Spatial considerations

This section outlines key considerations for existing power, data, and hardware infrastructure in museum spaces to ensure robust integration when designing digital experiences. In addition to the effect that technology selections and experience design has on neighboring areas should be considered especially in regard to light and sound bleed. When unavoidable, it should be done with consideration and intention.

As with the development of all new museum experiences, various departments collaborate and overlap. Before any design phase is concluded, the Auckland Museum project team should sign off all use of technology, usually via the Auckland Museum project lead.

Considerations for incorporating technology into physical design

Solution specification	Priority
Designs shall provide safe, secure, and aesthetic mounting of electrical devices and cable management.	MUST
Designs shall allow sufficient air flow to cool electrical equipment.	MUST
Designs shall allow staff access for maintenance and troubleshooting.	MUST
Designs shall allow access to front & back of a device easily without the need to disconnect cables.	MUST
Designs shall, if locks are in use, employ a keyed-alike system across the exhibition space.	MUST
Designs shall prevent the public from accessing or removing unauthorized devices.	MUST
Designs shall allow sufficient space for keyboard and mouse to be left within the cabinet, access to cable ports, power button, etc.).	SHOULD
Designs shall allow staff access in an unconfined manner.	SHOULD

Computer locations

Solution specification	Priority
Simple/commodity computers that only need passive ventilation, and/or are ruggedised SHOULD be located adjacent to the screens for ease of maintenance, subject to meeting other requirements.	SHOULD
More complex computers, or computers that need significant active ventilation, SHOULD be located within secure air-conditioned comms room close to the Exhibition space with necessary signal extensions using extenders.	SHOULD
Computers shall not be housed in the access floor.	MUST

Projectors

Solution specification	Priority
Projectors shall be installed in a way that minimizes shadows cast by visitors and maximizes projection screen coverage.	MUST
Projectors shall be installed to eliminate the requirement for keystone adjustment	MUST

Displays

Solution specification	Priority
Displays that come within 300mm of the floor must have a clear, physical barrier to prevent damage	MUST

Power boards (see also hardware)

Solution specification	Priority
Location of power board in joinery is to be considered on a case-by-case basis, to avoid interference with hardware and to be best positioned to allow for efficient cable management.	SHOULD
To prevent damage and possible personal injury, power boards shall be installed on vertical surfaces only and shall not be installed with outlets facing up or down. This is to avoid a buildup of debris in the sockets or power supplies falling out of sockets due to weight.	MUST
Power boards shall have 6 outlets, with enough room for wider plugs	COULD
Power boards shall have surge and overload protection	SHOULD
Power boards shall be surface-mountable	SHOULD
Power boards shall have independently-switchable outlets	SHOULD
If there is hardware that cannot be powered down remotely, power boards shall be IP-controllable	SHOULD

Heat management

Solution specification	Priority
Heat must be managed with sufficient air circulation to allow heat exchange from technology.	MUST
Space: a non-airtight space which could require up to three cubic meters of air volume for each single computer or device. The air volume around the device is dependent on the surround materials, type of device, air flow and heat exchange system, so materials and device type should be considered. This space must have a reasonable ambient or natural airflow to let heat escape. Simply assuming "heat rises" does not work; there must also be adequate allowance for air intake near the bottom of the case to allow for air flow. This approach is only suitable for low heat devices.	MUST
Porous large surfaces with 70% open space at the front and rear of the computer. These surfaces can be metal grills, or multiple large holes or slots cut through the surface of the case or cabinet. 70% means just that – seven tenths of those surfaces being open to allow easy air flow.	MUST
Metal casing is preferred to wood as it conducts heat more readily.	SHOULD
Fans that pull air into the case where the front of the computer is or more importantly fans that extract air from where the rear of the computer is. It is not advisable to have both intake and outtake fans as these can cause other issues because of differing air pressure. Make sure the computer is aligned with the fan as far as possible - so the air exhaust on the back of the computer should be reasonably near the exhaust fan in the cabinet and not pointing toward a different side of the cabinet. Avoid obstructions between the two. PCs on the floor (that require a fan) need to be exposed to a sprinkler system.	SHOULD
Baffles or similar physical obstructions within the case to reinforce the flow of air into the front of the computer, out the back of the computer and then out of the case or cabinet completely. The idea is to prevent air taking the path of least resistance and just circulating inside the cabinet, from outlet straight back to inlet. That encourages spiraling temperatures as there is little opportunity for it to dump the heat to load into the cooler atmosphere outside. Note the importance of keeping air intake and outtake as far away from each other as possible. The fundamental aim is to force the air to travel over the longest path possible to allow it to exchange its heat with the room air outside the case.	SHOULD