IoT in Museum: Smart Ambience Monitoring
It is widely known that the Internet of Things (IoT) has already been a part of commercial and industrial settings, transforming the way businesses operate. However, the impact of IoT extends beyond the corporate world, reaching public institutions like museums and art galleries. These cultural places play a crucial role in shaping the identity of cities and communities.
Embracing IoT, specifically on LoRaWAN, has proven to be a game-changer for institutions like museums, enhancing their capabilities in preserving and showcasing valuable exhibits. Moreover, by doing so museums can keep providing the visitors with desired experience from what they are coming for.
It is widely known that the Internet of Things (IoT) has already been a part of commercial and industrial settings, transforming the way businesses operate.
However, the impact of IoT extends beyond the corporate world, reaching public institutions like museums and art galleries. These cultural places play a crucial role in shaping the identity of cities and communities.
Embracing IoT, specifically on LoRaWAN, has proven to be a game-changer for institutions like museums, enhancing their capabilities in preserving and showcasing valuable exhibits. Moreover, by doing so museums can keep providing the visitors with desired experience from what they are coming for.
Smart Ambience Monitoring in Museums
In museums, where the balance of preserving exhibits and creating immersive exhibitions is important, the integration of IoT shows how it can contribute to a better overall atmosphere of the environment. Specifically, the use of IoT sensors on LoRaWAN for monitoring temperature and humidity, which has emerged as a reliable and efficient solution for this.
These sensors provide real-time data in a convenient way for maintaining optimal environmental conditions within exhibition spaces.
In addition, for museums this presents a cost-effective solution allowing for efficient monitoring without the need for repetitive manual checks. This reduces the operational costs associated with traditional monitoring methods.
Preserving Priceless Exhibits
Monitoring temperature and humidity is crucial in preserving the integrity of exhibits. Fluctuations in these environmental factors can unfavorably affect the materials, causing irreversible damage.
With LoRaWAN-powered smart sensors, museums can maintain optimal conditions, ensuring the longevity of their precious collections and avoid unwanted losses at the expense of incorrect storage conditions.
Enhancing Visitor Experience
Beyond exhibits preservation, the advantages extend to the visitor experience. Imagine walking through a perfectly climate-controlled museum, where the ambience complements the art.
IoT on LoRaWAN ensures that visitors can enjoy a seamless and comfortable experience, preserving a deeper connection with the exhibits.
Benefits of LoRaWAN Connectivity
When considering connectivity options, IoT on LoRaWAN emerges as a frontrunner in museum settings. Unlike WiFi and Bluetooth, LoRaWAN offers an extensive communication range and lower power consumption. This makes it ideal for large exhibition spaces, allowing for efficient data transmission without compromising the stability of the network.
On the other hand, the compact and small smart monitoring devices will not interrupt the visitors’ experience.
Except from their size, there are some other benefits their usage brings in:
- suitable even for harsh environments
- applicable for indoor and outdoor use
- no need for external power supply
- up to 10 years of battery lifetime
- with no need for maintenance
- can be relocated according to needs
On the other hand, the compact and small smart monitoring devices will not interrupt the visitors’ experience.
Except from their size, there are some other benefits their usage brings in:
- suitable even for harsh environments
- applicable for indoor and outdoor use
- no need for external power supply
- up to 10 years of battery lifetime
- with no need for maintenance
- can be relocated according to needs
Use case by Heliotics
By putting IoT technology into work, we help a Slovak museum to monitor temperature and humidity in their exhibition area, freezer boxes and the depositories.
Powered by Helium Network 
Powered by Helium
We use Helium LoRaWAN network because it offers several advantages, making it a compelling choice for various IoT applications. With its long-range connectivity, low power consumption, cost-effective deployment, and versatility across use cases it is our primary choice.
In addition, its already built-up extensive network coverage only emphasizes why it is the go-to option for us and for IoT solution like this.
Damage Prevention and Maintenance
The deployment in the exhibition area is monitoring that the conditions inside are properly set up. The goal is to have it under control in order to prevent the object quality degradation or depreciation.
If the exhibits would be exposed to unwanted ambience conditions (temperature, humidity) too long, it could lead to impact on their longevity and bring up unexpected restoration costs.
Continuous Monitoring and Protection
Another smart thermometers were deployed in a number of museum depositories. The content of rooms includes countless precious and preserved exhibits. There are preserved finds from different historical times (photos, books, written documents), various geological exhibits and ethnographic documents, or even taxidermies.
By monitoring the ambience conditions the museum workers will be able to timely uncover undesired temperature or humidity variations. In addition they can now:
- early prevent the exhibits deterioration
- uncover potential leaks through the rooms walls
- find out about emerging mould
So for the depositories ambience monitoring, it is both timely protection and cost-effective solution.
Another smart thermometers were deployed in a number of museum depositories. The content of rooms includes countless precious and preserved exhibits. There are preserved finds from different historical times (photos, books, written documents), various geological exhibits and ethnographic documents, or even taxidermies.
By monitoring the ambience conditions the museum workers will be able to timely uncover undesired temperature or humidity variations. In addition they can now:
- early prevent the exhibits deterioration
- uncover potential leaks through the rooms walls
- find out about emerging mould
So for the depositories ambience monitoring, it is both timely prevention and cost-effective solution.
Early Detection and Control
Monitoring the freezers enables to prevent unexpected temperature difference and gradual depreciation of the stored units. Moreover, the musem workers will be notified on time when a steep change happens.
The alerting system will help them to act early and save the contents inside as well as detect possible technical issues.
By the Words from the Museum
In this way, we gained the opportunity to check the state of the premises without limits, not only in standard museum premises, but also, for example, in freezers, where we temporarily store valuable biological material.
It is important for us that with the current solution it is not necessary to physically enter the premises and disturb the climate inside, but we can monitor the data remotely using a PC or a mobile phone, and we also have the option of receiving notifications in case of unpredictable situations."
Innovate with IoT
In conclusion, the integration of IoT on LoRaWAN in museums is a forward-thinking approach that brings numerous advantages. It ensures the preservation of exhibits, provides cost-effective monitoring, and enhances the overall visitor experience.
As we step into the future, museums and similar institutions should embrace this transformative technology to safeguard our cultural heritage and offer an unforgettable experience to all who walk through their doors.
If you also want to go with this wave of innovation by implementing IoT with us, let’s find together the solution for your needs.
For more information about smart solution like this, do not hesitate to contact us at info@heliotics.com