A Woonsocket photographer is using cutting-edge drone technology to create precise 3D digital models of the city's historic buildings, inspired by preservation efforts at Notre Dame Cathedral. Mike Barss, a fine art photographer living in a loft on Allen Street, has invested in high-end equipment capable of extreme accuracy to document the city's architectural heritage through photogrammetry.

Barss was motivated to begin this project after learning about historian Andrew Tallon's work at Notre Dame Cathedral. Starting in 2010, Tallon had used terrestrial laser scanning equipment to create detailed 3D renderings of the cathedral. When fire tore through the nearly 750-year-old structure in 2019, those digital models became crucial for reconstruction efforts, providing millimeter-precise data that guided architects in their restoration work.

"I thought it was so cool," Barss told The Breeze. "And so I started learning about photogrammetry, just on YouTube at first, and eventually began doing it myself." While Barss has owned drones for more than a decade, he has recently upgraded to sophisticated equipment specifically designed for this type of precision work.

Using a DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drone equipped with RTK (real-time kinematic) satellite positioning, Barss can fly automated grid patterns over buildings and capture thousands of high-resolution images. These photographs are then processed through specialized software that stitches them together to produce precise 3D models that engineers could use for measuring, surveying, or even 3D printing purposes. With sufficient processing power, this technology could theoretically be used to create 3D renderings of entire cities.

The technological advancement in this field has been remarkable in recent years. Fifteen years ago, creating such models would have required expensive 3D terrestrial laser scanning equipment or manually shooting hundreds or thousands of photos via drone. Now, the entire process can be pre-programmed with the right drone and software combination. "Technology has really leaped forward in the last five years even," Barss noted.

What began as a fascination when he posted his first rendering late last year has evolved into a mission to document Woonsocket's historic architecture before it disappears. His growing portfolio already includes detailed exterior models of St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center, the Ciros Tavern building, the Longley Building, River Falls, and several of the city's aging bridges. After a fire at the Privilege Street mill, Barss created a model of the ruins, though he admits regretting not capturing the structure before the blaze occurred.

"It's really about preservation," he explained. "You never know when a building might burn down or get torn down. Having a digital twin of it is important." On his website, gigapixdrone.com, Barss showcases a video rendering focused on the Polar Express Station, where viewers can see other downtown landmarks extending up to about a quarter-mile away in the surrounding area.

While Barss shares many of his models online, existing platforms haven't always kept pace with the quality of his work. Sketchfab, his main outlet, compresses multi-million polygon scans down to a fraction of their original fidelity. "They end up looking like a video game," he said. To address this limitation, he's moving his portfolio to Nira (nira.app), a newer platform designed specifically for industries requiring high-resolution 3D streaming, from architecture to cultural heritage projects.

This upgrade represents a transition from hobby to professional territory for Barss. While documenting Woonsocket's landmarks remains a passion project, he's building Gigapix Drone into a business venture. He has already taken contract work through drone service providers and is eager to expand into industries such as solar field inspections, cell towers, and roof surveys. With a drone equipped with thermal imaging capabilities, he can scan an entire solar farm in minutes and identify panels that aren't operating efficiently—a process that would otherwise require days or weeks of manual inspection.

Currently, Barss balances his day job as a production manager at a sign company in Hopedale, Massachusetts, with his growing drone portfolio. He explains that rates for drone videography and 3D modeling projects vary depending on the scope of work, but he believes it's an exciting and expanding field that could experience significant growth in coming years given the capabilities of emerging technologies.

Despite the commercial potential, preserving the cultural heritage of his hometown remains paramount to Barss. If possible, he wants to capture at-risk sites before they're lost to time or disaster. "The more I do these models, the more passionate I get," he said. "It's fun, but it's also important." For Barss, drones aren't merely toys buzzing overhead—they're sophisticated tools capable of capturing the history of Woonsocket's aging buildings before time or tragedy brings them down. Interested viewers can explore Barss's work on his YouTube channel, Mike Barss (kwjrkwjr), or visit his website at gigapixdrone.com.