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Study: Ocean Frontier |
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Outline
CGA Integration supplied the entire audio visual suite for the
conversion of Fort William sewage works into a £1.3 million
aquarium, creating the largest indoor tourist attraction in Fort
William. Ten themed zones from seashore to deep ocean included
a strong reliance on dramatic audio and video projection to enhance
the 1.4 million litre centrepiece aquarium. Regular diving displays
also provided audience interaction for an expected audience of
100,000 per year.
Challenges
The central aquarium exhibit was partially open plan, increasing
salt and humidity through most areas. A tourist season deadline
and tight budget required all aspects to function perfectly first
time. In addition, audio visual future flexibility and expansion
was a key part of business strategies to maximise repeat visitation.
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Diving displays
Regular diving demonstrations and fish feeding incorporated underwater
video and audio feeds with radio mics and automatic effects ducking.
Processing was required to reduce bubble noise, low bandwidth diver
signal and room acoustics. Mediamatrix provided patching and processing
while Kramer switching handled the video with a system simple enough
for untrained staff to use.
Zone control
Different sound effects for each zone needed to be integrated with
radio microphone inputs and PA announcements. An additional feature
required by Building Control was an All Off setting to be linked
to the Fire Alarm. This was all provided by a Media Matrix X Frame,
with two expansion BOBs. |
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Environmental conditions
Humidity and salt issues were kept at bay by supplying high quality
Near A2, A4 and A8 speakers. An air conditioned room was specified
to house processors and amp rack, with only breakout controls
in challenging atmospheres.
Projection
16 NEC data video projectors were supplied to enable dramatic
projection up to 4m wide setting the scene in each zone and relaying
underwater video images during diving shows to create a live,
diver commented ‘Underwater Safari’. CGA Integration
also provided a screen for the National Aquarium Conference 2003.
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Budgets and
timescales
Construction issues threatened to impinge on the AV budget remaining
toward the fit out phase of the project and CGA Integration suggested
third party finance to keep the system spec at that required to
achieve a high quality visitor experience.
Response
Tim Clements, Ocean Frontier curator, was delighted with the end
result. “CGA Integration came on board with a wealth of expertise
and were instantly up to speed on our project. Their support was
second to none and the system gave us excellent flexibility to keep
the experience for our visitors fresh and interesting.”
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