The challenge: Bringing the skies of La Palma closer to the world through cutting-edge technology
Roque de los Muchachos Visitor Centre
Priority infrastructure for the island’s tourism and scientific development, designed to manage the information demands of the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC).
The solution: An ecosystem of 15 bespoke immersive solutions
Innoarea developed a complete set of interactive applications distributed across themed rooms to guide visitors from the cosmos to local geology. We implemented an Eyeplay interactive table in the welcome area that allows visitors to virtually explore telescope domes, along with interactive holograms that offer detailed breakdowns of instruments such as the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC).
For the exploration rooms, we designed virtual reality viewers that simulate phenomena such as the “sea of clouds” and augmented reality applications on iPads to visualise the internal structure of the planets in the Solar System. The solution culminates in a 3-metre diameter topographical model that uses AR and VR to locate points of archaeological and natural interest in Garafía, achieving a perfect convergence between science and technology.
Customised software solutions to meet interaction and content management needs
Annual visitors who now enjoy this museum experience
- Volumetric representations for the detailed study of galaxies and telescope engineering
- VR devices adapted to realistically experience the formation of unique atmospheric phenomena
- Integration of digital layers onto physical models for the visualisation of hiking trails and heritage sites
- Automatic activation of multimedia content to enhance the user experience
Key findings
Innoarea’s technological implementation has positioned the Visitor Centre as a global benchmark for astronomical tourism. Thanks to the interactivity of the rooms, complex concepts such as the electromagnetic spectrum and dark matter have been made accessible to the general public, reinforcing the distinctive nature of La Palma’s tourist offering compared to other Canary Islands.
In addition, the system allows for easy updating of scientific content, ensuring that the centre evolves in line with the research carried out by the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics. This guarantees long-term economic and educational viability, turning the space into a dynamic learning tool where cutting-edge technology brings the skies of La Palma closer to the rest of the world.
