Museum Environment Research Articles

Perception of Light in Museum Environments: Comparison between Real-Life and Virtual Visual Experiences

Alternative environments to real-life have been in recent demand in regard to lighting design and in museums. In this study, the effectiveness of the perception of the museum space in simulations or virtual-based environments is studied. Answers to a questionnaire regarding lighting in four different visual experiences are compared: Real-life, virtual-video-based, virtual-photo-based and virtual-render-based. A total of 117 participants were divided into four visual experience groups. Each group answered the same lighting related questions for four exhibition halls in the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa (Italy), which is housed in the Monumental Charterhouse of Calci. The answers were analyzed using ANOVA and a T-test. The results show that virtual experiences can be acceptable alternatives to real-life experience as the answers were indifferent in more than half of the criteria, and no criterion was affected significantly by experience, regardless of the hall’s characteristics. However, it was found that the hall’s characteristics also had an impact on the perception of the criteria in different experiences. Controlled artificial lighting or uniformly distributed lighting (full day or artificial light) were found to be more indifferent to the experience.

Nanoindentation of softening modern oil paints

A methodology was developed to address challenges associated with the use of nanoindentation to characterize small volumes of soft-matter thin films, encountered in many research fields including heritage conservation. The methodology is based on the use of a flat-punch indenter, whose radius is so dimensioned to be able to predict the effect of substrate rigidity using an existing solution independently of the film’s Poisson’s ratio and frictional characteristic. The film’s mechanical response is analyzed in a minimally strained condition at the onset of full contact to fulfill the solution’s assumption of linear viscoelasticity. The indentation response prior to full contact is corrected for the substrate effect using a model of structural compliance coupled with the solution. Homogeneity of the film material, further assumed by the solution, can thus be established based on its constant loss tangent response while deforming linear viscoelastically prior to full contact. This methodology was applied to minute volumes of bone black oil paints sampled from modern paintings by Karel Appel and Asger Jorn, across a range of relative humidities. The methodology not only differentiated between viscoelastic behaviors of these paints from the same period, but also facilitated the discovery that they possess softening points below the target humidity range of museums. The latter finding convincingly explains why these paints exhibit conservation problems even in a standard climate-controlled museum environment. The methodology can be applied to polymer coatings and thin biological tissues, whose Poisson’s ratios and frictional characteristics are not exactly known.

Mattel’s Barbie: Investigation of a Symbol—Analysis of Polymeric Matrices and Degradation Phenomena for Sixteen Dolls from 1959 to 1976

Mattel’s Barbie dolls are the most famous and iconic dolls since 1959. Today, they are being collected by individuals and often conserved in museum environments due to their cultural and historical significance reflecting everyday life and historical events. However, just like most museum objects made of plastics, both historical and more recent Barbies show evident degradation phenomena. Firstly, Barbies were made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), affected by the migration of additives—mostly the plasticizers—from the bulk phase to the outermost layer, appearing as a tacky and glossy exudate. Over the years, Barbies’ polymeric constituents were replaced with more stable ones, whose additives migration is limited compared to PVC, even though still occurring. Multispectral photography in visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) light, microscopical observations in VIS and UV light, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy in the Attenuated Total Reflectance mode (FT-IR ATR) were performed to characterize the constituent materials of 15 Barbies produced between 1959 and 1976, bridging the information gap on their processing over the years. The micro-invasive multi-analytical approach also allowed for the characterization of the degradation products, permitting the reference of the exudated compound to the specific bulk polymer.

