Microsoft plans to develop a digital replica of the Notre-Dame cathedral for ongoing maintenance support.
In a groundbreaking initiative, Microsoft and French startup Iconem are working together to create a highly detailed digital twin of the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris [1][2]. This project, which utilizes advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and image acquisition technologies, aims to preserve the iconic cathedral for future generations and provide an immersive virtual experience for a global audience.
The collaboration between Microsoft and Iconem follows their successful joint venture in digitally reconstructing Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City last year [1][2]. Iconem specializes in capturing intricate details of heritage sites that are often difficult to observe in person, making them ideal partners for this ambitious project.
Microsoft's role in this collaboration involves providing key AI assistance to help Iconem stitch together hundreds of thousands of high-resolution photos into an accurate 3D replica of Notre-Dame. The digital twin will serve as a preservation tool, enabling scientists and preservationists to study and maintain the cathedral for centuries to come [1][3].
In addition, the digital twin will be accessible to the public, offering virtual tours that allow people worldwide to explore Notre-Dame's intricate details remotely [2]. This accessibility aspect of the project will not only educate people about the cathedral's history but also contribute to cultural preservation efforts.
Furthermore, the digital twin will be donated to the French state and displayed in the future Notre-Dame Museum, enhancing heritage education and cultural preservation initiatives [1].
The restoration of Notre-Dame followed a devastating fire in 2019 that destroyed much of the cathedral's roof and iconic wooden spire. Since then, various heritage sites and events have been digitally preserved by Microsoft, including Ancient Olympia in Greece, Mont Saint-Michel in France, and the 80th anniversary of the allied beach landings in Normandy [1][2].
Livio de Luca, leader of the digital team and a CNRS researcher, stated that the virtual twin of Notre-Dame provides missing details about the cathedral's appearance before the fire to architects [1][2]. Brad Smith, Microsoft president, added that the digital twin can help support the ongoing maintenance of a building [1][3].
The data from the virtual twin will be shared with researchers worldwide, providing an enormously valuable digital record that people may use 100 years from now [1][3]. This project marks a significant step forward in digital preservation and public engagement initiatives for Notre-Dame and other heritage sites.
This partnership between Microsoft and Iconem continues to expand, as they now focus on replicating the digital twin of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in France, building upon their previous success with the Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. This project, utilizing artificial intelligence and technology, will make the cathedral accessible internationally, offering an immersive virtual experience to a global audience while also contributing to cultural preservation efforts.
