ARL's Virtual Eye has done the same for gliding as they did for yachting in the America’s Cup with the most technically advanced real-time 3D graphics ever seen. The graphics were developed for the New Zealand Gliding Grand Prix held 21-29 January 2006, an event that has changed the face of competitive gliding as it turns it into an exciting, spectator sport.
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“In most sports we can look and see who’s winning and losing but in gliding, as in yachting, there’s no sense of the field. We can create that field, even when it covers thousands of square miles.” ARL managing director, Ian Taylor.
Animation Research Ltd. was commissioned by The Partners for one of our most ambitious projects yet – to photo realistically reproduce the entire city of Brisbane Australia, showing what the view would be from the windows of a proposed 70-story apartment complex situated in downtown Brisbane. Regulations ruled out the use of helicopters so we were required to create accurate views for every fifth floor at the four points of the compass and at different times of the day. Our team worked for 10 weeks to produce a time lapse animation of the city spanning a 24 hour period. Supported by Dolby digital environmental surround sound, the animation was 2800 × 700 pixels and screened at a massive 10 × 2 metres.
Above: Brisbane Evening panorama
ARL’s proprietary rendering technology Katachi, allowed us to create an impressive 360 degree panorama, with an unprecedented level of detail. Katachi’s versatility allows us to easily handle massive scene geometry, and render a fully ray traced animation and integrate ambient occlusion, as well as procedurally switch individual city lights on and off at different times of day.
"We have all been truly overawed with the power... of the system, it's modelling, and it's operation. It is, by a long way, the best 3D that I have worked with anywhere..." Richard Carr, Senior Producer, Formula One, BBC. (January 2011) -Monte Carlo 2012
"The 3D graphics deliver an experience for the trainee as close to the real thing as possible. Even sun-strike and raindrops on the cab windows are replicated with incredible realism." Mark Griffin - Product Development Manager, Airways New Zealand (July 2012) -Total Control 2006
"The... technology supplied by Animation Research Ltd is superior to anything seen previously, and testing has delivered the most consistent data our company has ever had." Jason Paris - Head of Emerging Business, TVNZ (Louis Vuitton Pacific Series 2009) -Louis Vuitton 2009
"We are thrilled with the energy and enthusiasm that (ARL) has brought to the table... It is a real case of a Kiwi company combining a No.8 wire attitude with world-class technology." Michael Glading - New Zealand Open Tournament Director (February 2014) -NZ Open 2015