Assessment of visual sub-competencies through Visual Rubrics: case studies based on the Common European Framework of Reference of Visual Competencies (CEFR-VC)

In the second version of the Common European Framework of Reference for Visual Competence (CEFR_VC) discussed in this journal issue, the main competency dimensions: creation and reception are represented in 16 sub-competencies, with an overarching competence dimension of metacognition. Visual Rubrics (VRs) support the assessment process of visual competency through an in-depth understanding of the content and levels of competences developed in an art education programme. Activities and their quality are captured in symbolic visualizations (images and explanatory textual rubrics) that scaffold the learning path and turn the competence development process into a metacognitive experience. Based on the first version of the Common European Framework of Visual Literacy (CEFR-VL), VRs for secondary-level art education were successfully employed in five European countries as summative assessment tools. In Hungary, the VR development continued with the new version of the framework, the Common European Framework of Visual Competency (CEFR-VC to explore the adaptability of VRs in a variety of educational settings. The tool proved to be useful in formal, school-based education as well as in the informal educational environment of museums. In this article, we explain the structure and imagery of the VRs and discuss their reception by art educators.

“Horniman Museum and Library Publications” series: zoology and anthropology (1904–1977)

Horniman Museum and Gardens, London published a group of visitor guides and handbooks from 1904 to 1977 under the series title “Horniman Museum and Library Publications” to accompany the permanent galleries. This paper presents a bibliography for the series, which covered subjects in zoology and anthropology. The series included 16 publications. Many had multiple editions. Authors were not always identified explicitly, and attribution was assigned to the institution. This paper identifies authors and other notable contributors for each volume. The Horniman stopped assigning new publications to the series at the end of the 1930s; however, new guides and handbooks continued to be published in similar fashion. Some of those later publications asserted continuity, claiming to be new editions. Others did not. Both continuities and breaks reveal aspects of work within the museum environment as well as trends in British museum engagement with its audiences. For instance, simplification is a profound trend over successive editions.

Organometallic complexation phenomenon observed during the natural aging of polyester urethane in the presence of iron corrosion

Shoes with polyester urethane soles have been stored for 3 decades in a museum environment after several months of mining use. Upon observation of sole material ageing under natural conditions, the shoes were laboratory stored since 2017 in order to evidence and follow signs of polyester urethane degradation. This study aims at characterizing a complex degradation material found on several shoes of the museum’s collection. Combining chemical composition analysis (EDX), mass spectroscopy (EGA-MS, py-GCMS) and vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and IR), results evidence the presence of iron carboxylates in different coordination modes. This study highlights the formation of a hitherto unknown degradation material of polyester urethane: an organometallic complex with iron ions coordinated with carboxylic rests of polyester polyol chains. The compound arises from the interaction between iron ions from the corrosion of structural metallic elements of the sole, and the polyester polyol fragments from the hydrolysis of the polyester urethane.

SeSAME: Re-identification-based ambient intelligence system for museum environment

• SeSAME system for collecting and analysing the behaviours of visitors inside a museum environment. • SeSAME is based on a multi-modal deep neural network architecture. • SeSAME uses re-identification techniques to perform visual profiling of visitor interest. • SeSAME aims at developing a tailored user experience in museum environment. Nowadays, understanding and analysing visitors activities and behaviours is becoming imperative for personalising and improving the user experience in a museum environment. Users’ behaviour can provide important statistics, insights and objective information about their interactions, such as attraction, attention and action. These data represent a precious value for the museum curators, and they are one of the parameters that need to be assessed. These information are collected through manual approaches based on questionnaires or visual observations. This procedure is time consuming and can be affected by the subjective interpretation of the evaluator . From such premises, SeSAME (Senseable Self Adapting Museum Environment) a novel system for collecting and analysing the behaviours of visitors inside a museum environment is presented in this paper. SeSAME is based on a multi-modal deep neural network architecture able to extract anthropometric and appearance features from RGB-D videos acquired in crowded environments. Our approach has been tested on four different temporal modelling methods to aggregate a sequence of image-level features into clip-level features. This paper uses as a benchmark TVPR2, a public dataset of acquired videos with an RGB-D camera in a top-view configuration, in the presence of persistent and temporarily heavy occlusion. Moreover, a dataset specifically collected for this work has been acquired in a real museum environment, which is Palazzo Buonaccorsi, an important historical building in Macerata, in Marche Region in the center of Italy. During the experimental phase, the evaluation metrics show the effectiveness and the suitability of the proposed method.

