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USA TODAY Builds AR Replica Of Notre Dame In Less Than 8 Hours

Take an augmented tour of the structural damages caused by Monday’s fire.

While French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to complete the repairs within five years, architectural experts predict it could take decades to fully renovate the historic Notre Dame cathedral after Monday’s devastating fire. Although the bulk of the structure remains intact, nearly the entire roof of the building has been destroyed, leaving a gaping hole above the centuries-old halls for the first time since its initial construction.

Earlier this morning, USA TODAY released Notre Dame: After the Fire, an immersive AR experience that provides an explanation of what portions of the 12-century cathedral survived, as well as the current restoration efforts planned for the iconic gothic structure.

Accessible via the official USA TODAY app–available for free on both iOS and Android, the experience generates a detailed 3D model of the massive cathedral which users can resize, rotate, and place on any flat surface in their real world environment.

By clicking on several notifications located next to key elements of the building–such as its two towers, flying buttresses, and iconic spire–you can access information regarding how that particular area was affected by the blaze, as well as some brief history surrounding its structural purpose and development.

According to USA TODAY, the networks emerging technology team built the experience in less than 8 hours, working around the clock to develop an educational interactive story that shines a better light on the future of one of the countries most treasured landmarks.

You can access the AR experience yourself by downloading the USA TODAY app from the App Store or Google Play, and scrolling to the post with a blue highlight stating “Interactive Story.”

As of late, USA TODAY has been investing heavily into AR storytelling, releasing an augmented experience featuring Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, as well as teaming up with the Oscars to bring a collection of famous costumes to life in AR. Hopefully the network and its emerging technology team their passionate development of this educational immersive content.

About the Scout

Former Writer (Kyle Melnick)

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