California
Academy of Sciences
* bandwidth intensive
The California Academy of Sciences, celebrating its 150th anniversary
in 2003, is planning for a major new initiative: a comprehensive
rebuilding project unprecedented among the world's largest natural
history museums. Once completed, the new Academy promises to be
a symbol of excellence architecturally, educationally, and scientifically.
Click here
for more information.
This
project included many interesting facets; design, visualization,
physical model creation and more. Many issues were addressed via
CG simulation, line of sight, massing, refractive distortion etc.
I had the pleasure of addressing these matters and seeing the
stretchability of a topologically sound dataset.
California
Coast Tank
|
DESIGN
| The
primary function of the 3d dataset was design. The California
Coast tank was to be viewed from 2 floors, and many vantage
points. There is a catwalk on the upper floor, where the surface
of the water and protruding rock formations and the accompanying
'life pools' could be viewed (see below for wave animation).
The lower floor has a large floor to ceiling curved viewing
wall, a bubble window as well as a recessed 'cave' viewing
area. The problem was creating a natural looking coral reef
formation that allowed for multiple people to view it, while
preventing crossviewing of other museum goers. This would
maximize the impact and viewer interaction with the display. |
|
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
Schematics
of the viewable areas from the lower floor of the exhibit. (clockwise
from top left)
The Curved Viewing Wall
This is the main viewing area of the tank, as well
as the most problematic, allowing for viewing of the entire
footprint of the tank.
The Bubble Window
An interesting way to see the fish and coral life,
one feels as if they are inside the tank.
The Cave
Another interactive viewing experience, the interior of this
space is lined with the rock of the tank, with a large curved
viewing window.
|
|
MASS
Below is the design for the massing of the rocks. It is
a low polygon model that was tested extensively, with multiple
cameras and extreme angles. A tunnel was included in one
of the masses to add visual interest, as well as something
for the fish. There is a pillar as part of the structure
that required skinning as well.
I also conducted a series of tests using raytracing in order
to see the effect of light refraction through the water
volume as well as the curved viewing surfaces.
|
 |
|
The Wave
The inclusion of a powerful pump created a uniform wave,
causing the water to lap the rocks at the surface. Below
is part of a test used to determine the optimal amplitude
of the wave, so as not to disturb the 'pools of life' at
the surface of the rocks. The water is shared with the adjacent
display, a beach like area with alligators, and other wildlife.
Click here or on a image below to
view an animation showing the waves effect on the surface
rock.
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