Museum as a Laboratory of Knowledge towards Local Culture Empowerment

This paper aims to investigate museums' roles that reflect the culture of Malaysia. It discusses Malaysian museums' challenges in meeting audience needs and enhancing the local culture. The four main topics covered are the museum as an informal learning institution, knowledge lab in a museum environment, the crucial role of museums in preserving and empowering culture, and museum impact on local communities. The main objective of this research is to identify how museums act as a knowledge lab within Malaysian culture. The findings of this study are based on observation and discussions with several local museum professionals. Keywords: museums; knowledge lab; culture; empowerment eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7iSI7%20(Special%20Issue).3793

Protecting Three-Dimensional Museum Collections During Transport: Engineering and Evaluation of Transport Crates Featuring Wire-Rope Isolators for Improved Vibration Mitigation

ABSTRACT Shock and vibration generated during transport can lead to overload failure and fatigue fracture in museum objects. Damage can be prevented using transport packing providing both adequate shock absorption and vibration isolation. This research demonstrated that standardized packing with enhanced vibration mitigation is achievable for three-dimensional objects in a busy museum environment. Based on state-of-the art predictive modelling, extensive engineering and collection care expertise, a calculator tool was developed that allows users to create packing with improved vibration isolation by using the overall dimensions and weight of an object. This research highlighted that effective vibration mitigation can only be designed in a concerted cross-disciplinary effort by engineers and collection care professionals.

Editors’ Introduction

Editors’ Introduction

New insights into the deterioration of TiO2 based oil paints: the effects of illumination conditions and surface interactions

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been used in numerous paintings since its creation in the early 1920s. However, due to this relatively recent adoption by the art world, we have limited knowledge about the nature and risk of degradation in museum environments. This study expands on the existing understanding of TiO2 facilitated degradation of linseed oil, by examining the effect of visible light and crystallographic phase (either anatase or rutile) on the reactivity of TiO2. The present approach is based on a combination of experimental chemical characterization with computational calculation through Density Functional Theory (DFT) modeling of the TiO2-oil system. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR) enabled the identification of characteristic degradation products during UV and visible light aging of both rutile and anatase based paints in comparison to BaSO4 and linseed oil controls. In addition, cratering and cracking of the paint surface in TiO2 based paints, aged under visible and UV–vis illumination, were observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Finally, Density Functional Theory (DFT) modeling of interactions between anatase TiO2 and oleic acid, a fatty acid component of linseed oil, to form a charge transfer complex explains one possible mechanism for the visible light activity observed in artificial aging. Visible light excitation of this complex sensitizes TiO2 by injecting an electron into the conduction band of TiO2 to generate reactive oxygen species and subsequent degradation of the oil binder by various mechanisms (e.g., formation of an oleic acid cation radical and other oxidation products).Graphical

The Painting that Leapt Through Time: Popularized High Art on Screen

Abstract Much high art of the twenty-first century is influenced by popular culture and, conversely, high art often finds its way into representation in popular culture media to varying levels and degrees. An example of this is the anime The Girl Who Leapt through Time, which uses a fictional artwork to significantly drive a narrative arc within the plot situating the important action within the museum environment. The artwork is both a signifier of the film’s central themes of loss, memory, and a representation of humanities creative impulse. The painting is explored via art formalist means and as metaphor to outline a speculative museology of the high art object inside and outside of the bounds of the particularity of the physical museum. This analysis and discursive treatise probes the importance of the interplay of “high” art and popular culture in a contemporary paradigm and the broader concern of art as bound to the human experience.

A Novel Sentiment Analysis Model of Museum User Experience Evaluation Data Based on Unbalanced Data Analysis Technology.

