QUADRO P1000: Maximum control in minimum space

The scenario presented here serves as an example and illustrates the full performance spectrum and unique features of the spo-comm QUADRO P1000.

Performance, design, stability - high demands on the PC

The hardware requirements for the more than 50 control workstations are extremely high and specific:

Multi-monitor performance: Each workstation must drive four high-resolution monitors (4K) to display real-time flight plans, weather data, live camera feeds and highly complex 3D visualizations of the tarmac, all smoothly and without delay.

Compact design: Space under the consoles is very limited. Standard tower PCs were out of the question due to their size and greater susceptibility to dust and vibrations.

Long-term stability: As a critical infrastructure, the airport requires a hardware and operating system platform that can be operated in a stable, secure and low-maintenance manner over a period of at least ten years. Frequent operating system upgrades were not feasible for reasons of certification and training.

The solution: concentrated graphics power in mini format

The choice fell on our QUADRO P1000. This mini PC not only impresses with its compact design, but also with the integrated NVIDIA Quadro P1000 graphics card, thus fulfilling all of the customer's core requirements.

1. Ultimate multi-display capability
   The main advantage of the QUADRO P1000 lies in its Quadro graphics power. Unlike other mini PCs, which often only support two displays, the NVIDIA Quadro P1000 reliably delivers enough power to run four monitors simultaneously in high resolution at each control station. This allows control center staff to see all critical information at a glance without having to constantly switch between applications. The dedicated VRAM architecture of the Quadro series guarantees the highest image quality and stability, which is essential in a 24/7 control room.
2. Accelerated data analysis thanks to CUDA
   The company also benefits from the support of the NVIDIA CUDA architecture. CUDA enables control center applications to outsource highly complex calculations for analyzing flight paths, real-time collision warnings or weather models directly to the graphics card. This reduces the load on the CPU and ensures significantly faster data processing. In critical air traffic control, this increase in speed leads directly to more precise and faster decisions.
3. Compactness and robustness
   The compact design of the spo-comm Mini-PC allows it to be mounted inconspicuously directly under the control center consoles, which frees up valuable workspace. The robust design of the industrial PC also ensures high reliability in continuous operation.

Planning security through long-term availability

However, the most decisive factor for the airport is planning and investment security.

The QUADRO P1000 can be equipped with the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 operating system. While the standard versions of Windows 10 have reached the end of support, Microsoft guarantees security updates for this special LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) version until January 13, 2032.

In an environment as critical as an airport, an update cycle of ten years is essential. The combination of the QUADRO P1000's high-performance graphics and the guaranteed long-term support of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 provides the necessary investment security required for the control center infrastructure.

The long-term security guarantee ensures that the operating system is also protected against new cyber threats in the future, without the need for complex and cost-intensive roll-outs of new versions of the operating system. This minimizes both the security risk and the total cost of ownership.

Conclusion and outlook

With the spo-comm QUADRO P1000, the company has implemented a future-proof, powerful and extremely compact solution for its central traffic control center. The combination of dedicated NVIDIA graphics, CUDA computing power and the extended support cycle of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 provides the necessary performance and security for critical 24/7 applications. The QUADRO P1000 has thus established itself as an essential building block for the airport's long-term security and efficiency concept.

Particularly in the context of critical infrastructures (KRITIS) such as airports, traffic control centers or energy suppliers, the requirements for stability, reliability and IT security are extremely high. The option of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 with guaranteed security support until January 13, 2032 emphasized in this case study is of crucial importance in such sensitive areas. It offers operators the necessary planning security and compliance to secure their critical information and communication technology systems (CICS) in accordance with strict national and European security regulations (e.g. BSI IT-Grundschutz, NIS-2 Directive) over a long period of time.

The QUADRO P1000 demonstrates its ability to deliver both the highest graphical performance (four monitors, CUDA acceleration) and uncompromising long-term stability for the most demanding industrial and safety-critical applications.