Portable electronic system capable of measuring the environmental acidity and facilitate preventive conservation of the historical - cultural heritage and its safety.
Researchers from the Investigation and Intrumentation Grouo of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) have collaborated with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) for the development of an innovative electronic system able to measure and monitor environmental acidity (pH) in the air. The acidity is responsible, in specific circumstances, of chemical attacks against materials and living organisms. The main characteristics of the solution (tested in real environments) are the low cost of production, not-energy consumption and minimum installation requirements. Initially developed as a solution for conservation of the historical - cultural heritage, the system has potential applications in the chemical, food processing and environmental industry, among others.
The solution is a portable electronic system for automatic determination of environmental acidity (pH) in any state of matter, liquid or solid damp and also gas (e.g. air).
The data capture component is based on the technology of sol-gel optical sensors capable of assessing environmental conditions of acidity. This optical response is measured by reading units, quantified and converted to an electrical signal that can be processed to monitor optimally and remotely, environmental acidity. Compared to conventional systems, the proposed sensor system is a global pioneer in measuring the pH in the air in both open and closed environments.
“The application of innovative technologies for cultural heritage preservation is key to ensuring cultural tourism, which in Spain attracts 7.5 million foreign visitors and generates more than 6,000 million euros in revenue”
“The Spanish heritage is one of the largest reserves of cultural capital of the world, comprises a stock of physical goods only comparable to that of Italy or France"
Solution contact
Guillermo de Arcas, Eduardo Barrera, Juan Manuel López
e: {g.dearcas, eduardo.barrera, juanmanuel.lopez}@upm.es
UPM contact
Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Area
Centre of Support for Technological Innovation – UPM
e: innovacion.tecnologica@upm.es