Panasonic brings 360° and 3D projection to Hydropolis water exhibition in Poland

This scientific centre dedicated to water uses a total of 57 equipment from this manufacturer for 3D and 360° mapping, as well as interactive projections that bring everyone closer to the important role of the liquid element in human life.

Hydropolis is the only science and ecological education centre in Poland dedicated exclusively to water, in which education is combined with an exhibition of almost 4.000 square meters, with 64 Interactive installations created exclusively using the most advanced multimedia solutions.

This exhibition is located in the historic building of the water treatment and drainage company in the Polish city of Wrocław, built in 1893, which was the headquarters of the municipal water supply system before becoming a unique attraction in Poland. On your tour, Visitors are guided with a narrative structure through eight distinct zones, in which the role of water in human life is analysed through multimedia shows and art installations.

Open seven days a week, The audio-visual equipment for the interactive and multimedia installations had to deliver performance 24/7 and maximum reliability. In addition, The design and construction of this space had to overcome a considerable number of obstacles, as it was a matter of creating an exhibition in an environment that had not been specifically designed for that purpose, and using only audio-visual technology.

Added to this was the fact that the works not only had to respect this historic building, Protected & Catalogued, but also specific humidity and temperature parameters. One of the main criteria for the selection of the equipment was reliability, so that maintenance activities could be kept to a minimum to avoid interruptions.

A total of 57 projectors Panasonic, specifically the PT-DZ870 and PT-DZ680 models, to perform functions such as 360° mapping, 3D mapping and interactive projections.

"A few years ago we could only enjoy these modern exhibitions abroad. fortunately, Polish museums are recognising the potential of audiovisual equipment to change the way visitors learn and enjoy, and try to integrate them more and more to offer you new experiences. Hydropolis is an excellent example of the extraordinary effect that can be achieved using multimedia solutions.", explains Magdalena Przasnyska, Director of Marketing & Sales at Panasonic.

360° mapping

At the center of the exhibition is the so-called Water Planet, an oval room with a 360° screen showing a video about the Earth and the origins of water, which is complete with an Earth-like projection sphere, with a diameter of more than 2 metre. In the beginning, and because of the size of the room and the interior pillars, It was impossible to install the projectors at a suitable distance to make this multimedia creation so that visitors could enjoy it from very small distances.

To solve the problem, fourteen Panasonic PT-DZ870 DLP projectors are used, as they have an ultra-short focal length lens, with replaceable ET-DLE030 lenses, plus a compact design, brightness of 8.500 lumens and a high contrast ratio of 10.000:1. Its reliability is guaranteed with its long-lasting double double lamp system (with replacement cycle 3.000 hours), that prevents interruption if a, with a high performance 24/7.

Thanks to the built-in geometric adjustment functions of these projectors, They were able to be installed on the building's oval interior walls, Considering the arched roof, The huge pillars and curved walls. The possibility of installing the projector with a 360º angle allows it to be integrated into the spaces of a museum or attraction, often narrow and limited.

The same, A specially designed cooling system and a dust-resistant optical block also contribute to the reliability of the system, as well as ensuring high image quality.

Bas-relief projection

Two projectors of the PT-DZ870 model have also been used in a mapping with projection on a diorama of the Nile River. The teams project a digital image of the river onto a bas-relief, at the mouth of the river.

Taking into account the size of the bas-relief, Two projectors were selected to ensure full coverage of the model, So the two images are linked thanks to the edge blending function integrated in these machines to offer a single unified and aligned image.

Touch Interaction

The Living Ocean area of Hydropolis was an opportunity to offer greater interactivity for visitors, with a motion tracking projection visualized in two round tables, each with a diameter of about 120 cm, using two Panasonic PT-DZ680 projectors with mirrors to cover this large projection surface.

The devices are installed underneath the screen and project from behind onto the surface. Motion tracking is achieved thanks to two cameras with wide-angle lenses, also located below the screen, to accurately map and detect visitors as they interact with the facility.

A total of 29 Model PTDZ680 projectors, chosen because . The two main prerequisites for this project were met: have a security system in place and ensure extremely high performance.

Another added bonus is its original Eco filter, which should not be replaced until after 12.000 hours. Liquid cooling system ensures higher performance, as well as quiet operation in all conditions.

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