The Antenna Siting Design Framework Design Guide (the Design Guide) aims to assist Proponents and their consultants during the site acquisition process to assess the landscape context and develop a antenna system design that is responsive to this context.
The Design Guide provides a structured process which:
The Design Guide can be used to demonstrate to local government, property owners and the community how the proposed antenna system may impact on the visual amenity of the location and design strategies that can be used to enhance design compatibility and ameliorate the visual effect.
The Design Guide is an interactive tool and can be accessed from the Proponent Information Portal.
The Design Guide is an interactive analysis and design tool that operates in five stages. The Design Guide proposed by this Technical Paper is available as a web enabled tool located within the CRIN-SINRC e-Consultation System, a simplified version is also available as an Excel spreadsheet.
This five stage approach provides a complete analysis and design tool for Proponents and consultants. The interactive format of the Design Guide enables tailored design recommendations to be generated in response to on-site assessment. Each selection creates a specific design response for the antenna system. The simplified Excel spreadsheet and web-based expert system format of the Design Guide provides simple drop-down selections making the assessment process user-friendly. This system provides site acquisition teams with a combined landscape architectural and urban design analysis tool.
The final engineering design can also be evaluated against the Design Guide’s ‘best practice’ recommendations. The greater the compatibility with the design recommendations the greater the reduction or mitigation of the visual effect. Conversely, if the engineering design has not been able to achieve the recommendations, the greater the potential visual effect of the proposed antenna system.
Finally, an assessment can be made as to what level of design compatibility may be associated with the proposed antenna system in terms of site selection, design recommendations and final engineering design. The assessment and analysis process that the Design Guide provides is an invaluable insight into what is required in relation to any site to limit visual effect. The Design Guide also highlights when unique design solutions may be required including screened and camouflage design. The web-based format of the Design Guide within the CRINS-SINRC e-Consultation system allows it to be continually updated or modified as new assessment criteria are considered, or new technologies and design solutions become available.
The Web based development of the Design Guide provides the opportunity for Planners and CRINS-SINRC staff to access the guide via web enabled phones while on site.