A new experience at MONACO'S OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM : raising awareness for better protect

The Monaco Oceanographic Museum has enriched its permanent visitor itinerary with a new interactive and immersive installation, integrated into the "Mediterranean 2050" exhibition. Developed in close collaboration between Dreamwall and Hovertone, this experience, named "My Oceano Med," aims to raise public awareness about the key actions required to preserve Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean Sea.

Deployed from July 2024 to March 2025, this project combines scientific rigor with technological innovation. By interacting directly with the system, visitors observe the positive impact of their choices on the marine environment in real time, gaining a concrete understanding of ecological conservation dynamics.

How Does the Creative Team Translate Marine Biology Requirements into a Photorealistic Visual Render?

An Interactive Scenography Dedicated to Marine Protected Areas

The installation is built around four distinct projections, each representing a specific ecosystem of the Mediterranean region. The first three screens showcase key ecological environments:

• Posidonia: Seagrass meadows vital for oxygenation and coastal protection.
• Coralligenous Habitat: Complex reefs hosting a dense biodiversity.
• Open Water: A pelagic zone where large marine species roam.

Each screen confronts visitors with an ecological challenge. Prompts projected onto the floor invite users to choose a specific action. Initially presented in an advanced state of degradation, the ecosystems react to the collective actions of the public. Visual algorithms translate this improvement into a seamless transition toward optimal health, characterized by the massive return of wildlife and renewed plant vitality.

The fourth screen offers a complementary approach centered on personal engagement. Thanks to an active capture system, the visitor's silhouette is reproduced within a coralligenous environment, transformed into a school of shimmering sardines that reacts instantly to their body movements.

An Artistic Direction Guided by Scientific Validation

Beyond purely software-related aspects, the visual production represented a major challenge for Dreamwall's creative team, which included Unreal Artists, 3D designers, animators, and specialized developers.

The specifications demanded a strictly photorealistic rendering, excluding any purely fictional interpretation of the fauna and flora. To meet the requirements of the Monaco Oceanographic Museum’s scientific team, extensive research and documentation work was conducted. Every texture, species behavior, and underwater light variation was subject to regular discussions and meticulous adjustments.

The final validation by the museum's biologist attests to the accuracy of the marine biodiversity representation. The animation of the Totem animal, which reacts dynamically to the visitors' actions, illustrates the commitment to combining biological fidelity with visual appeal.

A Robust and Interconnected Technical Infrastructure

On the engineering front, the project's success relies on the ability to synchronize the Unreal Engine architecture with complex and heterogeneous capture systems. The Dreamwall and Hovertone teams structured a network infrastructure capable of centralizing data streams from LiDAR sensors, skeletal tracking cameras, and separate media servers. Mastery of real-time communication protocols and Niagara particle systems allowed the public's movements to be instantly translated into smooth graphical actions, ensuring rigorous technical stability under a constant flow of visitors.

The Collaboration Between Dreamwall and Hovertone

The success of this installation relies on the coordination between Dreamwall’s artistic skills, responsible for the visual development of the MPA environments, and Hovertone’s expertise, in charge of the interactive scenography and capture systems.

This methodological efficiency builds upon a historical collaboration between the two entities, who had already combined their expertise during the development of the "Nemo" project at Pairi Daiza. Continuous exchanges and rigorous operational monitoring over these 9 months resulted in a stable system that meets the high standards of the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.

Open to the public since March 29, 2025, the installation fulfills its role as a mediator: using real-time technologies to make the challenges of ocean protection visible and understandable.

YouTube video credits: France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur