 Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral (file photo: LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS) |
The 862-year-old Gothic masterpiece was reopened last December after a five-year restoration following a devastating fire in 2019.
"One of the things we learned from the work at St Peter's is how a digital twin can help support the ongoing maintenance of a building," said Smith. He added: "We will capture a digital record of every centimetre and what is there and what it's supposed to look like."
A digital replica will serve as a record of the building's architectural details, Microsoft said. It will also provide a virtual experience for visitors and those unable to visit.
Since 2019, Microsoft has digitally preserved heritage sites and events including Ancient Olympia in Greece, Mont Saint-Michel in France and the 80th Anniversary of the Allied Beach Landings in Normandy.
