One month before the Jubilee, the fruits of the Vatican-Microsoft collaboration. Hi-tech virtual visit, new website, immersive exhibitions and augmented reality
For a month when tourists and faithful left the St. Peter’s Basilicaat the end of the day, inside they took flight drones and the experts got to work 3D photography and digital scanning. It is the fulcrum of an operation, which began over two years ago, born from the collaboration between Microsoft e Vatican and that, a month after Jubileehas produced a new web portal for the Basilica, innovative augmented reality services for tourists and faithful and above all a “digital twin” of San Pietro. In other words, a 3D reconstruction developed with very powerful Artificial Intelligence engines which will be available to all virtual visitors from December 1st.
The cardinal presented the project in the Vatican Mauro Gambettiarchpriest of the Basilica and president of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, e Brad Smithvice chairman and president of the hi-tech giant.
Drones and photographers by Iconthe French company that produced the images then developed by Microsoft’s AI algorithms, scanned every fiber inside and outside St. Peter’s Basilica producing 400 thousand photos, an enormous amount of data corresponding to 22 Petabytes. «To contain them, it would take 5 million DVDs, which when placed one on top of the other would make a column six kilometers high», explains Smith amused. In short, the Basilica subjected to But the mysteries of the center of Christianity remain, the unfathomable ones, of beauty and spirituality that artificial intelligence helps us discover today.
«The Basilica is like the starry sky on a summer night, it enchants in its magnificence, but if the inspiration is not corroborated by intelligence and spirituality the experience cannot be considered full», comments Gambetti, explaining that the idea for the project was born out of Michelangelo’s piety while conversing with Smith. Who underlines that the “digital twin” of San Pietro thanks to current technological possibilities is an undertaking that has no equal: “We are creating something to connect people”.
The operation brings with it two immersive exhibitions on the human story of the Holy Fisherman and on the history of the Vatican hill, the stone on which the Church was built. Virtual islands within the Basilica will allow tourists to integrate with the virtual and augmented reality their visits through their smartphones. Then there is the new portal (www.basilicasanpietro.va) which has the objective of being «a real ecosystem, within which different technologies converge: an integrated platform, with an open and scalable architecture, Mobile First, which anyone can access», explained Gambetti. Concretely, we are talking about an access booking platform and an app for digital services and audio guides, a magazine and lots of information.
From the Peter’s tomb at the Cupola, among the treasures of Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini, Raphael, Maderno and Canova: every centimeter of the Basilica will be explorable on a virtual tour which also represents a precious document for future generations. And that thanks to the technology linked to Minecraft video game it also becomes an educational ecosystem for learning. It will be available from January 1st on the Minecraft in education platform in connection with Catholic schools around the world, and with institutes that request it. Art, beauty, history, the mystery of faith and the call of spirituality. St. Peter’s Basilica is a world, which we can now explore with the tools of our times.
Davide Di Santo
#photos #digital #twin #Tempo
**Interview with Cardinal Mauro Gambetti and Brad Smith on the Vatican-Microsoft Collaboration**
**Editor:** Good day, gentlemen. Thank you for joining us. Cardinal Gambetti, could you start by sharing what inspired this groundbreaking collaboration with Microsoft?
**Cardinal Gambetti:** Thank you for having us. The inspiration for this project came from a profound understanding of our heritage and the need to connect more deeply with visitors. We wanted to enhance the spiritual experience of St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelangelo’s vision was a starting point; it reminds us that art and faith go hand in hand. We aim to make the Basilica accessible to everyone, even those who cannot physically visit.
**Editor:** That’s fascinating. Brad, can you explain what the “digital twin” of St. Peter’s Basilica involves and how it was created?
**Brad Smith:** Absolutely. The “digital twin” involves a detailed 3D reconstruction of St. Peter’s Basilica created using advanced AI algorithms. Over a period of two years, using drones and thousands of 3D photographs, we’ve gathered an astounding 400,000 images, resulting in 22 petabytes of data. To put that in perspective, if you were to store that on DVDs, they would stack six kilometers high! This technology allows virtual visitors to explore the Basilica in a way that has never been possible.
**Editor:** That’s an impressive amount of data! Cardinal Gambetti, can you share how augmented reality will enhance the experience for both tourists and the faithful?
**Cardinal Gambetti:** Certainly! Augmented reality features will enable visitors to engage with our history interactively. For instance, they can experience significant moments in St. Peter’s history, learn about the artwork, and see the architecture from unique perspectives. This not only enriches the visitor experience but also deepens their understanding of the spiritual significance of the space.
**Editor:** Brad, in your view, what potential does this project hold for the future of heritage sites globally?
**Brad Smith:** This is just the beginning. We believe this technology can revolutionize how we experience cultural heritage. It not only preserves history but makes it accessible to a global audience. Imagine virtual visits to other historic sites worldwide, bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms, and allowing more people to connect with their cultural roots.
**Editor:** Thank you both for your insights. As we look forward to December 1st and the unveiling of this project, it’s clear that technology and spirituality are embarking on a new journey together. We appreciate your time today.
**Cardinal Gambetti and Brad Smith:** Thank you! It’s our pleasure.