With the development of virtual reality and digital reconstruction technology, digital museums have been widely promoted in various cities. Digital museums offer new ways to display and disseminate cultural heritage. It allows remote users to autonomously browse displays in a physical museum environment in a digital space. It is also possible to reproduce the lost heritage through digital reconstruction and restoration, so as to digitally present tangible cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage to the public. However, the user's experience of using digital museums has not been fully and deeply studied at present. In this study, the user's experience evaluation data of digital museum are classified and processed, so as to analyze the user's emotional trend towards the museum. Considering that the user's evaluation data are unbalanced data, this study uses an unbalanced support vector machine (USVM) in the classification of user evaluation data. The main idea of this method is that the boundary of the support vector is continuously shifted to the majority class by repeatedly oversampling some support vectors until the real support vector samples are found. The experimental results show that the classification obtained by the used USVM has a good practical reference value. Based on the classification results of the evaluation data, the construction of the digital museum can be further guided and maintained, thereby improving the user experience satisfaction of the museum. This research will make an important contribution to the construction of the museum and the inheritance of culture.

Non-targeted screening of volatile organic compounds in a museum in China Using GC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Non-targeted analysis (NTA) was used in identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a museum in China with the gas chromatograph (GC)−Orbitrap−mass spectrometer (MS). Approximately 230 VOCs were detected, of which 117 were observed at 100% frequency across all sampling sites. Although some were common in indoor environments, most of the detected VOCs were rarely reported in previous studies on museum environments. Some of the detected VOCs were found to be associated with the materials used in furnishings and the chemicals applied in conservation treatment. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that several classes of VOCs were well correlated, suggesting their common sources. Compared with compounds in outdoor air, indoor VOCs had a lower level of unsaturation and more portions of chemically reduced compounds. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were performed. The results suggested that the sampling adsorbents chosen may have a large impact and that a single type of adsorbent may not be sufficient to cover a wide range of compounds in NTA studies. The MonoTrap adsorbent containing octadecylsilane (ODS) and activated carbon (AC) is suitable for aliphatic polar compounds that contain low levels of oxygen, whereas the MonoTrap ODS and silica gel are good at sampling aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with limited polarity. Principle component analysis (PCA) showed that the indoor VOCs changed significantly at different times in the museum; this may have been caused by the removal of artifacts and refurbishment of the gallery between sampling events. A comparison with compounds identified by chamber emission tests showed that decorative materials may have been one of the main sources of indoor VOCs in the museum. The VOCs identified in the present study are likely to be present in other similar museums; therefore, further examination may be warranted of their potential impacts on cultural heritage artifacts, museum personnel, and visitors.

Artificial Intelligence and VR Environment Design of Digital Museum Based on Embedded Image Processing

This article first introduces the development of embedded image processing system, puts forward the overall design of the system structure, constructs the development environment of software system and hardware, and introduces in detail the choice of embedded image processing system and artificial intelligence embedded operating system in the industry, the choice of objective lens, and the choice and installation of the light source in the system. According to the system requirements, the design, function, and working method of the GPIO peripheral circuit are introduced in detail, and the circuit diagram and PCB diagram of the GPIO peripheral expansion circuit are provided. Based on this, this article focuses on the technical realization of 3D landscape modeling technology, 3D landscape rotation technology, digital museum dynamic scene fusion technology, interactive animation perception over time, real visual virtual landscape, and virtual roaming scene perception in detail. The 3D landscape modeling technology and the modeling method of digital museum environment in virtual reality in this article are used to analyze and study the general concept of VR environment design in virtual reality environment and make it based on different characteristic methods of different modeling. The overall structure and theoretical basis of the VR environment in the digital museum are based on technical solutions, such as process modeling and scene structure. This technical solution has been verified in practical applications and is achievable. Regarding image recording, this paper proposes an improved image-based recording method. In terms of image coupling, this article uses an improved progressive input and output algorithm that can use CRML to create simple dynamic scenes, which can create clear and vivid animation effects, so that the viewer has a good experience.

