What Is a Wallboard in Control Room Displays?

A wallboard in control room displays is a large-format visual surface used to present real-time operational information to multiple operators at once. 

Wallboards are typically built from video walls or large display arrays and are designed to show shared system status, alerts, and key performance indicators. In mission-critical environments, wallboards provide a common operational picture that supports fast coordination and decision-making.

Control rooms use wallboards to keep teams aligned on system conditions. Unlike individual desktop screens, wallboards are visible across the room and communicate what matters most at a glance.

How Wallboards Are Used in Control Rooms

Wallboards display information from operational systems such as SCADA, EMS, OMS, GIS, security platforms, and external feeds. Content is curated to highlight system health, alarms, outages, weather impacts, and network conditions. Operators rely on wallboards to maintain awareness without interrupting their primary workflows.

During normal operations, wallboards reinforce baseline system status and help supervisors monitor overall performance. During disturbances or emergencies, wallboards shift focus to active events, affected regions, and restoration progress. This shared visibility reduces verbal updates and helps teams coordinate actions quickly.

Effective wallboards are designed for distance viewing. Text, symbols, and color cues must remain readable from across the room. Content must also stay synchronized so operators and supervisors are always looking at the same information.

Wallboards vs Desktop Displays

Wallboards and desktop displays serve different roles in control rooms. Desktop displays support detailed interaction and task-specific work. Wallboards provide high-level awareness and shared context. A well-designed control room uses both together.

Wallboards summarize and highlight. Desktops allow operators to drill into detail. When wallboards and desktops stay synchronized, teams move smoothly between overview and action without losing context.

How Primate Delivers Control Room Wallboards

Primate Technologies delivers wallboards purpose-built for control room environments. GridGuardian aggregates and validates operational data so wallboard content reflects current system conditions at all times. BlackBoard renders wallboard visuals with clear, vector-based graphics that remain readable across large video walls without distortion.

Primate wallboards stay synchronized with desktop displays, ensuring a consistent operational picture across the room. TileViewer extends wallboard visibility to remote supervisors and support teams, maintaining alignment during both routine operations and critical events.

By delivering clear, scalable, and synchronized wallboards, Primate helps control rooms maintain shared awareness and respond faster when conditions change.

Want wallboards that deliver clarity at scale and keep your entire team aligned?