One of the many special effects applications, as far as Amusement Logic is concerned in the leisure and tourism sector, is the creation of immersive atmospheres that attract attention, surprise audiences and often etch unforgettable memories in their minds.
An example of such an application can be found in the themed ambience that Amusement Logic has recently developed in a water park. Here, the company developed the design of a volcano (amongst many other installations) and executed the construction of its structure and its theming with artificial rock. In addition, the company incorporated a special effects system to simulate the different eruptive processes of a real volcano, several times a day. For this purpose, a sound system was provided, including subwoofers, cold-fire equipment, audio-rhythmic lighting and smoke generation systems.
Among the equipment Amusement Logic used were cold spark source machines. These machines, without using any pyrotechnics, throw cold sparks from the combustion of non-toxic materials vertically up to a height of 5 metres.
To produce smoke and fog, machines were used whose operation is based on refrigeration. The cooled smoke condenses and, weighing more than air, drifts to the ground. For this low smoke effect, the equipment uses a container of ice which, if emptied, produces the opposite effect, i.e. smoke that rises like conventional fog.
For the control of the ambience in this project we use the electronic DMX (Digital MultipleX) protocol. A series of cables run to a control desk from all the equipment via splitters and synchronise the special sound and visual effects.
These resources, properly coordinated, allow the operator to offer visitors shows that enhance their experience and increase their time spent in the water park.
By Dario Mazzolari, senior MEP engineer in Amusement Logic’s Architecture Dept.
