Wireless Sensor Platform for Cultural Heritage Monitoring and Modeling System.

Levente Klein,Paolo Dionisi-Vici,Marco Leona,Lucretia Kargere,Fernando Marianno,Alejandro Schrott,Hendrik Hamann,Sergio Bermudez,Masahiko Tsukada,Vanessa López

doi:10.3390/s17091998

Abstract

Results from three years of continuous monitoring of environmental conditions using a wireless sensor platform installed at The Cloisters, the medieval branch of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, are presented. The platform comprises more than 200 sensors that were distributed in five galleries to assess temperature and air flow and to quantify microclimate changes using physics-based and statistical models. The wireless sensor network data shows a very stable environment within the galleries, while the dense monitoring enables localized monitoring of subtle changes in air quality trends and impact of visitors on the microclimate conditions. The high spatial and temporal resolution data serves as a baseline study to understand the impact of visitors and building operations on the long-term preservation of art objects.

Highlights

Among public buildings, museums represent a special case with respect to environmental management
While our study demonstrates that the environmental conditions within the galleries are very stable, the dense sensor networks installed in 5 galleries conditions within the galleries are very stable, the dense sensor networks installed in 5 galleries enabled micro environmental studies of visitors’ impact and long term air quality
A good understanding of the microclimates that may form in large galleries or exhibition rooms have the potential to enhance the utilization of the galleries and determine the best location where art objects may be placed with minimized risk

Summary

Introduction

Museums represent a special case with respect to environmental management. There is an ongoing discussion regarding the general applicability of these standards and there are studies focused in assessing the possibility of establishing wider windows of temperature/humidity conditions tuned to distinct kind of objects [2,3,4]. This is a very ambitious, necessary endeavor, since the confluence of higher energy costs and the effects of climate change will be affecting the way buildings are constructed, refurbished and managed [5]. The inherent dynamic changes in the environment are hard to capture with a limited number of sensors and there is a need to better understand how Sensors 2017, 17, 1998; doi:10.3390/s17091998 www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion