Once again TDC – Technical Direction Company’s technical wizardry is dazzling
audiences of millions at Vivid Sydney. In 2016 the world’s largest spectacle of light,
video and music is extended from 18 days to 23 days, breaking records for city-
wide video projections over nine sites including the Royal Botanic Garden and
Taronga Zoo.

Michael Hassett, CEO at TDC said: “TDC works on the latest in projection and
interactive technologies for Vivid for a total of 11 months prior to the event
collaboratively engaging with all project stakeholders in enabling the artists’
creative imaginations to be writ across the skyline.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney
Sandra Chipchase said: “Technology is a key element to the Festival as an enabler
of artistic works. We’re constantly amazed at what TDC achieves for us each year
and this year it’s bigger, better and more spectacular than ever. We expect it to go
down in history as a record breaking year in attendance by audiences of all ages.’

TDC relishes the huge logistical challenge of coordinating nine sites:

• 70 video projectors, from 40,000 lumens through to 22,000 lumens.
• Over 30 technical staff employed full time.
• 11 kilometres of projection.
• 20 million pixels equivalent to over 60 IMAX screens.
• 20 kilometres of signal and power cables.
• 22 media servers.
• 3 different automation platforms servers running on unique software code.

• All sites remotely monitored with realtime remote reporting.
• A total light output of 1,750,000 ANSI lumens brightness.
• Ensuring energy efficiency, equipment is powered every night but on-standby
during the day.
• Impressive 800GB video footage being played back continuously.

Drew Ferors, a senior engineer, says, “Vivid Sydney enables us to continuously
develop and research “TDC Live View’ software we’ve written that monitors the
performance of all the projection equipment. We have installed sensors to measure
even variables like temperature. 24/7 TDC Live View manages the integrity of
projectors sending an alert in real-time if there’s unforeseen issues providing
critical technical updates remotely.’

Steve Cain, head engineer said: “Managing the animations we are using d3
technologies media servers for a number of our sites this year. Two features that
d3 media servers offers is 3D visualisation and footprint features to show “hotspots’
and “coldspots’ in projection mapping areas. It makes my life so much easier. The
software is from the lighting design world so is a great tool. We can visually
represent the object or building using a 3D fly-through showing how the projection
will be laid out on the site to the millimetre of accuracy.

“This was particularly useful for when we worked at Taronga Zoo where we had to
alter projector tower locations. Working in 3D we could move the projection towers
and see the results instantly.’