Kortrijk, Belgium - The University of Potsdam, Germany, has installed a Barco I-Space to bring its research data to life as the university's Research Focus Area of Earth Sciences tries to find out how system "Earth" works and how everything around and on the Earth, including man, affects the planet.
The brand-new 3D lab, equipped with a three-sided Barco I-Space, helps them gain new insights. The University of Potsdam officially opened its 3D lab on 15 June. With natural hazards and climate change becoming ever-important topics worldwide, the University increasingly focuses on studying the facts, causes, and implications of these phenomena. Next to the researchers, companies from a wide range of industries--automotive, IT, biology, etc.--come to the lab to bring their research data to life.
When the need came for a high-quality visualization solution, the university researched various options but decided on Barco after a visit to the demo room in the company's headquarters in Belgium. "The image quality we saw on the wall at Barco in Kuurne was simply stunning. There was no way the other solutions could compare," states Dr. Bergner, International Project Coordination, University of Potsdam, Research Focus Area Earth Sciences.
For this project, Barco installed an I-Space multi-sided, cubic immersive environment that surrounds the user with virtual imagery. The University opted for a three-sided I-Space with two walls and a front-projected floor. The installation is powered by three Barco Galaxy NW-12 full-HD projectors and designed with three semi-rigid 4.00 meter screens and Barco's XDS Control Center software for the display management.
"The I-Space is immensely changing the awareness within our community. When we have complex, detailed data to discuss and analyze during meetings, we decide to 'go see it for real' in the I-Space. It gives the feeling of being fully 'immersed' in the data or pictures. The high resolution allows us to detect the tiniest details. In this way, we can speed up analysis, decision-making and collaboration," continues Dr. Bergner.
The University of Potsdam is very proud of the cutting-edge solution, which boosts its image of a leading center for science and research. "The I-Space truly helps us better understand how the earth functions and evolves and, as a consequence, how we can safeguard it," Dr. Bergner concludes.