Vibration Mitigation and Monitoring: A Case Study of Construction in a Museum

Abstract

Vibration from demolition and construction activities poses a serious risk to museum objects. This case study presents preventive conservation and vibration monitoring strategies developed in response to a large-scale renovation project on the floor directly below the Egyptian Art galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in order to safeguard this fragile, ancient art collection. The paper discusses the methods and procedures that were developed not only to protect the art but also to allow visitors continued access to as much of the collection as possible during the work period. In advance of the construction, pilot testing was performed to determine the levels of vibrations caused by different tools, as well as to gain a better understanding of vibration propagation within the museum and to specific objects through their mounts, pedestals, and display shelves. Vibration prone installations were modified with isolation and/or dampening approaches to mitigate vibration, or when possible, selected objects were deinstalled. A variety of mitigation solutions were shown to be effective through testing. During the demolition and construction phase, continuous wireless vibration monitoring was provided from within the galleries, and sometimes from sensors directly on objects or their shelves to provide near real-time alerts to museum staff and construction personnel. Alert levels were based on frequency independent velocity levels.