Remote Automation
Jan 16, 2007 5:48 PM
The following information is courtesy of the 2006 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Designers' Awards. For more information on how to become a member of CEDIA, or information on its awards program please visit www.cedia.org or call (800) 669-5329.
2006 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Winner
Gold Technical Design: Special Project
Aurant
How do you network, automate, and integrate media sources into a remote mountain yurt during a snowy Utah winter? Located on a high-elevation 165-acre lot, this challenging media installation needed to provide all the conveniences and benefits of an automated home with a full-performance media room, while keeping in step with the fact that the contractors were essentially working with a big tent in the wilderness.
Aurant’s clients are a sophisticated couple with adolescent children who enjoy the outdoors and want to maintain the conveniences provided in their primary residence even when they are in their remote, private yurt. Since a yurt is a tent, there are no traditional walls for wiring speakers or keypads. With this particular installation, there was no regular power or connectivity, and sometimes the only access was via snowmobile, but these were only the obvious roadblocks. The real challenge was providing an overall design that did not detract from the “yurt experience,” while still providing robust reliable performance.
The first and most important step to overcome these challenges was to quantify, in as much detail as possible, the client’s expectation. Life in a yurt is different from life in a house. Determining how control and media systems would enhance and not detract from the “remote mountain” experience was the key to a successful project. With that, Aurant developed new tactics for hiding complex structural wiring and had to develop many new installation practices such as creating false panels that imitated tent poles.
The lighting control system is probably the most used component in the completed installation. It provides ample light, keeping with the feeling of a yurt while still being automated. Due to the remoteness of the property, security was implemented into the design to control access via a distant main gate, while PTZ cameras keep the grounds secure. An intercom keeps the yurt connected to the other five buildings on the property; a user can page and speak to anyone in any of the other buildings via an IP-based phone system. Another frequently used function is the extensive distributed audio system with full control capable from both in- and outdoors.
Equipment list
| Time and Expertise Worksheet | |
| Task | Hours |
| Client Interviews | 40 |
| Electronic Design and Engineering: | 60 |
| Proposal and System Documentation Preparation: | 20 |
| Project Management: | 70 |
| Pre-wire/Rough-in: | 50 |
| Trim-out: | 20 |
| Shop Time for Racking and Testing: | 16 |
| Programming: | 40 |
| Final Installation and Calibration: | 40 |
| Client Instruction: | 8 |
| Interior Design and/or Architecture by your Company: | 0 |
| Interior Design and/or Architecture by Others: | 0 |
| Project Management by Others: | 0 |
| Other time: builder's interior designs, drawings done on paper: | 0 |
| Total Hours to Complete: | 364 |
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