Modulo Pi Enhances AV Experiences at Aquascope Water Park
Modulo Pi, a provider of media server solutions with a user-friendly design, has revealed details about its project at Futuroscope, France, where its media servers are enhancing the captivating audiovisual experiences in the new Aquascope water park.
Futuroscope’s Aquascope, a groundbreaking water park featuring immersive, themed worlds, sets a new standard for innovation. Spanning over 6,000 square metres, the park employs cutting-edge technology to offer visitors an unparalleled experience.
Unique Water Park Concept
In line with the park’s ethos and focus on digital technologies, the teams at Futuroscope and its maintenance and development branch, FMD, have crafted a unique concept that challenges traditional water park norms.
Yannis Marchet, development and projects manager at FMD, states: “We aimed to incorporate the thrill of iconic slides, but we also recognised the need for relaxation spaces during family visits, which we didn’t want to limit to just deckchairs.”
Aquascope opened on 15 July 2024, covering 6,000 square metres indoors and 3,500 square metres outdoors, with a maximum capacity of 1,700 guests.
Similar to Futuroscope, advanced imaging technologies have been integrated into the indoor area to create a unique immersive water park experience. Guests are transported into enchanting realms where large projections by Moment Factory combine with water and light effects to produce a spectacle like no other.
Technical Challenges
Integrating state-of-the-art projection technology into the aquatic environment of Aquascope presented unique challenges for FMD’s teams. To protect the equipment, hopper-type control rooms were constructed above the water basins.
“The uniqueness of this project lies in operating within a chlorinated environment, which is highly corrosive,” explains Marchet.
“The projectors are completely isolated from the pool’s ambient air, with dedicated air conditioning systems bringing in fresh air from outside the pool area.”
Kiné-eau, one of Aquascope’s standout attractions, offers a spectacular multi-sensory experience where water and visuals merge seamlessly. Guests can explore a 200 square-metre pool, surrounded by a 270-degree, 5-metre high panoramic screen. Multimedia content is displayed on the 165 square metre screen using five Barco 4K22 projectors, delivering a resolution of 44 million pixels.
To ensure optimal projection quality, FMD collaborated with Modulo Pi and its advanced 3D auto-calibration technology. This camera-based software module is currently under development and provides pixel-perfect mapping on any projection surface.
Marchet notes: “We’ve valued our partnership with Modulo Pi for years – their proximity, guidance, and innovation have been invaluable. The innovation of 3D auto-calibration was particularly compelling for our project.”
Projection Perfected
FMD utilised the Modulo Kinetic media server alongside Modulo Pi’s cutting-edge 3D auto-calibration solution to create an exceptional mapping of the 270-degree cylindrical screen at Kiné-eau as a preview for this project.
The process began with a 3D scan of Kiné-eau, which was transformed into a refined mesh and imported into Modulo Kinetic. Using 10 on-site PoE cameras connected to the media server, an accurate point cloud of Kiné-eau was generated and aligned in real-time with the previously imported mesh. The 3D auto-calibration feature automatically aligned the five Barco projectors, calculating geometry and overlap areas to ensure flawless projection. This system not only provides ideal calibration but also allows for easy maintenance over time.
“In this space, self-calibration is permanently installed, allowing activation whenever needed,” Marchet adds.
To enhance the Kiné-eau experience, five Nexo ID84 speakers were installed, along with timecoded water and light effects that interact with the projected content, such as projections of falling meteorites that create bubble effects in the pool as they hit the water.
Acclaimed Concept
Aquascope invites visitors to discover La Crique, a magical cavern featuring a 300 square metre video mapping installation, glowing water, colourful jets, a water curtain with glyphs, and two interactive beaches where particles respond to visitors’ movements.
FMD installed four Barco 4K video projectors with Modulo Kinetic for the mapping. The projected images seamlessly align with the complex rocky backdrop of the cavern, thanks to the media server’s sophisticated warping tools. Media from Modulo Kinetic is delivered at a resolution of 33 million pixels.
The visual display is complemented by synchronised sound and underwater lighting. La Crique also serves as the starting point for a winding river that flows through Aquascope’s interiors. Visitors can board individual buoys and float down the waterway while enjoying video content and a unique perspective.
With a €57 million budget, Aquascope represents Futuroscope’s largest investment since its inception in 1987, creating approximately 100 new jobs. The concept was an immediate success, attracting over 150,000 guests within just six weeks of opening.
Furthermore, Aquascope has gained recognition in the global theme park industry, receiving multiple awards such as Best European Attraction at the Parksmania Awards 2024, the Leading Edge Award from the World Waterpark Association, and the THEA Award for Best Water Park.
Recently, Modulo Pi celebrated the launch of ARTEXPLORER, Art Explora Foundation’s travelling festival and the world’s first museum boat. Akumendo and Arscénique collaborated on the IT and AV for this unique and complex project, which features an advanced AV system with an immersive LED tunnel and the Modulo Kinetic media server from Modulo Pi.
