2.4 Problems and opportunities

The final design consists of pools of light (inside the tunnel and at its entrances) and modular light tracks (LED strips that are found throughout the tunnel and at its entrances), as showed in the two diagrams below.

Fig. 4.16: Top view of the lighting design in the tunnel and its entrances. The pools of light are marked with a cool white color in the designated areas they are falling on, while the light tracks that go on the ceiling are indicated with a double yellow line

Fig. 4.17: Section of the tunnel visualizing the lighting design from a side perspective. The placement of the pools of light inside and outside of the tunnel is emphasized, while the light tracks that go on the walls are pointed out through continuous lines for the further away wall and with an interrupted line for the immediate wallDesign and Testing

Interactive light track

Each light track module has a sound sensor incorporated, which picks up sounds from the environment and translates them into dynamic light, emitted by the LED strips. This is possible by connecting it to an Arduino board, which takes the input of the microphone, runs the code and then gives the command to the LEDs to raise or lower their output, according to the data of the input (fig. 4.19). This effect can be triggered by a passing train, users of the tunnel or other sounds from around the tunnel. Both the shape & the sound triggering interactivity are paying tribute to the heritage of the area. The tracks are mounted on the wall on an aluminum profile, then there is the LED strip & finally a polycarbonate diffuser to create a better light output (fig. 4.18).

INPUTS PROCESSING OUTPUTS

microphone

Fig. 4.19: interactivity procedure Arduino processing brightness of LED tracs