Efficient art health monitoring enables Conserv’s LoRa- based solution to save museums ‘thousands of dollars’
Semtech Corporation, a supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, reports that Conserv, an Internet of Things (IoT) solution provider for art and museum applications, has developed a smart art conservation solution.
This is based on Semtech’s LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol. Conserv’s LoRa-enabled sensors utilise low-power capabilities to provide conservators with accurate, efficient and simple art health metrics in real time.
“With LoRaWAN connectivity, Conserv is able to connect the entirety of the largest museums to the Cloud without extensive wiring or additional infrastructure. In comparison, a Wi-Fi-based solution is difficult to install and provides inconsistent, expensive connectivity,” says Austin Senseman, CEO of Conserv. “Combining better network coverage with our sensors’ sensitivity provides customers with a winning combination for effectively monitoring exhibits, including difficult structures such as those located outdoors.”
With over 450,000 art and cultural collections in the world, Conserv developed its LoRa-based solution to help conservators preserve centuries of cultural history. Previously, it was difficult for museums and other galleries to offer real-time monitoring of art exhibits’ environments due to extensive wiring needs and Wi-Fi’s inability to cover large areas with consistent connectivity. By leveraging LoRaWAN, Conserv created a wireless IoT solution able to handle the challenges of this unique market.
Conserv’s smart conservation solutions consist of LoRa-enabled IoT sensors, a LoRaWAN-based gateway and a Cloud-based data monitoring system. Museums and collections deploy sensors to measure common factors affecting art health, such as humidity, temperature, light, and vibration. The sensors report accurate real-time data at consistent intervals and offer battery lifetimes up to 30 months. Conserv found that following deployment of its LoRa-based solution, most museums and collections saved thousands of dollars per year.
Austin Senseman
“Many museums and art collections are housed in historic buildings that present a difficult environment for common wireless technologies due to heavy use of concrete and steel,” comments Marc Pegulu, vice president of IoT for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “Semtech’s LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol enable the flexible and simple deployment of IoT solutions into existing infrastructure. As a result, LoRa devices preserves cultural history so future generations are able to enjoy and learn from centuries of art collections.”
Conserv is building solutions for art conservation professionals working with museums, galleries, libraries, private collections, auction houses, and art logistics companies. Conserv is a member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), American Institute for Conservation (AIC), Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists (ARCS) and the Society for American Archivists (SAA)
Semtech’s LoRa devices are said to be widely adopted long-range, low-power solutions for IoT that give telecom companies, IoT application makers and system integrators the feature set to deploy low-cost, interoperable IoT networks, gateways, sensors, module products, and IoT services worldwide. IoT networks based on the LoRaWAN specification have been deployed in 100 countries and Semtech is a founding member of the LoRa Alliance.
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