In 2008, in partnership with HOK, a global architectural firm, Mechdyne served as design and engineering consultant for the Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization Research Center (GM&SVRC) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. After a competitive bid process, Mechdyne was also selected to integrate the visualization technology in the state-of-the art facility.
Highlights of the facilities include seven collaborative environments supporting high-resolution, 3D stereoscopic imaging capability. Designed and engineered by Mechdyne, KAUST's showcase system is the "Cornea," the world's brightest six-sided immersive room.
The GM&SVRC, which KAUST developed in collaboration with the University of California San Diego, underlies the new university's commitment to provide the world's best tools for research into some of the most challenging questions in science and technology. Among other projects, GM&SVRC will develop virtual environments for interactive visual exploration of thee-dimensional geological structures, dynamic seismic processes and atmospheric processes and effects on built or planned infrastructure.
In addition to design and engineering, and integrating and installing this very significant project, Mechdyne was also selected to become the prime technical service provider. Mechdyne also serves as the maintenance and service provider for all the AV installations on campus, as well as non-campus buildings and schools. A total of seven Mechdyne service staff are working at KAUST in 2010 to perform the AV repairs, service and maintenance.
Several world firsts in visualization were realized at KAUST. Most of the visualization systems in GM&SVRC utilize theater-quality projectors from Sony enhanced with Mechdyne's Beacon projection technology for stereoscopic viewing. Mechdyne also provided software to enable display of 3D imagery and to produce interactive 3D experiences from visualization and computer modeling applications. Mechdyne designed networked systems to enable recording of sessions from any of the display systems digitally in high-definition, a world first capability for visualization suites. To further enhance the virtual reality experience, Mechdyne installed a first of its kind spatial audio system.