FAQ - Frequently asked questions about using “The Wall in 3D”

Question:
When I go to the website, I get an error message (An error occurred: Error code: ERR_CREATE_PLUGIN). What do I do?
Answer:
This application requires the Google Earth plug-in, which is not installed on your computer.
Click OK to close the error message. You will then be given the chance to download the plug-in. Simply follow the instructions.
Please note that the Google Earth plug-in is currently available only for the following browsers: Internet Explorer, FireFox, and Google Chrome. A Google Earth plug-in for Safari (for the Mac) can also be downloaded.

Question:
Why do the buildings load so slowly?
Answer:
In order to show the buildings, data has to be transferred from the server to your computer. You can improve data transfer speed with a faster Internet connection.

Question:
I can’t switch to the 1989 map.
Answer:
Please be patient. The switch function is working, but you won’t see the map right away. The 1989 map is loading aerial photo data and 3D buildings in the background. This can take a while and depends in part on the data transfer rate of your Internet connection.

Question:
After switching to the 1989 map, I don’t see the buildings anymore, although “Buildings” is still checked on the menu bar.
Answer:
Please note that it can take a moment to load the buildings. In addition, 3D buildings in the 1989 map are only available for a section of the city center along the Wall. No building facades are visible in any of the 3D images in the 1989 map.
Tip: If you lose your bearings in the 3D map, click on “Back to Start” at the bottom of the application menu bar. That will take you back to Brandenburg Gate.

Question:
Why can’t the historical aerial photos be turned on and off in the 1989 map?
Answer:
The images used in the “Today” and “1989” maps are based on satellite photos from Google Earth. However, these show current conditions (in Berlin’s case, the aerial photos are from 2006). For the 1989 map, historical data is superimposed on these photos along the border strip in the city center. This historical layer is identified as “Historical aerial imagery” in the menu to the right. Loading this historical data can take a while.

Question:
Why are there also current aerial photos on both sides of the Wall strip in the 1989 map?
Answer:
The 1989 aerial photos along the course of the Wall are only superimposed on the current satellite images created by Google Earth, which is why you can see the Google Earth images wherever this layer ends.

Question:
Why do the aerial photos from 1989 sometimes seem out of focus?
Answer:
To show this vast quantity of data efficiently, it has to be loaded in a lower resolution first. If you zoom into the image, it will become sharper after a few seconds, since high-resolution aerial photos of the same location are loaded after the initial images. The 1989 aerial photos do not meet today’s quality standards, which is why the brightness sometimes varies from one section to another.

Question:
Why do the houses in the 1989 black-and-white aerial photos seem to tilt in different directions?
Answer:
These photos were taken from different camera angles. Because they are not orthophotos, tall buildings show some building lean.

Question:
Why does the Wall seem to sink into the ground in some places?
Answer:
The schematic representation of the course of the two walls (inner and outer) has been layered over the ground between fixed points. The Wall as pictured is at the height of a straight line between two such points. If the surface of the ground between them is very uneven, it can appear as though the Wall is either sinking into the ground or floating above it.

Question:
Why can the watchtowers still be seen in the “Today” map?
Answer:
The watchtowers are part of the former border fortifications and as such are also visible in the “Today” map. In order to see just what is really visible today, uncheck “The Wall” in the application menu bar.

Question:
When I select the menu item “Former border crossings” and go to “Bornholmer Strasse” or “Chausseestrasse,” for instance, I don’t get any links to more information when I click one of the colored icons in the 3D map.
Answer:
Your browser may have been busy loading the 3D buildings when you clicked on the icon. Wait until the 3D buildings have been loaded and then click one of the icons in the 3D map.

Question:
Why aren’t the buildings from 1989 shown for the entire area along the border?
Answer:
Comprehensive historical information on the shape and height of the buildings that existed in 1989 is only available for the city center.

Question:
Why do buildings appear to sink into the ground or float above it?
Answer:
The ground height of the buildings in the 3D model corresponds to their actual ground height. While the Google Earth globe reproduces the terrain’s topography, it does so in a simplified form that deviates in places from the terrain’s actual height. Because the ground height of the 3D buildings is geographically precise, however, the buildings can appear to float or sink into the ground.

Question:
Why is there a model of the Wall only between East and West Berlin and not between West Berlin and Brandenburg?
Answer:
This application is designed to show the former course of the Berlin Wall inside the city. It is complemented by additional information on historical remnants of the Wall and memorial sites along the inner-city route. You can find out more about the course of the Wall between West Berlin and Brandenburg in the information on the > Berlin Wall Trail

Question:
Why is the Wall transparent?
Answer:
The transparency in the “Today” map is intended to underscore the fact that this is the former course of the Wall, which no longer exists in this form. The colored outlines emphasize the difference between the inner and outer walls.

Question:
Why can’t I navigate the map after checking or unchecking a box in the menu on the right?
Answer:
Your cursor is not in the 3D map. Click once on the map to enter it. Another option is to open the navigation bar and use it to navigate the 3D map. To do this, check “Navigation controls” in the menu to the right.