Interactive Architecture & Stakeholder Validation Experience
Client: NIOF — National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (Egypt) Year: 2021 (Simulation) / 2024–2026 (Roadmap) Category: Immersive Simulation • Interactive Experience • Architectural Visualization • Expo Planning
Project Overview:
When planning a government-scale exhibition, the primary risk lies in the transition from concept to execution. Layout efficiency, visitor flow, and messaging clarity are difficult to assess through static 2D plans. Metas partnered with NIOF to develop a high-fidelity, interactive simulation of the Fisheries Expo. This digital twin allowed decision-makers to virtually inhabit the event before groundbreaking, ensuring every zone maximized value and aligned with the organization’s strategic goals.
Project Goals:
- Pre-Execution Validation: Enable stakeholders to evaluate the expo’s impact and spatial logic before physical construction.
- Flow Optimization: Test and refine visitor movement patterns to prevent bottlenecks and ensure a coherent narrative journey.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Provide a unified visual reference to accelerate the approval process and reduce costly last-minute changes.
- Risk Mitigation: Identify potential design flaws in zone placement and storytelling sequences early in the planning phase.
The Experience:
- Virtual Stakeholder Walkthrough: Stakeholders transition from passive observers to active participants, soaring or walking through the expo space to understand scale, spacing, and the relationship between different exhibition halls.
- Interactive Zone Exploration: The simulation facilitates a deep dive into specific functional areas, allowing teams to assess the visibility and placement of key exhibits, from industrial equipment to live showcase tanks.
- Data-Driven Architectural Intent: Moving beyond simple aesthetics, the experience focuses on practical utility—helping engineering and planning teams assess feasibility, lighting, and the integration of physical assets.
Simulated Zones & Featured Displays:
The interactive environment features a comprehensive digital recreation of the expo’s core components:
- Maritime Models: Detailed wooden boat prototypes (Models A & B).
- Industrial Equipment: Dedicated zones for boat machinery and specialized fishing gear.
- Live Displays: Interactive showcase tanks for both farm-raised and ornamental fish.
- Commercial Pavilions: Branded zones for El Fayrouz and El Bardawili products, alongside international/imported goods sections.
Scope & Deliverables:
- Full Expo Digital Twin: A complete, navigable simulation of the entire exhibition layout.
- Interactive Evaluation Module: Software designed for stakeholder reviews, featuring guided paths and free-roam modes.
- High-Fidelity Architectural Visuals: Optimized 3D environments that emphasize layout clarity and visitor engagement.
- Approval-Ready Documentation: Exported visuals and walkthroughs tailored for executive presentations and refinement cycles.
Why This Works for Government & Large-Scale Events:
- Accelerated Approvals: Visualizing the final result eliminates ambiguity, leading to faster consensus among decision-makers.
- Cost Efficiency: Identifying layout issues in a virtual environment is significantly more cost-effective than making adjustments during the build phase.
- Enhanced ROI: Early validation ensures that the expo effectively communicates the institution’s capabilities and meets public-facing objectives.
- Unified Vision: Ensures that architects, event planners, and government officials remain aligned on the project’s scope and quality.
Summary:
The NIOF Fisheries Expo Simulation demonstrates Metas’ capability to merge architectural precision with interactive technology. By creating a “test drive” for large-scale events, we empower organizations to execute complex projects with total clarity, ensuring that the final physical experience is as impactful and efficient as the original vision.
