Following the devastating fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral<\/a> in Paris, hundreds of millions of Euros were pledged to help facilitate its reconstruction. But while funding is crucial, technology may well hold the key to making an accurate restoration possible. The Safety Phase<\/a> of the reconstruction was completed in 2021, and this year will mark a new chapter in the cathedral’s storied history.<\/p>\n Left: One of Tallon’s cathedral scans, image via National Geographic; right: Dr. Andrew Tallon, image via Vassar College<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n This is where the late Doctor Andrew Tallon comes in. A pioneering art historian and father of four, Tallon sadly\u00a0died<\/a> on November 16, 2018, from cancer at the age of just 49. Though he is no longer with us, his work now appears more vital than ever.<\/p>\n To call Tallon a surveyor would belie his unique expertise \u2014 he was actually a historical modeler. The researcher\u2019s work involved the use of laser-mounted tripods that build a point cloud of information on every surface of a building\u2019s interior. Tallon scanned more than 45 historic religious buildings, but his work on Notre-Dame received the bulk of attention in a special feature for National Geographic<\/a> back in 2015.<\/p>\n![\"andrew](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/LaserArch_pointcloud-copy.jpg\")