Engineer on Call; Burckaan Gurgun

Pioneering LED Lighting System Architect & Senior Engineering Consultant; Bethlehem, PA | Istanbul, TR Merging 25+ years of hardware/software engineering with transformative artistic vision.

Systems Architect and Engineer specialized in the intersection of embedded hardware, real-time software, and large-scale architectural lightworks. Expert in developing end-to-end electronic solutions, from custom PCB design and ESP32-based networking to high-level interactive media integration. Proven track record of translating complex research—ranging from Neural Networks to IP Telephony patents—into immersive, data-driven physical environments.

Professional Summary

🛠 Core Technical Stack

• Embedded & IoT: ESP32 (Advanced), Arduino, PIC Programming, Raspberry Pi, Custom PCB Design & Production, Bluetooth, Sensors/Actuators; capable of reading & writing code the old fashion way..

• Networking: Real-time UDP/TCP Synchronization, IP Communication Protocols, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) logic for distributed nodes.

• Software Dev: C/C++, Java, Python, C#, Swift (iOS), Android, Processing.org, Unity, AI Integration for Interactive Art.

• Creative Tech: Madrix Lighting Control (Expert), TouchDesigner, LED System Architecture, Video Engineering, Light Jockey Tools.

💼 Professional Experience

Cofounder & Systems Architect | Zerolight (Bafa Elektronik LTD) Istanbul, Türkiye | 2004 – Present

• Pioneering custom electronic and software solutions for specialized lighting installations.

• Lead developer for system integration, custom coding, and hardware design for international art projects.

⏱️ Significant Projects

• Patent Holder: Selective call waiting depending on identity of caller and time of day (WO2002080511A1).

Senior Engineering Consultant | Gabi Scientific Consulting Bethlehem, PA | 2025 – Present

• Providing hardware and software expertise for high-end IoT and LED lighting project consultancy.

• Research and development in early-stage IP Telephony software.

Specialization

Turning Complex Data into Luminous Experiences.

🚀 Key Technical Projects

Distributed Real-Time Node Synchronization

Developed a high-precision command and time-sync system for a network of ESP32 lighting nodes, Phone & Tablet Apps, Synched Custom ArtNet Software to be run on any platform including RPi.

• Network Logic: Engineered a custom protocol over UDP/TCP to ensure frame-accurate synchronization across distributed hardware.

• Architecture: Designed the full stack, from the embedded firmware to the topological adaptation of data across architectural surfaces.

Interactive LED Media Facades

Consultancy and execution of large-scale, responsive lightworks.

• Integration: Utilized cameras, microphones, and sensors to drive generative visuals via Madrix and TouchDesigner or Custom Software.

• Innovation: Bridged the gap between hardware limitations and artistic requirements, ensuring seamless playback across millions of LED pixels.

🎓 Education & Research

Engineer Degree, Industrial & Systems Engineering | University of Florida (1997)

• NSF-funded project: Developed a networked system emulator (virtual time machine) for manufacturing analysis.

B.S. Degree, Electrical Engineering | Bilkent University (1990)

• Publication: “A Neural Network Model for Scheduling Problems,” European Journal of Operational Research, 93.

🎨 Exhibitions & Platforms

Amber Platform: Co-founder and contributor to the digital artist platform (2007–Present).

Techne '06: Featured LED installation (lightbeat), Istanbul.

Craig Freeman’s Advanced Photography: Installation artist (1996), Gainesville, FL.

Technology Consultant | Kare Kare Film Yapım / Anima Istanbul 2003 – 2004

Software Engineer | Syndeo Corporation Campbell, CA | 1999 – 2001

Software Engineer | NetSpeak Corporation Boca Raton, FL | 1997 – 1999

M.S. Degree, Industrial Engineering | Bilkent University (1993)

The Challenge: In 2006, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality commissioned a large-scale New Year’s installation with only a 30-day lead time. At the time, "pixel LEDs" were not a market commodity; every component had to be engineered from the ground up.

The Engineering:

• Hardware: Designed custom LED bars powered by PIC16F648 microcontrollers.

• Orchestration: Developed a master DMX transmitter system on the PIC18F4620, pushing memory limits to synchronize thousands of cold-white LEDs suspended on steel cables across the square.

• Communication: Managed high-density data flow using the RS-485 protocol across hundreds of addressed nodes.

• The Vision: More than a technical feat, this was an emotional "city symphony." Inspired by Sezen Aksu’s “İstanbul İstanbul Olalı,” I treated light intensities as musical notes, allowing the square to "breathe" in sync with the city’s melody.

• Legacy: This project remains a testament to "superhuman effort" and technical conviction.

Open Source: View the legacy firmware on GitHub

This installation was created for Raw, a restaurant and night club in Karaköy, Istanbul, and stands out as one of the most technically challenging lighting projects of its time. The system was fully orchestrated using Madrix Lighting Control Software, whose real power emerged through the project’s unconventional geometry: a ceiling composed of triangular RGB pixel LED modules arranged in a complex, non‑uniform topology.

The irregular structure demanded a meticulous mapping process. Every pixel had to be positioned, addressed, and calibrated to ensure that animations flowed naturally across the fractured geometry. This topological adaptation became the core challenge—and the creative spark—of the project.

To bring the space to life, I designed a custom suite of Madrix effects tailored specifically for this triangular layout. These effects emphasized motion, depth, and color transitions that interacted with the architecture rather than merely illuminating it.

The RGB Pixel LED strips themselves were manufactured and installed by Zerolight, whose precision engineering ensured seamless integration across the venue’s ceiling. Together, the hardware and software formed a dynamic visual instrument—one capable of transforming the atmosphere of the club with every beat.

The result was an immersive, architectural light sculpture that reshaped the identity of the venue and demonstrated how pixel‑based lighting can merge technology, design, and spatial rhythm into a unified experience.

Antakya PrimeMall - Architectural Lighting Installation| Hatay, TR (2011)

The Antakya PrimeMall installation stands as one of my most ambitious large‑scale lighting works, orchestrated entirely through Madrix Lighting Control Software. Unlike previous projects that relied on linear pixel strips, this installation employed an immense field of RGB Pixel Bulbs—nearly 60,000 in total—transforming the facade into a monumental canvas of light.

The sheer density and scale of the pixel array demanded a highly optimized mapping strategy and a robust control architecture. Madrix served as the central conductor, enabling real‑time animation across a massive, building‑sized grid. I developed a suite of custom effects tailored specifically for bulb‑based topology, ensuring smooth gradients, volumetric motion, and architectural harmony across the entire structure.

The result was a dynamic, city‑scale light sculpture—one that redefined the visual identity of PrimeMall and became a landmark of Hatay’s urban nightscape.

Topological LED Effects in a Dodecahedron Structure Istanbul (2022)

This project explores the intersection of geometry, topology, and real‑time LED control. We constructed a custom 3D dodecahedron frame, placed RGB Pixel LED strips along each edge, and enclosed every face with a combination of one‑way mirror and one‑way transparent plexiglass, creating an optical infinity‑volume effect.

I modelled the entire structure digitally and derived the topological mapping for each LED, enabling precise spatial awareness within the geometry. The installation was driven by my proprietary ESP32‑based LED engine, remotely controlled through a custom mobile app (Android & iOS). The effects were generated using both Cartesian and Polar coordinate systems, allowing for multidimensional motion, rotational symmetry, and volumetric light behavior.

Originally developed as an in‑house experiment at Zerolight, the piece immediately captured attention. Upon seeing it, the owner of Klein Phoenix (Istanbul) purchased the work for the club’s interior.