Microsoft used a combination of photogrammetry, AI, and digital preservation to create the world’s first 3D digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City with 400,000 images. This recreation will enable visitors to explore it in detail from anywhere in the world, whether they be from Italy or the US.
Put simply as possible, Paris-based Iconem captured 400,000 high-resolution images of the landmark using advanced photogrammetry techniques. The team then spent three weeks scanning the Basilica using various devices including drones, cameras, and lasers, before Microsoft’s Azure processed the massive volume of images collected. Next, the data was used to create an ultra-precise 3D model of the Basilica, while AI-generated imagery taken from Iconem’s photogrammetry data enhanced visualization.
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In November 2024, ahead of the the 2025 Holy Year Jubilee, both the public exhibition and digital platforms of St. Peter’s Basilica will be available for everyone to see and experience in the Pétros enì exhibit. The Holy Year Jubilee occurs every 25 years as a year of grace and pilgrimage in the Roman Catholic church,” said Microsoft.
