Using digital technology to 'reverse engineer' medieval cathedrals, the book answers long-held questions about their construction. With over 200 illustrations, it is ideal for digital architecture, architectural history, and building conservation. "This work eloquently brings out the interplay between technical innovation and artistic ingenuity in the architecture of medieval English vaults. In particular, the book breaks new ground on how digital surveying techniques and three dimensional computer modelling can uncover new approaches to the study of architectural history."Professor Sambit Datta, Professor of Computational Design, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University "This innovative study contributes significantly both to the scholarly understanding of English vaults, and to the understanding of Gothic design more generally. With exemplary rigor, transparency, and methodological self-awareness, the authors show how modern techniques such as laser scanning and 3D modelling can help to reveal the complex dynamics of the medieval builders' creative processes."Professor Robert Bork, Professor of Art History, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa "This book is a fascinating exploration of what technology can tell us about the development of Gothic vaults. It both reveals and reinforces the complex nature of medieval vaulting, demonstrating above all the skill of those who constructed these amazing buildings."Dr Carol Cragoe, Author of How to Read Buildings "This ground-breaking study uses digital technology to investigate the conception, creation and construction of vaults in medieval England. Drawing on an impressive range of documentary evidence, this profusely illustrated book offers both a history of the vault and fresh insights into English architectural design in the Middle Ages."Dr John Goodall, Architectural Editor, Country Life Magazine