For Vivid Sydney’s Creative Technology After Dark, lidar scanning was used to create accurate digital replicas of selected sites, supporting design, testing, and production planning for projection installations.
Ahead of Vivid Sydney 2026, Australian creative technology company TDC – Technical Direction Company rescanned Garrison Church and the Argyle Cut using lidar technology, creating highly accurate digital replicas of the sites.
The digital models were converted into projection-ready environments, allowing artists to design, test, and refine their works against Sydney’s architecture before arriving on site. According to Drew Ferors, Head of Innovation and Training at TDC, the process helps artists better understand scale, surfaces, proportions, and architectural details while reducing development time and improving projection accuracy.
The lidar-generated models formed part of the pre-production workflow used to prepare projection mapping installations before equipment was deployed in the field.
Projection Mapping Across Sydney
Beyond the lidar workflow, TDC provided projection and LED technology for 11 installations across Sydney during Vivid Sydney 2026. Locations included:
- Sydney Opera House (Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi)
- Museum of Contemporary Art (Vaiola)
- Customs House (Fringe of Infinity)
- Argyle Cut (Time: Warped)
- Garrison Church (Deep Time)
- ASN Clocktower (Circles of Rhythm)
- Tumbalong Park (Afterimage: A Projection Mapped Mural)
- Circular Quay (As Water Falls)
- Barangaroo House (Laniakea)
The installations combined projection mapping, LED displays, laser systems, AI-driven experiences, and interactive technologies across heritage buildings, public spaces, and landmarks throughout the city.
Technical Deployment
According to TDC, supporting the festival required a coordinated production infrastructure operating across multiple venues over 23 consecutive nights. The deployment included:
- Barco ultra-high-resolution laser projectors across nine projection-mapped sites
- ROE LED tiles powering interactive installations, including The Daydream Machine
- Approximately 547 million projected pixels illuminating Sydney landmarks each night
- More than 1.45 million ANSI lumens of projection brightness
- 13 live monitoring cameras and 11 automation systems supporting nightly operations
- LiDAR scanning used to digitally recreate Garrison Church and the Argyle Cut before artists arrived on site
- Real-time AI, water-screen projection, LED environments, and high-powered laser systems
Throughout the festival, TDC’s central master control system provided real-time oversight of installations across the city. The company also updates digital site models for selected locations each year to support projection planning and improve creative development workflows.
