On-site dynamic wireless sensor monitoring in the historic building of Palazzina della Viola, Bologna, Italy

The most up-to-date research interests in energy efficiency in historical buildings highlight the necessity to integrate the structural and energetic viewpoints, starting from a diagnostic phase, prior to designing the interventions. A wireless sensor network was installed at Palazzina della Viola, Bologna, Italy, and equipped with sensors for monitoring indoor environmental parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, light, semiconductor metal oxide (MOX) Gas sensor interfaces; in addition 3-axis accelerometers for monitoring structural vibrations. The network is made of about 40 nodes, distributed on the different building levels and acquiring data from the whole building. The sensor nodes are placed in static position, except for 6 nodes concentrated in the large hall and front loggia, both with frescoes, on the 1st floor. Those 6 nodes may be used as mobile stations in order to carry out specific measurement campaigns or dynamic surveys. They may be employed to corroborate data recorded by different or alternative testing techniques. Presently, of particular interest seems to be the verification of aspects such as: a) light distribution in the different rooms for example pre- and post- interventions or with natural/artificial light; b) vibration levels before, during and after structural/energetic refurbishment; c) air flow dynamics between rooms of different volumes, heights, sun exposure. This work presents the methodology of using dynamic wireless sensor monitoring in combination or as an alternative to traditional or innovative indoor climate survey and structural testing.