The Orientarium in Lódz, Poland, which opened in April of this year, is the largest complex in Europe showcasing the fauna and flora of Southeast Asia.
The exhibition area is divided into four themed sections. Visitors can view a 26-metre-long underwater tunnel with 1,300 species of fish and 35 species of animals in the Orientarium complex alone. On display are Sumatran orangutans, record-size gavial crocodiles and the largest Indian elephant in Europe.
The Orientarium features a total of 29 43-in Sony Bravia FW-43BZ53F monitors, integrated with the TEOS system with a digital signage licence. The systems provides visitors with information about the Orientarium’s residents, the animals’ feeding times and habits, as well as their sponsors. Messages are also displayed in the lifts. Monitors located in the corridors display current information about the city and its attractions.
The Orientarium complex was also equipped with 10 Sony VPL-PHZ series laser projectors, which are used in both the exhibition and the office area.
In addition to ticket offices, a restaurant and a café, this building also houses a conference centre. It includes a plenary room capable of accommodating 350 people. The space was designed so that it can be rearranged into 2 or 3 smaller rooms depending on the needs. As a result, the centre offers six meeting rooms of various sizes equipped with multimedia products. Seven Sony VPL-PHZ projectors were placed in the conference rooms.
TEOS players were installed in all six lifts, allowing digital signage content to be displayed. The published content is managed via a web browser, which means that it can be changed using any device with access to the Zoo’s local network. The system controls the switching on and off of the monitors. TEOS provides a diagnostic tool. It can be used to remotely check what a particular monitor is displaying and whether it is working properly. Such a diagnostic tool is particularly valuable in large facilities because of the time that would be required for an audit of all the equipment. The conference centre is connected to the Orientarium by a glass walkway.
The second building is the elephant house. Visitors can see the animals straight on, but also from above and from an underwater perspective. The elephant pool is three metres deep and, thanks to the glazed surface, it is possible to watch the elephants bathing. On the wall, either side of the window to the pool, special contents prepared for visitors are displayed. Baths take place at 11am, but guests visiting the Orientarium at other times can watch footage displayed using Sony VPL-PHZ60 projectors. Multimedia displays take place on both sides of the pool window. The public can watch footage and read the information presented.
Another part of the complex called Celebes is the home of, among others, Macaws and oriental otters. The whole building features six 43-in Sony Bravia FW-43BZ35F professional monitors. Each device features secure casing and is designed to enhance the visitors’ experience at the facility and to provide information about the animals living there. Seven monitors were installed in the Oceanarium. A huge attraction is the 26-metre underwater tunnel and seven ocean tanks. One monitor was installed on the first floor, where visitors can see the back of the shark pool. Here, information about feeding times and the habits of these animals is displayed.
A VPL-PHZ60 6,000 lumens projector was installed at the side entrance to the shark aquarium. The lifespan of the projector is 20,000 hours, which means it will last at least six years as the Zoo is open nine hours a day, 364 days a year. It is only closed on 1 November.