3D Modelling - Digital reconstructions - Games

Project Name
3D reconstructions, animations, and games for the Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production in Lesvos
Country
Greece
Department/Generate Directorate/Bureau/Service name
Piraeus Bank Cultural Foundation (Museums Network)
Project URL
http://www.makebelieve.gr
ACQUISITION AND HARVESTING: Multimedia platforms
A "constructivist" educational game has been specifically designed and created for the museum, combining 2d elements (images, photos) with 3d reconstructions. Through its participatory nature, it allows young visitors to construct and understand the process of producing olive oil in the early industrial era.
VISUALISATION - 3D Modelling
The display of historic industrial objects is complemented with 3D digital reconstructions which include models and animations of machinery and production lines. Most notably, the film From Water to Water shows a steam engine, with animation that illustrates the process of energy generation; the film From Olives to Olive Oil includes accurate 3D reconstructions of the olive presses and pumps, with animation illustrating the pressing of olives and separation of oil. The visualisations are projected on multiple screens alongside the exhibits and on information panels throughout the exhibition.
VISUALISATION - Digital reconstructions
The highly accurate digital models and animations were designed with the help of the team of mechanical engineers responsible for the restoration of the actual industrial-era machinery that is on display in the museum. The 3D reconstructions were first built in AutoCAD© and Unigraph, in multiple separate parts. Each part was then imported into Autodesk 3ds Max©, where material mapping was applied, and connected. The models were also mapped topographically. For the pre-rendered animations, the team of engineers and modelers/animators worked together to reconstruct the models digitally in the modeling program and animate the separate parts, applying the relevant mathematical functions and forces. Each piece of machinery was rendered into a separate production which is displayed on a screen next to that machine. The two larger productions, From Water to Water and From Olives to Olive Oil showcase both the machinery and the entire production process that they form part of.
VISUALISATION - Other
The educational game Oil the Wheels of the communal engine allows young visitors to learn about the construction of the machinery displayed in the museum in an interactive way. For the interactive game, simplified lower-polygon versions of the models were used. These were divided into smaller parts that are used in the two parts of the game; the player must connect the parts in order to put together the machines and start production.
Department/Generate Directorate/Bureau/Service address
A. Geronta 6, Athens
Directorate/Bureau/Service tel.
+30 210 3256924
Directorate/Bureau/Service e-mail
info@piop.gr
Directorate/Bureau/Service Website
http://www.piop.gr/
Department/Generate Directorate/Bureau/Service Description
The Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation's (PIOP) is responsible for an entire network of thematic museums around Greece, the "Museums Network". These thematic museums, which have been conceived, organised and are managed by the Foundation, aim at studying, preserving, and promoting Greek heritage and Greek cultural identity. They also form a model for the method of creating museums and the manner of museological expression. The museums in the network currently operating are: the Open-air Water Power Museum, the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil, the Silk Museum, the Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production, the Rooftile and Brickworks Museum N. & S. Tsalapatas, the Museum of Marble Working, and the Museum of the Environment in Stymfalia. The Museums Network is unique in that managerial, accounting and secretarial affairs of the museums are run from the centre, which provides for the museums? maintenance, impeccable operation and enhancement, by organising various events on location. This operational model is implemented with the unreserved co-operation of the local society and local and regional government. This cooperation transforms the Museums in the Network into living organisms that unite people in the region, making the constantly expanding Museums Network a unique, large-scale cultural intervention.
Contact Person
Elia Vlachou
Contact Person Gender
Mrs
Contact Person Institution
Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation
Contact Person Address
A. Geronta 6, Athens, Greece
Contact Person Tel
+30 210 3256924
Contact Person e-mail
info@piop.g
Contact languages
Greek, French, English
Objectives and priorities
makebelieve design & consulting designed and developed the digital exhibits for the Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production, creating a series of digital productions which incorporate the 3D digital reconstruction of the fascinating industrial-era machinery. Most notably, the film "From water to water" includes the accurate 3D modelling of the steam engine, with animation that illustrates the process of energy production; the film "From olives to olive oil" includes accurate 3D reconstructions of the olive presses and their pumps, with animation illustrating the grinding, compression, and separation process for olive oil production. The productions are projected on multiple screens alongside the exhibits and on various informational panels throughout the exhibition spaces. makebelieve has also designed and developed interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages, which are installed in the Museum's educational rooms. The educational game "Oil the 'wheels' of the communal engine" allows young visitors to construct the engines used for producing olive oil and to learn about the process in an engaging and challenging way.
Problems encountered and lessons learnt
We were faced with multiple challenges, both with respect to development of the project and introduction/operation of digital technology productions in a small museum. The main challenge in development had to do with the high level of accuracy in the 3D reconstructions that had to be achieved while there was little information available to start from. Fortunately, the collaboration with the team of expert mechanical engineers was very fruitful. .The main challenge with regards to operation has to do with the fact the museum is located in a small village on Greek island; in other words, it is what we like to call "in the periphery of the periphery" in terms of infrastructure services, and knowledgeable staff. Therefore, digital technology installations in the exhibition spaces require careful planning for robustness and ease of use, in order for them to operate continuously.
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