Polymerisation Kinetics on FT-IR and Colorimetric Changes under UV Irradiation for a Commercial Polycyanoacrylate Adhesive, Addressed to Glass Restoration

This study evaluates a commercial polycyanoacrylate adhesive of medium viscosity regarding its suitability for the restoration of glass objects of cultural heritage in a museum environment (exhibition/storage). Loctite® Super Attak was investigated in terms of (a) its polymerisation rate and degree of conversion, using Infrared Spectroscopy FT-IR by monitoring the change of the C=C peak vs. C=O peak and (b) the alteration of the colour parameters of its films after its submission to UVC irradiation for several time intervals. It was confirmed that within 6 h, a thin-layered adhesive film acquires 80–85% of its polymerization in ambient conditions, while the reaction continues for up to 12–18 h in the conditions examined. The progress of the reaction is slower when the adhesive is in a protected environment. On the other hand, the effect of UVC rays on the glue is destructive and oxidative, provoking a yellow shade/colour from the first hours of exposure. The intensity of the yellowness becomes higher after 6 h of exposure, showing shifts in the absorption peaks of C–O/C=O groups of the initial IR spectrum and the augmentation of –OH absorptions. It was concluded that the adhesive is suitable for glass restoration, especially for instant, rapid, applications, under mild conditions of maintenance and exposure.

Competencies of a Museum Guide as Predictors of Visitors’ Learning Outcomes: A Case from Canada

ABSTRACT The competencies and techniques used by employees, especially those who act as guides, are one of the most important vehicles for the transference of visitors’ cultural understanding and memorable experiences. The aim of the study was to identify which guides’ competencies can enhance generic learning outcomes of museum visitors. The data were collected from 594 people who visited art and history museums in Toronto (Canada). The results showed that learning outcomes depend on three groups of guide's competencies: handling the group within the museum environment, communication skills, and knowledge and pedagogy. Also, the findings revealed that the guide's competencies that encourage interaction and active participation of visitors were common predictors for all generic learning outcomes. The research findings can serve as guidelines for museums when recruiting or training guides. Also, it can direct museums how to develop their strategy if they want to improve visitors’ experiences when engaging with museums’ exhibitions, art, and objects.

Novel Model Based on Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Short-Term Temperature Evolution in Museum Environment.

The environmental microclimatic characteristics are often subject to fluctuations of considerable importance, which can cause irreparable damage to art works. We explored the applicability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to the Cultural Heritage area, with the aim of predicting short-term microclimatic values based on data collected at Rosenborg Castle (Copenhagen), housing the Royal Danish Collection. Specifically, this study applied the NAR (Nonlinear Autoregressive) and NARX (Nonlinear Autoregressive with Exogenous) models to the Rosenborg microclimate time series. Even if the two models were applied to small datasets, they have shown a good adaptive capacity predicting short-time future values. This work explores the use of AI in very short forecasting of microclimate variables in museums as a potential tool for decision-support systems to limit the climate-induced damages of artworks within the scope of their preventive conservation. The proposed model could be a useful support tool for the management of the museums.

Novel Model Based on Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Short-Term Temperature Evolution in Museum Environment

Novel Model Based on Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Short-Term Temperature Evolution in Museum Environment

Exploring Trauma Responsive Educational Practices in a Museum

ABSTRACT Trauma infiltrates all of society – including museums. For guests, the trauma may lie in the context of the visit or what they bring with them from their everyday lives. Staff can develop trauma through daily interaction with stressful content or secondary trauma through interaction with traumatized guests. During the COVID19 pandemic, trauma also developed from workplace issues regarding personal health safety and job security. This is a case study about how one museum educated itself about the presence and impact of trauma through exploration of a framework developed by the Trauma Responsive Educational Practices (TREP) Project. We present results of a staff-wide evaluation around initial implementation of the framework. Results show staff found the framework to be relevant and useful, but they need more support adapting it to the unique environment of museums. It also triggered memories of personal trauma in some staff, requiring a rethinking about how to implement it.