Outdoor-ready PTZ Cameras
Users’ Voice
Adventure World, operated by AWS Co.,Ltd
Adventure World, a theme park combining a zoo, an aquarium and an amusement park operated by AWS Co., Ltd, an Osaka-based theme park operator, has been using two Panasonic Connect outdoor-ready PTZ cameras to capture events at its “Big Ocean” water stage, including "Smiles," a stunning live dolphin show. We spoke with AWS staff once again about how the robust outdoor PTZ cameras have helped them during the five years since they started using them in 2018.
High Video Quality for a Variety of Uses, Not Just Stage Production
First of all, please tell us how you utilize the outdoor PTZ cameras.
Mr.Kishimoto : At the Big Ocean, we installed one Panasonic Connect outdoor PTZ camera on the ceiling and another below the large screen in the center of the stage. The ceiling camera captures a bird's-eye view of the dolphins and trainers swimming in the pool, while the camera below the screen captures the action from the stage side as well as the excitement of the audience. The videos shot by the PTZ cameras are projected onto the large screen together with the video captured by the three camera operators moving around the venue, providing a you-are-there feeling that you only get at a live performance.
PTZ camera operator for Marine Live
Mr. Shotaro Kishimoto
Business Affairs Section, Operations Department,
AWS Co., Ltd
In the opening just before "Smiles," you’re projecting the audience onto the screen, right?
Mr.Kishimoto : That's right. People are surprised to suddenly see their faces on the big screen. Many of them look for the camera and wave to us. We also zoom in on anyone who happens to be celebrating their birthday, overlay a "Happy Birthday" message on the screen and congratulate him or her with everyone in the venue joining in. You may wonder how we know if someone has a birthday. About 10 minutes before "Smiles" starts, our operators use the PTZ cameras to observe the audience and look for people wearing birthday stickers on their lapels. Once we have located them, we show them on the large screen at the beginning of the show with a celebratory message. The PTZ camera can zoom in so far that even small stickers can be clearly seen, and it produces a high image quality that allows us to capture people’s expressions clearly, which usefully increases the scope of the production.
Highly Durable With 5 Years of Trouble-free Operation
Other than video quality, is there anything else that the PTZ cameras are notable for?
Mr. Nakano : The thing that surprised me the most when I saw the video for the first time was the performance of image stabilization. Since Nanki-Shirahama is by the sea, the winds can be quite strong, and the previous camera was unusable about one day a week because the images were too shaky. However, in the five years since we installed these PTZ cameras, there hasn’t been a single day when they could not be used.
Mr. Kishimoto : That makes such a big difference. I have been using only these outdoor PTZ cameras since I joined the company, so I had no idea. I thought it was natural that they didn't shake.
Mr. Nakano : Yes, there used to be so many days when we had no choice but to do our best and shoot with a hand-held camera. Also, the previous camera was not designed for outdoor use, so it was placed in a dome-type housing, and we often had problems with that. Water would accumulate inside the dome, and we would see drops of water on the screen, or close-ups of insects that had gotten in from somewhere. Every time this happened, I had to walk down the catwalk, remove the housing screws and wipe the dome clear. Now I don't have to do that and can use the current PTZ cameras without any worries.
Mr. Kishimoto : It must have been very difficult because the area is very windy and rainy.
Mr. Nakano : Even on hot days, the temperature drops dramatically at night, and the difference in temperature causes condensation to form on the dome-type housing. Now there is no condensation at all. In the “Smiles” there is a scene at the end where the dolphins and the trainer rotate in a circle, which requires a bird's eye view that a handheld camera can't capture, so we are most grateful that the PTZ cameras can be used safely in any weather.
How do you feel about the durability of the PTZ cameras after five years of use?
Mr. Nakano : We have not had a single problem in five years, even though the main unit has been installed as it is without any covering. I was really surprised to find that no major maintenance was required, even though the environment around the camera is very harsh, with storms, heavy rain, and salt damage.
Team leader of Marine Live
Mr. Shota Nakano,
Business Affairs Section, Operations Department,
AWS Co., Ltd
Outdoor PTZ Cameras Expand the Range of Production
Have there been any changes in your production methods over the past few years?
Mr.Kishimoto : Every day we make a number of changes, such as zooming in aggressively to get closer to the dolphins or finding the best angle to capture the trainers’ facial expressions. This camera zooms in well, and the images are beautiful even when taken in close-up, so we have a wide range of production options. I think that the smooth and easy operation of the camera without any time lag also really helps produce the "Smiles" feel. Marine Live is not just a dolphin show, but a live show in which the dolphins, trainers and audience share the same moment as one, so I think it is very important to have the capability of real-time video production to convey that moment.
Mr Nakano : In recent years, Adventure World has been working to create an environment where we can reflect on the lives of animals together with our audiences, in line with the park's philosophy of “looking at life and seeking of the meaning of it.” We are also conducting the "Smiles" program in the hope that we will become good partners for the dolphins and make them happy and lively. For example, every day we design the performances taking into account the dolphins' likely reactions for the day, choosing movements we think the dolphins will be happy with. Our video production team also uses cameras to capture the dolphins' joy and subtle daily changes, hoping that it will inspire our audiences. So as Kishimoto says, a PTZ camera is a really important tool that allows us to expand the range of expression.
Convenience and Reliability for a Wide Range of Uses
How do you want to use outdoor PTZ cameras in the future?
Mr. Kishimoto : PTZ cameras are very convenient because one person can operate multiple cameras. The more cameras we have, the more viewpoints we can deliver to our audience, and since they can be installed in inaccessible places, they provide unprecedented opportunities to observe how dolphins behave. If we increase the number of cameras in the future, I think we will be able to create an even more dynamic production, and I will be happy if we continue to convey the fascination of dolphins by utilizing the various functions of the PTZ camera.
Mr. Nakano : Yes, that's right. In addition to the "Smiles" program, the Big Ocean also hosts a limited-time "LOVES" nighttime marine live show, collaborative projects with dolphins, and guests’ wedding events, and the outdoor PTZ camera is used for all these different events. We are able to use them for important events because they are reliable and can be used anytime and with peace of mind. Going forward, we are committed to continuously expanding the scope of what we can do at the Big Ocean by utilizing the high-quality outdoor PTZ cameras.
About Adventure World
Located in Shirahama-cho in Wakayama prefecture, a land of rich nature surrounded by the sea and mountains, Adventure World is a theme park incorporating a zoo, an aquarium and an amusement park all in one place. In a vast site of about 800,000 m², around 1,400 animals from 140 different species, including sea animals, savanna animals and birds, live energetic lives and share their lovable expressions with us.
