Science Institute , Seeing the earth ‘for real’, thanks to an immersive Barco iSpace

“The image quality we saw on the wall at Barco in Kuurne was simply stunning. There was no way the other solutions could compare.” Dr. Andreas G.N. Bergner, International Project Coordination, of Potsdam, “Research Focus Area Earth Sciences

” By the time the brand-new 3D lab at the University of Potsdam opened, on 15 June 2011, the lab’s agenda was already fully booked. The Center’s scientists as well as its industrial partners can’t wait to use the highly immersive I- Space – one of the first in Geo Sciences in Germany - to bring their research data to life.

The University embarked upon the 3D lab project in 2009, with the financial support of the Federal Government. Barco set up a 3-sided I-Space that exceeds everyone’s expectations in terms of brightness and ease-of-use. “It truly helps us ‘see things for real’, to better understand the earth on which we live,” summarized Prof. Manfred Strecker, head of the Department. How does an earthquake develop and how can we reduce our exposure to it? How is the ocean-atmosphere system changing? How can we assess human impact on change? These are just three examples of the countless top- ics that 70 scientists and 50 doctoral can- didates are tackling at the University of Potsdam’s Research Focus Area of and Integrated Earth System Analysis. They try to find out how system gy providers committed to improving (1920x1200) resolution and 12,000 lumens ‘Earth’ works and how everything around expertise communication in the fields of light output. The images are incredibly and on the Earth – including us, man – worldwide natural-hazard assessment bright, with high contrast,” said Dr. Bergn- affects the planet. The brand-new 3D and climate-change prediction. The new er. “The projectors’ native stereoscopic lab, which is equipped with a three- PROGRESS cluster greatly helped Dr. capabilities, which include Active Infitec, sided Barco I-Space, greatly helps them Bergner rouse the interest of several inno- ensure that we get images down to the gain new insights. vative companies and associate them as smallest detail. If we’re working in small partners. groups, we wear active 3D stereo glasses.” With natural hazards and climate change Potsdam further chose Barco’s XDS Control becoming ever-important topics world- No-one tops Barco Center software for the display manage- wide, the University increasingly focuses Together, they laid down the requirements ment. “It allows us to display our sources on studying the facts, causes and implica- for an advanced visualization system. in multiple windows and even on remote tions of these phenomena. A few years Bergner: “It had to be a stable, hi-tech devices, to facilitate easy Communication ago, in 2009, they felt that a high-quality solution with high resolution and active of data. Thanks to its familiar Windows visualization solution would be a great stereo capabilities that we’d be able to interface and the mouse and keyboard support. Their idea was welcomed by the enjoy for many years on end. User friend- control it fully meets our demands for Ministry for Education and Research, one liness was key as well, because we knew user-friendliness.” of the center’s main financiers. “I immedi- that many different people, from the uni- ately started googling for solutions,” versity and associated research partners, Let’s go see it for real recalled Dr. Andreas Bergner, International as well as from the industry, would use it.” The University of Potsdam’s 3D lab was Project Coordinator at the department, Dr. Bergner and his colleagues decided to officially inaugurated in June 2011. “We “and found two other German climate keep the Barco proposal in mind but, nev- couldn’t wait for that date to start using it, campuses who worked with Barco: Ger- ertheless, view a few alternatives. They as everyone was so excited,” Dr. Bergner many, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental travelled around, talking to scientists and laughed. “The I-Space is immensely Research (UFZ) in Leipzig and the German technicians and visited the demo rooms of changing the awareness within our com- Climate Computing Center (DKRZ) in Ham- three different suppliers. “The image qual- munity. When we have complex, detailed burg.” Dr. Bergner contacted Barco and ity we saw on the wall at Barco in Kuurne data to discuss and analyze during meet- received a first proposal. was simply stunning. There was no way ings, we decide to ‘go see it for real’ in the the other solutions could compare,” Dr. I-Space. It gives the feeling of being fully Partnering with the industry Bergner stated. ‘immersed’ in the data or pictures. The The 2009 financial crisis slowed the proj- high resolution allows us detect the tiniest ect slightly, to the better though. “Whilst Combining high quality with details. In this way, we can speed up we were in the middle of our market ease-of-use analysis, decision-making and collabora- study, the government was looking for Barco suggested installing an I-Space: a tion.” Besides the researchers, companies ways to boost the German economy by multi-sided, cubic immersive environment from a wide range of industries - automo- encouraging innovation,” Bergner contin- that surrounds the user completely with tive, IT, , etc. – come to the lab to ued. “They proposed to fund the entire virtual imagery. The University opted for a bring their research data to life. The Uni- project if we could get some industry part- three-sided I-Space with two walls and a versity of Potsdam is proud of the cutting- ners on board.” At that time, the new Pots- front-projected floor. The installation is edge solution, which boosts its image of a dam Research Cluster for Georisk Analysis, powered by three Barco Galaxy NW-12 full leading center for science and research. Environment Change and HD projectors and designed with three “The I-Space truly helps us better under- (PROGRESS) was established in Potsdam. semi-rigid 4.00 meter screens. “The stand how the earth functions and The cluster brings together a set of top- Galaxy NW-12 projector, which was brand- evolves and, as a consequence, how we level research departments and technolo- new then, offers an exceptionally high can safeguard it,” Dr. Bergner concluded.

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