CASE STUDIES
Laser Scanning & 3D Modelling for the BBC News Augmented Reality and Virtual Productions
Above : SUMO 3D model of BBC News Studio B.
The BBC News Design team oversees all virtual reality, augmented reality and real-time graphics for the BBC News. Having worked on projects for the team previously, the 3D department at SUMO was asked to produce a 3D model of BBC News Studio B, to enable the motion design team at the BBC, to pre-visualise and design augmented reality features and virtual productions in the studio space.
Our Role
A laser scan survey was conducted, which was ideal for picking up the variety of surfaces with a high degree of accuracy. The scanner produced highly detailed point clouds of up to 50 million points.
Above : Figure 2. The point cloud data of BBC News Studio B from laser scanning.
The point cloud in Figure 2 enabled SUMO’s 3D team to create a high accuracy 3D Model for the client. The 3D model, as seen in Figures 3 and 4 provided the client with a full-scale digital replica of the space to work with.
Above : Figure 3. SUMO 3D model of BBC News Studio B, as provided to the BBC News Design Team.
Above : Figure 4. SUMO 3D model of BBC News Studio B imported into Unreal Engine, with textures and lighting added to provide a realistic view of the set.
Coverage of the Kings Coronation
The BBC News Design Team used SUMO’s 3D model to place a 3D digital replica of the St. Edwards Crown, used for the Kings Coronation, into BBC News Studio B, using augmented reality.
Above : Figure 5. SUMO 3D model in Blender with a digital replica of the St. Edwards Crown in position in BBC News Studio B. Image courtesy of BBC News Design Team.
As shown in Figure 5 above, the BBC News Design Team aligned the SUMO 3D model of BBC News Studio B with the real-world co-ordinates of the set, to create a “template” unreal scene. The design team then placed the digital replica model of the Crown in the right spot, lighting it and using reflection captures to create realistic reflections of the actual studio, using an HDRI image re-projected on to the model.
Coverage of the Local Elections
SUMO’s 3D model was also used for local election coverage, where the BBC News Design Team built a realistic looking 3D Newsroom / Election Centre to go on the Studio video walls, giving the illusion that the set extends behind the walls, as if there are windows and a mezzanine level, as shown in Figure 6.
Above : Figure 6. SUMO 3D model in Blender: The BBC News Design Team has extended BBC News Studio B beyond the video walls (top) to allow for local election graphics to be inserted (bottom). Images courtesy of BBC News Design Team.
SUMO is proud to have assisted the BBC News Design Team on these phenomenally successful, visually immersive augmented reality and virtual production features.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss how our services can help your productions.
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