The quality of the equipment deployed in this laboratory meets the highest standards of reliability and future readiness. The extended warranty coverage and cost-effective solutions offered by Kramer, in collaboration with Asia Theatre Engineering Company Limited, align fully with the functional requirements outlined in the tender.
Notably, the AV-over-IP solution implemented by the team is remarkably innovative. A key feature of the system is its hands-free operation, enabling teaching staff in the necropsy laboratory to control critical functions via foot pedals. This design is essential, as instructors frequently work with specimens in environments involving blood and water.”
— August 31, 2026
Advancing Veterinary Education with Secure 4K AV-over-IP Architecture
Customer:
City University of Hong Kong
Industry
Education
Goals
- Enable high-quality, real-time teaching and observation in a wet-zone necropsy laboratory
- Implement a flexible, scalable 4K AV-over-IP architecture
- Deploy a hands-free, waterproof AV system suitable for clinical workflows
- Ensure reliable video distribution, recording, and collaboration without compromising safety
Project Scope
- Integration of medical-grade cameras, AV-over-IP video distribution, audio, control, and recording
- Deployment of hands-free control interfaces for sterile environments
Value
- Delivers a first-of-its-kind indoor necropsy lab with advanced AV technology
- Enables immersive, real-time teaching and documentation
- Provides a future-ready, scalable AV-over-IP infrastructure built on Kramer technology
Kramer Products
- KDS-EN7 4K AV-over-IP Encoders
- KDS-DEC7 4K AV-over-IP Decoders
- Kramer TBUS & Retractors
Background
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is a world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research and innovation. Its Veterinary Medicine programme attracts a diverse global cohort, reflecting the inclusive nature of top-tier universities worldwide. The University is committed to driving change and fostering innovation by not only benchmarking against leading institutions, but also by developing novel approaches to programme delivery and practical application.
The necropsy laboratory plays a pivotal role in CityUHK’s flagship Veterinary Medicine programme, providing a specialised environment for both teaching and research. The facility supports a wide range of experiments and demonstrations while addressing demanding environmental conditions, including exposure to water, blood, biological materials, cleaning agents, humidity, and other operational challenges.
Traditional audiovisual systems may not be well suited to such environments, where instructors and students often operate with wet or contaminated hands. The University therefore sought a solution that combined robust, waterproof hardware, hands-free operation, and high-resolution video distribution, without compromising safety, hygiene, or teaching effectiveness.
Goals
The primary objective was to create a secure, reliable, and flexible audiovisual ecosystem capable of supporting live demonstrations, observation, recording, and collaboration in a demanding clinical environment.
Key goals included:
• Capturing procedures from multiple camera viewpoints in 4K quality
• Distributing video in real time to multiple displays and recording endpoints
• Eliminating traditional matrix limitations through AV-over-IP technology
• Enabling hands-free operation via foot pedals and sensor-based controls
• Building a scalable infrastructure that can grow with future requirements
Solution
Kramer worked closely with Asia Theatre Engineering Company Limited, one of the prominent system integration companies, and deployed a solution that ensures reliable video distribution, recording, and seamless collaboration without compromising safety.
At the heart of the solution are Kramer’s 4K AV-over-IP platforms, KDS-EN7 encoders and KDS-DEC7 decoders, which form the backbone of the laboratory’s video distribution architecture.
Multiple medical-grade, POV, and tracking cameras capture procedures from different angles. Each video source is encoded using KDS-EN7, converting native HDMI signals into low-latency, visually lossless 4K IP streams. These streams are distributed over a dedicated, managed PoE+ network powered by a NETGEAR 48-port AV Switch, ensuring seamless performance and uninterrupted operation.
Using KDS-DEC7 decoders, any video source can be routed instantly to any destination, including reference monitors, large-format displays, interactive touch panels, preview screens, and USB capture devices without physical re-cabling.
The Kramer AV-over-IP solution delivers a scalable, IP-based video transport layer with multicast distribution, allowing a single source to be viewed on multiple displays without bandwidth duplication. Centralised routing is managed through Kramer AV-over-IP Manager, seamlessly integrated with a third-party control system. This architecture ensures exceptional image fidelity, precise timing, and operational flexibility critical for live procedural teaching, while enabling simultaneous viewing, recording, and collaboration with near-zero perceptible latency.”
— Audio, Control & Hands-Free Operation
Clear communication is supported through a Dante-enabled audio system with ceiling and wireless microphones, processed via a central DSP and distributed through ceiling speakers for even coverage.
System control is centralised through a third-party control processor, managing video routing, audio levels, display power and input selection, as well as camera and peripheral control. To meet the demands of sterile and wet-zone operation, the lab incorporates hands-free control interfaces, including waterproof foot pedals, sensor strips, push-button panels, and wireless keypads allowing instructors to operate the system safely without direct contact.
Value Delivered
The completed solution delivers a robust, secure, and future-proof learning environment that aligns perfectly with the operational realities of veterinary education.
Key benefits include:
- High-quality 4K video for teaching, documentation, and review
- Flexible, scalable AV-over-IP routing powered by Kramer KDS-EN7 and KDS-DEC7
- Hands-free operation ideal for clinical and sterile workflows
- Centralised control and simplified system management
- Infrastructure aligned with modern IT and AV standards
By leveraging Kramer’s AV-over-IP technology, CityUHK has established a benchmark necropsy laboratory, seamlessly blending advanced audiovisual capabilities with safety, hygiene, and educational excellence.
