System Design & Communication Services

System Design & Communication Services Ltd (SDCS) was created in 2010 to provide specialist advice to the market in the area of communications systems deployed in the commercial, education and healthcare sectors.

Communications systems are often treated as just another building service, but the real purpose is to support work practice objectives. This makes them difficult to design correctly at the time a building’s services are typically designed. However, retrofitting communications systems is often difficult and expensive (if not simply impossible).

Because of this, Communications systems are often perceived as something of a black art and many businesses would appreciate the opportunity to obtain easily understood, unbiased and independent advice about what systems they could consider to support their desired work-practices and business objectives.  Even a simple review of a vendor proposal may make it clear whether all those expensive bells and whistles the salesman recommends are actually justified based on the operational and functional objectives.

The word “Communication” is by definition about the conveying of information from one place or entity to another.  So Communications Systems are systems that convey information.  This covers a multitude of systems, however the system types we would most commonly deal with are;

• Computer networks, including Structured Cabling Systems, Wireless LANs and Network Equipment
• Telephony systems
• Security Systems including CCTV systems, Access Control and Intruder Detection systems.
• Audio-visual systems including Television reticulation, AV control, public address, display and signage systems
• Theatrical Production systems including infrastructure for temporary facilities, theatrical lighting, Stage Manager panels, intercoms and control systems
• Home Automation systems
• Control Systems
• Specialist Medical systems infrastructure

Peter brings a fresh approach to his role of Principal Consultant with System Design and Communication Services.  His is a diverse background, combining project management, engineering, health information management, business analyst, database programmer and IT support roles.  As well, he has managed to fit in brief stints as a sound operator / theatre lighting operator / providing care to intellectually handicapped children, printer’s table hand and cash register systems programmer.  Peter’s diverse background provides him with the ability to offer projects a further level of systems integration and propose practical solutions that can add value to a project.

Prior to establishing System Design & Communication Services, Peter served as Communications specialist and internal project manager for the major Consulting Engineering practice, WSP Lincolne Scott.  He also served as IT Manager (and other roles) for Queensland Health, and was responsible for all aspects of ICT and telecommunications infrastructure in his region.

Peter has direct experience of a range of skills including strategic planning, master-planning, concept studies, technical design and solution implementation.  He specialises in requirements-based specification of holistic systems for clients in healthcare, education, non-profit and commercial environments.  Peter believes sustainable outcomes derive from a considered approach to the factors involved in each case and not necessarily from slavishly following “the book”.  He also specialises in integrating technology solutions into other projects.

Peter was also a member of the NZ Green Building Council’s Technical Working Group responsible for developing NZ’s Education Rating Tool and was Accredited Professional of Record for the pilot implementation of Ormiston Senior College.

Peter’s work is characterised by his genuine commitment to each project and his disciplined approach.  Peter believes in ensuring that systems support functional objectives as well as technical objectives.