Reliable initial data supports the planning of future renovations of the Uspenski Cathedral

Tietoa produced initial data for the Orthodox Church of Finland to support the planning of future renovations of Uspenski Cathedral. A highly accurate 3D model, matching the facade drawings, was created using laser scanning and photogrammetry. Similar documentation had not previously existed for Uspenski Cathedral.

Located on the rocky hill of Katajanokka in central Helsinki, Uspenski Cathedral is the main church or cathedral of the Helsinki Orthodox Parish and the Diocese of Helsinki. It also serves as the archbishop’s main church. Consecrated in 1868, it is the largest Orthodox church in Northern and Western Europe and is a popular tourist destination, attracting up to half a million visitors annually.

At some point, Uspenski Cathedral will need a major renovation. Even before planning for the repairs began, Tietoa was commissioned to capture the current state of the cathedral, both inside and outside. The highly accurate 3D model and 2D projection images support the planning of the renovations.

Tietoa was able to photograph the already empty church building

The timing of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown proved quite convenient for gathering the initial data for Uspenski Cathedral. As one of Helsinki’s most popular tourist attractions, the cathedral would normally have had to be closed for the measurements. However, Tietoa was able to document the church in detail without any interruptions, and without disappointing eager visitors.

Tietoa, specialized in challenging sites, measured the building’s interior using a combination of laser scanning and photogrammetry. The exterior was measured entirely with photogrammetry. The result was projection images of the wall surfaces matching the facade drawings, as well as 3D data in the form of a point cloud, from which a 3D model of the site was produced.

Such documentation had never been done before for Uspenski Cathedral; producing photogrammetric projection images of buildings is relatively rare. The method is only now becoming more common and is used particularly in demanding renovation projects. Tietoa has been a pioneer in this field, conducting photogrammetric measurements since 2014. Since this work is familiar to Tietoa, the end result of the measurements always meets the need: the client receives reliable initial data for the site. Now that the current state of the church is accurately known, planning for future renovations is easier.

Uspenski Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral was designed by the famous Russian church architect, Academician Alexey Maksimovich Gornostayev. He initially supervised the construction himself, and after his death, the work was completed by his student Ivan Varnek. The design and construction of the cathedral took a total of nine years.

The cathedral is built of red bricks brought from the Bomarsund fortress on Åland, which was destroyed during the Crimean War. The church building features fourteen flame-shaped gilded domes, and its roof reaches a height of 33 meters. Numerous concerts of both Eastern and Western traditions are held in Uspenski Cathedral, in addition to seminars and lectures on ecclesiastical culture.

Project Information

Client: The Orthodox Church of Finland

Production of initial data: Tietoa Finland Oy