Risk Assessment and Monitoring of Termites in the Forbidden City under Global Warming

Abstract

ABSTRACT Historical heritage is facing enormous challenges as a result of global warming. Termites are a significant pest in ancient wooden buildings and their area of activity is also expanding. According to historical records, Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder and Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe are the main species of Reticulitermes present in Beijing. A 40-year record of meteorological data, termite damage information published by the Chinese government and indoor environmental data show that the risk of termite damage to the Forbidden City is increasing. In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, two termite infestations occurred in the Forbidden City. Monitoring and control systems were applied immediately, the risk to each object storeroom and other termite-susceptible area was classified and monitored, and the termites were controlled successfully. With the rapid development of information technology, an advanced termite monitoring system has been introduced that is based on non-closed-loop electromagnetic induction, is fully automatic and gives remote real-time monitoring. LoRa technology was used for signal transmission between the termite monitoring station and the information collection. This signal transmission technology can overcome the signal-blocking effect of the numerous walls inside the Forbidden City, ensuring that the signal can be transmitted quickly and accurately as soon as termite infestation is detected. The non-closed-loop design allows the electronic components to be fully encapsulated, improves resistance to soil moisture and salt erosion, prolongs service life and ensures accuracy. The risk assessment and remote real-time monitoring technology introduced in this paper are of great significance for protecting ancient buildings in the cities of northern China.