

Challenge:
To design and implement a purpose-built AV and networking environment capable of supporting both in-person and remote aviation training — combining interactive learning, AI-driven camera automation, collaborative content sharing, and a robust, segmented network — all within two distinct but interconnected rooms.

Solution:
A fully integrated Q-SYS ecosystem serving as the intelligent backbone of both rooms, with Dante-networked audio, Blustream AV-over-IP video distribution, AI-powered presenter tracking via Q-SYS VisionSuite, and a purpose-built VLAN network architecture — delivering a seamless hybrid learning experience for students and instructors on campus and online.

The Challenge: Building for the Next Generation of Aviation Education

The Ground School required a technology environment that could operate at two levels simultaneously — as a high-functioning in-person classroom and as a professional-grade remote learning facility. Key requirements included:

• Hybrid Learning Capability: Full support for Zoom and Teams-based remote sessions with high-quality audio and video for both in-room participants and online attendees.
• AI-Driven Camera Automation: Automatic tracking and switching of PTZ cameras based on speaker position — without requiring a dedicated operator.
• Collaborative Content Sharing: Students needed to share content from personal devices and dedicated desktops to the main display, and to collaborate within the room, without friction.
• Network Segmentation: A closed, secure network architecture separating the Ground School from the rest of the building’s traffic, with controlled access for students, teachers, and IT.
• Room Flexibility: Two rooms with different physical configurations — a lecture-style Training Room and a collaborative AV Lab — each requiring a tailored approach within the same system framework.
• Aesthetic & Operational Simplicity: Complex systems that feel simple to use — touch-based control for instructors, with minimal technical knowledge required.

Our Solution: A Unified Q-SYS Ecosystem Across Two Purpose-Built Rooms

System Core & AV Rack Infrastructure

The entire deployment is anchored by the Q-SYS CORE 24-F, a powerful audio and control processor capable of 24 physical audio channels, 160×160 networked channels, and an integrated 8×8 Dante license. The CORE handles all audio routing, smart room control, display input switching, volume management, PTZ camera control, and device power sequencing across both rooms.

Supporting infrastructure in the rack includes:

• Netgear PR460X router for DHCP, static routing, and VLAN allocation — isolating the Ground School from the wider building network
• Netgear M4250 POE+ and POE++ switches powering Q-SYS and Blustream peripherals, wireless access points, and AV-specific VLAN port assignments
• 3x Netgear WAX630 access points hosting dual SSIDs: ‘Flight School’ for students and ‘TechTeam’ for IT — controlling which devices can reach core system components
• 2x Biamp Voltera D 1200.8 amplifiers (one per room) receiving audio over Dante and hardwired to room speakers
• 2x Q-SYS VSA100 AI Accelerator units powering VisionSuite’s SeerVision presenter tracking application
• ASUS NUC 15 Pro for remote monitoring, system adjustment, and troubleshooting
• Blustream ACM210 controlling multicast distribution between IP300 transmitters and receivers, managed via TCP/IP through Q-SYS

The Training Room

A lecture-style environment where the instructor controls the entire room from a central podium. The space is designed for interactive teaching, outbound streaming, and seamless camera tracking of a moving presenter.

• Digital Podium: A Temas TK32H-M motorised digital podium with built-in touch screen, adjustable height, and integrated Mini-PC — retrofitted with a Q-SYS TSC-101-G3 touch panel for full room control.
• KVM & Host Switching: An Inogeni Toggle Rooms device replaces the podium’s native HDMI switcher, acting as a USB hub and KVM for two connected systems — the podium’s internal PC and any laptop or tablet — allowing either host to seamlessly control the room’s peripherals and main display.
• Main Display: A Newline TT-8624QP interactive display running Android 11, with native wireless input, touch capability, whiteboard annotation, and USB touch output — passable to either connected host via the Q-SYS ecosystem.
• Secondary Display: A Kramer EXT3-H-POE-R HDBaseT extender duplicates the main display signal to a secondary monitor for participants with obstructed sightlines.
• Microphone Array: A ceiling-mounted Shure MXA920 with 360° directional beamforming. Audio is routed through the Q-SYS CORE and passed to the connected host via USB. Beamforming zones are mapped to SeerVision for automated camera tracking.
• Wireless Microphone: A Shure MXWAPXD2 wireless access point receiver supports handheld or worn microphones for seminar-style presentations — triggering automatic camera switching based on speaker position.
• Student Collaboration: A Biamp Modena Hub allows students to wirelessly share content from personal devices to the main display, either via the Modena app or a browser — with simultaneous sharing and whiteboard annotation for in-room collaboration.

