Sweden's Castle Gets Digital Nervous System to Fight Decay
Researchers transformed a deteriorating Swedish castle into a test case for preserving historic buildings using sensor networks and artificial intelligence. The approach—installing 84 sensors to monitor humidity, temperature, and other conditions—revealed specific fixes needed and offers a scalable blueprint for heritage organizations worldwide facing similar preservation crises with limited budgets.
Originaltitel: Parametric Digital Twins for Preserving Historic Buildings: A Case Study at Löfstad Castle in Östergötland, Sweden
<p>This study showcases the digitalization of L & ouml;stad Castle in Sweden to contribute to preserving its heritage values. The castle and its collections are deteriorating due to an inappropriate indoor climate. To address this, thirteen cloud-connected sensor boxes, equipped with 84 sensors, were installed throughout the main building, from the basement to the attic, to continuously monitor various indoor environmental parameters. The collected extensive multi-parametric data form the basis for creating a parametric digital twin of the building. The digital twin and detailed data analytics offer a deeper understanding of indoor climate and guide the adoption of appropriate heating and ventilation strategies. The results revealed the need to address high humidity problems in the basement and on the ground floor, such as installing vapor barriers. Opportunities for adopting energy-efficient heating and ventilation strategies on the upper floors were also highlighted. The digitalization solution and findings are not only applicable to L & ouml;fstad Castle but also provide valuable guidance for the conservation of other historic buildings facing similar challenges.</p>