Accenture and Etisalat Digital are playing a key role in making Expo 2020 Dubai one of the fastest, smartest, and best-connected places on Earth by collaborating to bring innovative digital experiences to attendees.
The joint Digital Services Premier Partners have developed an interactive 3D flythrough experience of what the Expo 2020 Dubai site will look like in two years' time. Called Explore 2020, it will be unveiled at the Etisalat booth at GITEX Technology Week.
Unveiled less than a week before Expo's two-years-to-go milestone, the 3D environment which is rendered in real time, will be displayed across eight curved screens at a resolution of 8640 x 1920.
To develop a scale replica of the Expo site, Accenture transformed a complex architectural model, containing over 122 million polygons, into an optimized 3D model containing just 6 million polygons – a reduction of more than 95% - whilst ensuring absolute quality and precision in the visual representation and texturing.
Visitors to GITEX can, for the first time, 'fly through' and navigate the Expo 2020 Dubai site at will, as a result of Accenture and Etisalat Digital's design, development and optimization effort.
Francisco Salcedo, Senior Vice President, Etisalat Digital said: "With Etisalat's focus this year at GITEX Technology Week on 'Leading the 5G Revolution' and 'Driving the Digital Future to Empower Societies', this spectacular showcase is built on our vision to provide digital innovation and futuristic solutions that will have a fundamental impact on people's lives.
"We are excited to bring this unique 3D experience of 'Explore 2020' that will take our visitors on a special journey of the Expo 2020 Dubai site. As a digital services premier partner, this joint project with Accenture will give all visitors an insight of Expo 2020 Dubai and take them through all the highlights of this global event including behind the scene highlight of Etisalat contribution to the site such as 5G capabilities launched earlier this year."
Mohammed AlHashmi, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Future Technology at Expo 2020 Dubai said: "Two years from now, Expo 2020 will open its doors to the world for a six-month festival of human ingenuity. Our partnerships with Accenture and Etisalat Digital are integral to the creation of Expo's 'smart site', which will enrich the visitor experience by digitally connecting people with their surroundings and optimising their interactions.
"In 2020 millions of visitors will enjoy an incredible journey around the Expo site, which will be one of the smartest, fastest and best-connected places on the planet. I'm delighted that visitors to GITEX today can have a special preview of this experience, thanks to Accenture and Etisalat Digital."
"Expo 2020 Dubai is an event that will connect both minds and people together, by generating innovative ideas and solutions for a brighter and better future," said Gerardo Canta, managing director and Accenture's Communications, Media & Technology lead for the Middle East & Turkey. "We are happy to partner with Etisalat Digital and offer a preview of the upcoming Expo 2020 site. With Explore 2020, visitors can expect to see an exclusive preview of Expo 2020 Dubai, and to imagine the endless possibilities of digital services and technologies such as 5G, machine learning, data analytics, artificial intelligence, extended reality, and more."
Visitors to the Etisalat stand will notice several interactive elements including people, cars, and drones roaming the sky, with renowned Dubai skyline on the horizon.
Moreover, visitors can use a purpose-built 3D space-mouse to zoom, rotate and fly across the site, whilst discovering the story of Expo 2020 Dubai. Interactive animations will be triggered by location proximity, revealing an additional layer of context, visualization and understating of the behind-the-scenes technology powering one of the fastest, smartest, and best-connected places on earth.
Together, Accenture and Etisalat Digital are designing, building and running innovative solutions aimed at providing a memorable experience for Expo 2020 visitors, both before and during the event. Explore 2020 is a practical example of how this partnership can bring innovation to life.