To create the 3D model of the city, about 500,000 buildings on 890 square kilometers were photographed from the air, and their roofs were measured with lasers. Detailed models were created of about 200 buildings and attractions, five of which can even be explored from inside. (Olympic Stadium, Sony Center, Reichstag, DZ-Bank, and the Central Train Station).
The 3D city model is not a commercial project and it is not based on commercially available 3D models. It was developed and funded by the Senate Administration for Urban Development (Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung)
, the Senate Administration for Economics, Technology and Research (Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Technologie und Forschung), and Berlin Partner GmbH. Economic and urban development
The possibility of presenting Berlin as a site for business and industry using the 3D model opens up new dimensions in marketing the city. The integration of basic geodata and industry-specific information provides a comprehensive introduction to Berlin as a location for business and industry. The German capital is charting new territory in the visual presentation of economic geodata. Additionally integrating structural information in the virtual city model provides investors with all the information they need at a glance.
Potential investors in Berlin will need to find commercial or office spaces or maybe even a site to build on. The model gives parties interested in locating to the city and investors a precise understanding of the location and surroundings of their future address in Berlin.
Technical platform
The 3D model of Berlin operates in three platforms that vary in terms of content and applications. Two versions are available:
- A full-featured version with excellent aesthetics is used in the showroom of the Business Location Center. In addition to bundling and concentrating information, this model allows investors to experience the city on a more direct level. This model is based on special 3D software enabling an interactive exploration of the city.
- A public version is available through the Google Earth platform. Anyone interested can access the city model using the Google Earth client software.
The Berlin Senate also has a version that can be used by the city administration for planning and presentation purposes. It runs in a browser-based web application, which allows users to access the city model from any system in the administration's infrastructure.
