Case Study: Illuminating Gosford City Carpark

Project Overview:

Central Coast Council received a grant to enhance the carpark area, building on the success of previous lighting installations, including the uplighting of nine trees near the train station. The council's initial request was to light up both the north and south ends of the carpark, totaling 128 lights. After careful consideration, the project was adjusted to cover the areas unobstructed by buildings, resulting in the installation of 53 AQL-985 RGBW lights – 33 in the north and 20 in the south. The grant was a partnership between Transport NSW and Central Coast Council called Safer Cities:Her way

Lighting Solution:

To achieve the council's vision, R.J. Fowler Electrical selected the AQL-985 RGBW lights, equipped with integrated DMX and wireless DMX (WDMX) technology. This choice offered significant benefits in terms of installation efficiency and cost savings, eliminating the need to run wired DMX data to each light across multiple levels of the carpark. Instead, a split DMX data feed was run to the middle level of both ends of the carpark, connecting to a Lumen Radio CRMX Slim wireless DMX transmitter. This setup allowed the DMX signal to be transmitted wirelessly to all lights on each level.

The WDMX system also provides flexibility for future upgrades, enabling easy addition of fixtures to expand coverage across the carpark or other areas.

Control and Integration:

For control, the team implemented a Nicolaudie Dina DR2 Lite with a lifetime cloud license and an annual ultimate access license, ensuring seamless remote management. A 4G router, supplied by Teltonika, along with a SISO antenna, was installed to facilitate cloud connectivity and remote access. This setup allows for real-time monitoring, firmware updates, and scene management from any location, minimizing the need for on-site interventions.

As the installation neared completion, the council requested the integration of a new LED-illuminated carpark sign into the system. Thanks to the wireless DMX infrastructure already in place, this was easily achieved by adding a wireless DMX receiver and a 240VAC DMX relay, which was then integrated into the spare zone on the DR2 Lite controller.

Enhanced Functionality:

Given the success of the scheduled events for the tree lights outside the train station, the council decided to implement a full annual schedule of events for the carpark lights. This included adding team colors for NRL teams playing at the nearby stadium. Additionally, due to the proximity of residential towers and offices, the council requested dimming levels for the lights, which were easily implemented to minimize light pollution.

The 4G router's cloud functionality, coupled with the DR2 Lite controllers, provides Gosford City Council with comprehensive control over the lighting system. They can now monitor and override scheduled scenes remotely, ensuring the lights meet their needs for any event or occasion.

Outcome:

The installation has provided Central Coast Council with a robust, flexible, and future-proof lighting system that not only enhances the carpark's safety and aesthetics but also supports various events throughout the year. The integration of advanced control gear and wireless technology has simplified the management of the system, ensuring that the council can easily adapt to changing requirements without significant additional costs. The project stands as a testament to the successful collaboration between Central Coast Council, R.J. Fowler Electrical and Aqualux Lighting delivering a solution that meets and exceeds the council's expectations.