How a digital tool brought Notre-Dame back to life in record time

Trial and error could take place on a computer, not at the construction site.
 By 
Teodosia Dobriyanova
 on 
Against a blue grid background,  3D digital twin of Notre-Dame is placed next to an image of the completed building
Watch Next

From quick hits to deep dives, this Mashable series cuts through the noise to explain what on Earth is going on and what you should know about it.


When in spring 2019 a fire nearly destroyed Notre-Dame, one of Paris' most recognizable landmarks, president Emmanuel Macron vowed to restore the building and reopen it to the public by 2024, the year Paris would host the Olympics. Though the cathedral wasn't completed in time for the athletic competitions, it still opened its doors in December 2024, meeting an ambitious deadline.

At the centre of the effort was a cutting-edge software donated by U.S. tech company Autodesk, which the reconstruction team used to digitally map the Notre-Dame, and carefully plan each step of the rebuilding process.

Picture of Teodosia
Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


More from Mashable Now
Visible from space, a mega iceberg could be on a collision course
A collage shows penguins, seals, a satellite image and a a drone photo of the A23a iceberg.

A wounded sea turtle swims again thanks to 3D printed harness
Photograph shows Charlotte the sea turtle swimming under water after she's been fit with the 3D-printed harness

F1 racer takes life-size Lego car for a spin
Two McLaren P1s appear to be racing each other – the Lego-made version on the front and the original at the back. Caption reads: "Lego Racer"

Land, air, and space footage captures the surging Hurricane Milton
Satellite footage captures Hurricane Milton as is brews near Florida's West Coast


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!