IoT Helps Museums Save Art, Artifacts, Animals and Resources

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art was an early adopter of wireless sensor technology. The museum implemented wireless environmental sensors in 2011 to protect the Cloisters, its collection of medieval and Byzantine art. Humidity and temperature fluctuations can damage the centuries-old paintings, tapestries and other artifacts by causing shrinkage, warping, and other problems. Before the wireless sensors were installed, the museum had no way to refine its temperature- and humidity-control systems. With the sensors in place, the museum can collect real-time data to run those systems more efficiently. This enables the museum to control costs, reduce environmental impact, and protect the art.