Page 124 - AC/E Digital Culture Annual Report

124come up with a broad variety of techniques and results ranging from monitoring heritage and creating databases to the use of digital acquisition techniques for existing property and the dissemination of highly accurate 3D digital models, especially through 3D printers.An important technique is the digital monitoring of heritage using wireless sensors – a growing trend in recent years owing to the increasing presence of the Internet of Things (IoT). It allows any monument to be constantly monitored in situ and has solved problems stemming from shortage of resources and personnel.The search for the best possible techniques and means of ensuring the protection of cultural heritage has also led to the digitisation of heri- tage using digital data acquisition techniques in order to create 3D models of the heritage assets. As we will see, this is a complex task that often requires a combination of several techniques and procedures to obtain results that are faithful to the original. The main ones are high-de nition digital photography, photogrammetric tech- niques and 3D laser scanning (in combination with UAVs or drones), which are characterised by high visual de nition and metric accuracy.The large amount of information that can be gleaned from heritage has enabled very accurate representations and diagnoses to be madeusing a variety of means, especially metadata, applications for mobile devices and the recent incorporation of 3D printers, which have been the chief consideration in the latest heritage recording e orts.1.1 Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)Planning the maintenance of heritage buildings for their preservation requires a careful assess- ment of their structural integrity coupled with a precise and quantitative understanding of the factors that can a ect them.This information has traditionally been gathered through data recording sensors and instruments that measure elements such as vibrations, temperature and humidity. However, there were a few disadvantages to using them in heritage environments, as they require a nearby power socket or extensive wiring in order tobe correctly installed. Furthermore, as we are dealing with heritage buildings, many of which contain artworks, the visual impact caused by the recording equipment has limited their use in such spaces.In the age of the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks (WSNs) allow radically di erent solutions to be adopted to addressthe abovementioned issues. Small autonomous sensors that communicate by means of wireless systems are less invasive and enable more de- vices to be installed more extensively to obtain a variety of information.When designing a wireless sensor network for the monitoring and conservation of heritage sites, it is necessary to bear in mind the setting where it is to be implemented. Speci c require- ments need to be studied such as environment, resources, cost, hardware and limitations of the system, so that the network is tailored as closely as possible to the property’s geographical, climatological, structural and other needs.In addition, although the main purpose of installing these networks is monitoring to ensure appropriate preventive conservation with respect to environmental conditions, the fact is that these systems can also perform other functions such as surveillance and warning against other types of risks, such as re, ooding and physical attacks.There is no doubt that wireless sensor networks are attracting keen interest on account of their advantages for supervising and keeping check on physical phenomena, as using these heritage monitoring systems as part of preventive conser- vation programmes enables the cultural institu-1. DOCUMENTATION, DIAGNOSIS AND CONSERVATIONThe use of digital technologies in the conservation, analysis and dissemination of cultural heritage