Perth heritage venues get new environmental monitoring systems

Culture Perth and Kinross care for one of the UK’s oldest nationally significant collections, which features works by influential Scottish artists, including Joan Eardley, Sir William MacTaggart, Calum Colvin and Alison Watt. These are currently on display in Perth Art Gallery.

On 30 March 2024, the new Perth Museum opened its doors after a £27 million redevelopment project. This world-class cultural and heritage attraction will highlight the fascinating objects and stories that put Perth and Kinross at the centre of Scotland’s story.

At its heart will sit the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, one of Scotland and the UK’s most significant historical objects. Returning to Perthshire for the first time in over 700 years, the Stone will be the centrepiece of the new museum and will be free for all to view. The museum will be housed in a heritage Edwardian building that once served as a gathering place hosting everything from markets and concerts, to political conferences and wrestling matches.

Environmental Monitoring

In the Autumn of 2023 Cultural Perth and Kinross contracted DTech Pro to provide an Eltek Environmental Monitoring System for five sites in and around Perth. The locations ranged from major sites in Perth City centre, to city storage facilities and smaller regional locations.

Museums Galleries Scotland had kindly provided a grant to Cultural Perth and Kinross to enable them to replace an elderly existing monitoring system at the Perth Art Gallery and a city centre store as well as to install a new monitoring system at the new Perth Museum and at two out of city locations, Alyth Museum and the Crieff Town Hall Monuments.

CB70W Lux sensor monitoring a delicate exhibit that could be damaged by excessive light/UV

Wireless data sent to the Cloud

The decision was taken to install Eltek’s cloud-based system which uses the mobile phone data network to send collected data to cloud-based servers, this avoids any complications in having to use local IT infrastructure. Users then interface with the system and data using Eltek’s web based Darca Connect software.

The majority of the sensor/transmitters being deployed are Eltek’s GD10 temperature and humidity instrument, but there are also a number of the CB70X Lux and UV sensor/transmitters being used.

Automated Reporting

Darca Connect has a range of options for automating workflow from automatically downloading the latest data to sending out customized reports at user defined intervals.

Specialist expertise

D-Tech Pro provided the knowledge and expert advice for this project. D-Tech Pro provides support to museums and conservators from first enquiry and throughout the lifetime of the installed system.

Eltek supplies monitoring and logging systems to many types of customer and if you are interested in monitoring systems outside of museums and heritage please contact Eltek directly.

Many customers now take up the offer of having fully configured hardware and software delivered to their requirements, thus allowing them to get the system up and running with the shortest possible time on-site.

For further information about Eltek data loggers visit www.eltekdataloggers.co.uk and www.d-techpro.co.uk