The documentation consists of a technical section and a photographic section. Since the bunker has to be securely sealed by the end of 2008, the photos for the panoramic display of the bunker have to be completed as soon as possible.
The distance between each set of panoramas is, on average, some 3 m in each direction, i.e. each panorama set covers some 9 cubic metres. All told, there’ll be some 1500 sets. The raw data at this stage amount to approximately 1100 gigabytes. In addition, there’ll be a further 1500 gigabyte required to provide the data for creating the panoramas. The panoramas on the internet will be compressed to about 10 gigabyte without any loss to the image quality. Apart from the panoramas there’ll also be detailed photos available. These will show rating plates and various other important designations which would not otherwise be legible on the panorama shots. A period of 18 months was set for the project, but with all of the preparatory measures it turned out to be almost two years. Phase I will probably be completed in July 2008.

Phase 2 – Creating the panoramas

Once the photography side in the bunker is completed, the panoramas then have to be created from the raw images. This necessitates various processing stages. First of all, the individual photos, most of which were made using HDR technology , have to be joined to create a single image which reflects the complex lighting situation with light and shadow. The floor area is then processed since this would normally show the camera tripod. However, by using a sequence of differently angled shots, a floor shot is achieved without evidence of the tripod. Special software then combines all these shots into a 360° panorama image which can be output in various formats. Finally, the images are touched up to eradicate any minor flaws and to optimise brightness, contrast and colour. The result is then ready for uploading to the internet. Once uploaded, they can be seen in the preview section since they will continue to be processed in Phase 3.

Phase 3 – Preparing the documentation

It’s all very well having panoramic shots, but there is also a lot to say about the 5001 bunker. The panorama shots will first be linked together so that the viewer can click in the appropriate areas to be led on to adjacent panoramas, thus making it possible to virtually move through the complete bunker. Information will be provided on the function of each bunker areas and the equipment found there. This will be either as text or in chart form to show the technical sequences and principles involved. Since none of us can know everything and we all make mistakes (not too many, preferably), it will also be possible for the viewer to write his own comments or even to participate in the documentation. It will also be possible to re-arrange the panorama shots and information passages, to inter-link them, thus creating totally new substructures. In this way, we hope that the general knowledge out there will be used to create a complete picture and to make this technical masterpiece available to a wide public.

Time frame

Phase 1 has taken almost two years and will be completed by the end of July 2008. Work on preparing the panoramas will be started once the bunker has been sealed . We hope to have a preliminary version up for viewing with all panoramas as soon as possible, with the final completed version being ready in a further two years, based on some two panoramas a day. So, we’re looking at a completion date of mid-2010. The flexible presentation system of the website will enable areas to be linked and re-structured (as described above) very early on as soon as they become available. Interested visitors to our website can also join in and help: you can get actively involved in the documentation! In this way, we hope to offer a wide-ranging information platform to collect as much information about 5001 itself and associated fields. We look forward to receiving your constructive criticism and further information. Thank you!