project: syntropy, creator of technology and display solutions for dome cinemas and immersive attractions has been named the winner of the Visitor Attraction category in the 2024 Inavation Awards for its project at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center (SUPEC), China.
The 2024 Inavation Awards, which are powered by Inavate and ISE, were announced on Tuesday 30 January at a ceremony held in the grand hall at MNAC, Barcelona. The awards recognise excellence in the AV industry, with 13 categories of project awards, in addition to company and manufacturer of the year, and an extensive range of technology categories.
5D mixed-reality environment
project: syntropy developed an immersive, interactive 5D Urban Model for SUPEC on behalf of Space M GmbH in Munich, Germany.
SUPEC is an inclusive and family-friendly museum located in People’s Square in Shanghai. It offers an interactive experience of the Shanghai 2035 mission statement and master plan, which defines action plans, concepts and guidelines for creating a competitive, innovative, and livable city.
project: syntropy’s immersive and interactive 5D mixed-reality environment features a 20m wide by 10m tall fibre glass projection with a toroid shape to the top and bottom, and a cylindrical shape to the midsection. It includes a floor projection, 12-plus-11-channel 4K 3D stereo projection, a 24-channel IG render cluster, and multiple tracking systems as well as 22-channel surround sound and show control. Auto alignment is powered by domeprojection.com ProjectionTools.
Future-proof model
This project is part of a refurbishment at SUPEC, which included an update for both the building itself and the exhibition concept. The scheme was led by SBA Staedtebau Architekten (with Molitor on the exhibition concept). It drew inspiration from the Elbe-Dome 2.0 operated by Fraunhofer Institute IFF in Magdeburg, Germany, which project: syntropy had upgraded shortly before.
project: syntropy explains: “While in search of state-of-the-art exhibition technologies to transform the central exhibit of SUPEC – the physical city model of Shanghai’s city centre with a scale of 1:500 – the immersive Elbe-Dome 2.0 appeared to SBA as the ideal technological blueprint for the implementation of their 5D digital city model of Shanghai called “Digital Twin”.
After a visit and demonstration in Magdeburg, the Chinese customer was also convinced of the enormous possibilities of the technology and the concept.”
The client named the immersive interactive digital 5D city model the “Digital Sandtable.” This utilises several virtual and mixed reality technologies to create and present a completely dynamic, walkable, and future-proof digital city model.
Visitors are immersed in the experience thanks to a 20m wide by 10m high multi-curved screen that spans two floors, has toroidal upper and lower thirds, a cylindrical middle segment that resembles a wave, and an additional floor projection. Meetings and special presentations can be hosted in the upper floor VIP area.
project: syntropy describes the scope of the project: “Our work for the 5D MR attraction included the creative-technical concept, system design, delivery, installation, integration and commissioning of the complete visual system including screen, IG render cluster, surround sound audio system, media control as well as the initial calibration and the final training of the operating staff. Maintenance is provided by our local staff.”
The high-resolution 12 + 11-channel 4k projection system includes 3D stereo projection. The integration of multiple high-end tracking systems allows for dynamic eye points that can vary between visitor experience, interactive VIP mode, analytical expert mode, and different scales of the 5D city model.
The 24-channel high-performance IG rendering cluster powers the dynamic real-time 3D city model of the Shanghai metropolis. This is based on 3D data provided by the city of Shanghai for the museum show and can be expanded and modified at any time. Additional material, such as GIS data, simulations of development and mobility planning, and urban planning-based implementation measures, can be overlaid and added as needed.
project: syntropy recently shared details of its project for the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center as well as its advanced CAVE system at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