The AV Lab

A collaborative learning space designed around flight simulation software, comprising three student desk clusters (8 students each), a central podium, main display, and a dedicated flight simulation rig. Every desk has two additional displays — one for local content sharing, one mirroring the main display.

• Table Microphones: 3x Q-SYS NM-T1 tabletop microphones per desk, configured with the same directional beamforming logic as the Training Room’s ceiling array — mapped to PTZ camera presets for automated tracking.
• Desk Touchscreens: Q-SYS TCS-50-G3 touchscreens at each table allow students to control which desktop is mirrored to their local display. The podium’s touchscreen mirrors these controls and adds the ability to share any student’s screen to the main display.
• Video Distribution: Blustream IP300 Transmitters and Receivers, Custom Matrix Hubs, and Kramer VS-411X Auto Switchers work within the Q-SYS ecosystem to route video between desks and the main display. Each hub handles 8 desktop inputs plus a dedicated feed from the podium, with switching managed by a single touch.
• Simulator Integration: The flight simulation rig’s primary display can be mirrored to the main screen, enabling annotated analysis using the display’s whiteboard feature — allowing instructors to mark up cockpit views and instruments in real time.
• Remote Conferencing: While not a full conferencing suite, Zoom and Teams are supported — remote participants can clearly see and communicate with those present in the room.

Networked Audio

All audio is routed via Dante, processed by the Q-SYS CORE. Acoustic echo cancellation is handled natively using QSC’s software AEC component, with auto-adjusted gain on paired inputs and outputs.

Each room is equipped with a pair of Desono ENT206 column speakers at the front and a pair of Desono DX-IC10SUB ceiling subwoofers, operating in a 70-volt configuration for consistent, full-range coverage throughout both spaces.

Key Learnings & Our Commitment to Excellence

1. AI Automation Requires Precise Configuration
SeerVision’s presenter tracking is powerful, but its accuracy depends on careful mapping of microphone beamforming zones to camera presets. Thorough configuration and testing in situ is essential to achieving reliable, natural-feeling automation.

2. Network Architecture is Not an Afterthought
Separating the Ground School onto its own subnet with dedicated VLANs was critical — not just for security, but for ensuring Dante audio and Blustream video traffic flowed without interference. AV systems perform best when the network is designed around them from the start.

3. Unified Control Reduces User Friction
Centralising all room functions into the Q-SYS touch interface — from display switching to camera control to microphone management — means instructors can run a complex environment without technical support. Simplicity at the user layer is the goal, regardless of the complexity beneath it.

4. Flexibility Must Be Designed In
The AV Lab required a fundamentally different layout to the Training Room, but both needed to operate within the same control framework. Designing for flexibility from day one — rather than retrofitting it — is what made this possible.

5. Collaboration with IT Teams is Essential
The VLAN architecture and SSID segmentation required close coordination with the client’s IT team. Early engagement and clear communication about AV network requirements prevents conflicts and ensures the system performs as designed from day one.

Results: A Classroom Built for the Future of Aviation Education

• A fully hybrid-capable learning environment supporting in-person and remote participants simultaneously — with professional-grade audio and video for all.
• AI-driven presenter tracking and automatic camera switching, delivering a broadcast-quality experience without a dedicated operator.
• Seamless content sharing between student devices, instructor systems, and the flight simulator — with one-touch control from the podium or individual desks.
• A secure, segmented network architecture that keeps AV traffic clean, separates student and IT access, and isolates the Ground School from the wider building.
• Two rooms with distinct physical configurations, operating as a unified system under a single Q-SYS control framework.
• A platform that will scale — Q-SYS’s software-defined architecture means the system can evolve as the programme grows.