The British Geological Survey (BGS), the UK's leading supplier of geoscience solutions, is presently upgrading its immersive 3D Visualisation Facility (i3DVF) by moving to a room approximately twice the size and installing the new Christie projector.

This reflects the positive impact that the i3DVF has made in BGS since its inauguration in 2005.

"The bigger screen and higher resolution have helped to create a more immersive environment," summarized i3DVF Science Facility Leader, Bruce Napier. "More pixels equates to better immersion in the visualisation, which in turn leads to a better understanding of the science and ultimately improves our ability to deliver our strategic objectives."

The four main functions of the suite - which can accommodate around 30-plus geologists - include virtual fieldwork, using GeoVisionary, BGS-capability demonstrations to VIPs, presentation of project deliverables to clients and general demonstrations of 3D geological technology to members of the public, schools, etc. An improved technical infrastructure would also provide better facilities for team working and more space for visitors.

Virtalis, who undertook the original BGS installation and have since carried out progressive upgrades, including ActiveWorks visualisation systems, at both the Keyworth and Edinburgh office facilities. It was they who originally specified Christie Mirage S+4K active 3D projectors in both locations - and these have functioned successfully throughout, enabling geological images to be viewed in stereo for the first time.

Christie technology has subsequently undergone a major upgrade path and when Virtalis sales director Andrew Connell advised BGS of the impending WU7K-M - a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA, 6300 ANSI lumens active 3D DLP projector, with full 120Hz frame support - BGS became the first company in the EMEA region to place an order for the new projector.

In the meantime, they took the decision to reinstall the trusty S+4K while awaiting the arrival of the new energy-efficient 'M' series projector.

"We had no doubts about doing this as we have had 5,000-plus hours of use from the S+4K projector, benefitting from significant efficiency gains in geological modeling and virtual fieldwork," said Bruce Napier. "It helped us to create a very positive image of BGS as a leading light in the field of geoscience technologies in the 21st century.

Connell, who had earlier described the Mirage S+4K as "the first projector of its type in Europe", confirmed its merits. "But the main benefit of the new generation projector was the genuine 120Hz, noise reduction and increased 1920 resolution," he said. "While they could have achieved the same resolution on a standard Xenon WU7, which supports active stereo, the 120Hz output would only have been supported by doubling up the 60Hz inputs."

As a result, the WU7K-M has been integrated into the new ActiveWall set-up which includes a 16:10 aspect screen, 6-core Dell PC with NVIDIA QuadroFX5800 graphics card and upgraded Virtalis GeoVisionary software (for whom BGS is the development partner) - all operating under AMX master control, within a completely refurbished, air-conditioned room.