Five things to power a permanent projection system in your town

There are some key questions we often get asked as illuminart’s permanent projection systems put smaller regional towns on the map across Australia.

Towns that offer a nightly light show with creative content and storytelling are telling us they get more visitors who stay longer and often circle back another day to see new content on their way home.

And it’s not just visitors, as locals now have something to brag about and show off to passing friends and relatives, creating the next wave of visitors.? What’s not to love?

But to get the benefits of a permanent projection system takes more than just buying a projector and making a video. If you are considering a system for your town here are five things to consider when preparing to discuss it with us:

1.????? Where is the power source?

Your site needs to have a reliable power supply.? Permanent projection systems are generally built into robust outdoor structures.? If Council are upgrading a main street, strategically plan to include an additional power source for a permanent projection unit early on. Confirm with your Works Team or utilities company if your favorite site already has a reliable power source before you commit to a site.

2.????? What are the dimensions?

The larger the structure, the more projection power will be needed.? Illuminart can assist you with the calculations.? We’ll ask you for information including the address, site width and height, and the area for the lighting and projection system to operate in. ?The more detail you can provide will assist us to get back to you quickly with a realistic answer.

Illuminart specialise in architectural mapping and can work with building features like friezes, columns and details, so surface texture is not always a barrier, depending on the content you want to project. Generally, light coloured surfaces work best. Windows and shiny surfaces may need special treatment to work well.

Send us some photos and and we can take a look.? Or, ask us to come and do a specialist site assessment for you.

3.????? How will the site work?

One of the signature features of illuminart’s permanent projection systems is that they are fully automated and don’t need an operator to flick the on- switch every night, which is pretty cool and makes the system super affordable to operate. ?However, you will need to think through how you expect people to move and engage with the site itself.

·??????? Where will the audience view the show from? Will they walk/ride or drive in?

·??????? Are there safety issues with their viewing point such as proximity to traffic?

·??????? Where is the best vantage point especially for people living with disabilities and locals – will there be light pollution from traffic or street lights, interfering with the projection quality?

·??????? Do people need to enter in one area and leave from another?? (Useful if you want to manage people-flow or track visitors for reporting and to get the next lot of funding for content!)

·??????? Will you have food carts or cafes nearby,? or will you occasionally invite businesses to open on times when you are creating more of an event?

·??????? Will the sounds of traffic interrupt enjoyment, safety or sound?

·??????? Is the permanent projection a free attraction or a fee for entry (managed by a tour operator or another organization)?

·??????? Is the site a public or private space??

Answering some of these questions will help you and us to understand your vision and identify the best options for sites and ways to help audiences get the most out of the show. ?Your location will tell you what’s possible.

4.????? Location and by-laws

Now you know how you’d like the site to work – it’s time to identify any safety issues. Council by-laws can pose site limitations and help you work out alternative vantage points, as well as manage expectations for sidewalks, parking and all the factors with people gathering at night. Run some site options by your Council to see if there are any issues with by-laws and we may also be able to offer a work around.

Also don’t forget to think about the traffic regulations for digital media, as local and state laws will guide what media can be presented close to roadways.? Similar legislation governs rail and maritime traffic ways, but don’t worry, we have plenty of experience working in these contexts so lets discuss what is needed.

5.????? ?Protect and conceal

A permanent projection system is worth thousands of dollars, so you’ll want to protect your investment and keep your projector in top shape to give you reliable performance night after night in any kind of weather. Illuminart’s permanent systems feature tailored engineering and fabrication of projection enclosures which are perfectly customized to your local climate and context. We also use existing structures like BBQ shelters or nearby building awnings, to camouflage the system in the day. See some examples below.

Thinking about these things will advance your project planning process so that we can assist you with the design of a system that is best suited to your application. Even if you are unsure, we’d love to talk with you and provide guidance during your development!

We offer an hour free consultation time and you can contact us on 1300 455 864. Or fill in a few details here and one of our team will get back to you.