Wireless Sensor Network Design for Cultural Heritage Monitoring

The conservation of cultural heritage artifacts and monuments requires rigorous environmental monitoring to mitigate the risk of degradation caused by adverse environmental conditions. In this context, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) offer a scalable, non-intrusive solution to monitor the most critical environmental parameters in real time. This paper illustrates the application of a WSN in the context of environmental quality monitoring in cultural sites, highlighting the metrological challenges posed by current standards in the field. The proposed architecture is based on sensing nodes composed of a general-purpose structure, featuring long range communication capabilities, specialised by means of front-ends conditioned for the measurement of hazardous quantities, in accordance with international regulations. In cultural heritage preservation, chemical and physical deterioration processes, biodeterioration, and material instability phenomena are appearing with increased frequency and severity, enabled by pollutant and microclimatic fluctuations that compromise the preservation conditions established by conservation science. The proposed architecture combines innovative metrological management with modern IoT design principles, with the aim of providing a comprehensive and remotely manageable monitoring solution for sensitive cultural heritage environments.