The creation of the Augmented Heritage Object and its tools for the benefit of preventive conservation of cultural heritage: the legacy of Professor Vincent Detalle 

The Augmented Heritage Object (AHO) is an innovative concept incorporating the latest advancement of all Heritage Science disciplines into an integrated and adjustable information system. The contribution legacy of Prof. Vincent Detalle in the development of the AHO remain central in Heritage Conservation processes bringing together digitization, data and paradata towards the holistic comprehension and experience of the heritage object. Vincent was the coordinator of ESPADON, French project devoted to the co-construction and implementation of the AHO.

The Augmented Heritage Digital Twin (AHDT) is an enhancement of the usual HDT, considering the concept of AHO conceived by the ESPADON project. Processus of AHDT creation : integration of new data and knowledge through tools for archiving, acquiring and managing diagnostic data combined with the current HDT technology to support collaborative management of information related to heritage assets, their environment, and their health. This integration enhances the understanding of the heritage’s significance and its state of conservation. It supports the decision-making to adopt more sustainable conservation strategies by simulating different scenarios and assessing their impacts.

These concepts and ideas drove Prof. Detalle’s engagement with the rich heritage of Cyprus through his collaboration with the Cyprus Institute as part of synergies and common projects with the C2RMF and the Fondation Sciences du Patrimoine.

SENNSE: IoT platform and dynamic digital twin for monitoring and protecting cultural heritage

This presentation explores how the conceptual evolution from the Heritage Boundary Object to the Augmented Heritage Digital Twin can be operationalised through IoT sensor infrastructures and Dynamic Digital Twins.

After briefly recalling the need to integrate material, historical and diagnostic knowledge into a comprehensive semantic representation of heritage objects, the talk analyses how dynamic environmental conditions require new data models capable of combining “slow data” (geometry, documentation, diagnostic records) with “fast data” generated by modern wired and wireless sensor networks.

SENNSE is an IoT-enabled platform developed at CNR-ISPC under the E-RIHS framework, which manages multidimensional sensor data, documents the full monitoring workflow, and links environmental events to semantic knowledge through integration with the DIGILAB infrastructure. SENNSE also includes a predictive layer, which enables machine-learning methods to analyse time series and detect anomalies anticipating risks such as condensation, thermal stress and unstable microclimates.

The second part of the talk focuses on a case study: the Grotta degli Animali in the Boboli Gardens (Florence). Here, a sensor network continuously monitor the fragile microclimate of the grotto. The resulting data streams, integrated with a semantic representation of materials and conservation history, enable a Reactive Digital Twin that supports early warning and preventive conservation strategies.

Think Macro, Act Micro: The Role of Microenvironments in the Sustainable Preservation of Photographs

This presentation explores how photographic heritage can be preserved more sustainably by rethinking traditional environmental standards and introducing innovative solutions.

Although photography was initially regarded as a disposable medium, it gradually came to be recognized as cultural heritage in the late 20th century, prompting the development of international preservation guidelines. These standards typically rely on low-temperature and low-humidity storage—conditions that are effective but energy-intensive and environmentally costly.

Recent collection surveys show that many photographic materials can be safely stored at room temperature provided that relative humidity remains below 60%, while others still require cooler environments. In all cases, the use of controlled microenvironments offers an effective strategy to balance preservation needs with carbon-reduction goals.

However, enclosed microenvironments raise concerns about the accumulation of pollutants, especially VOCs released from ageing materials. To address this, recent European research initiatives such as the NEMOSINE and SIMIACCI projects are testing advanced adsorbents, including Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). These highly selective porous materials can trap harmful gases such as organic acids, formaldehyde, and nitrogen oxides. A key innovation is the development of MOF-based paper sheets that are safe, easy to handle, regenerable, and capable of both pollutant adsorption and humidity buffering. Such tools could substantially reduce the need for energy-intensive climate-control systems and support more sustainable conservation practices.

Guardians of Heritage – The experience of the CCR “La Venaria Reale” in Preventive Conservation

The presentation opens with an outline of preventive conservation, highlighting its role in extending the lifetime of heritage materials through integrated, evidence-based strategies. Building on this framework, the talk focuses on CCR’s experience, emphasizing how environmental monitoring has become a decisive component for identifying risks, stabilising conservation conditions, and informing sustainable decision-making.

The composition of the team—multidisciplinary and constantly evolving—will be introduced, illustrating how expertise in diagnostics, conservation science, data management, and heritage operations converges to design protocols and tailor interventions. The discussion will then move to the activities carried out in the Savoy Royal Residences, used here as an example of a varied context where materials and microclimates interact, creating both practical challenges and useful insights on microclimate monitoring. Current issues, key milestones, and future developments will be presented, with particular attention to the need for continuous monitoring, systematic documentation, and predictive approaches.

This long-term experience has enabled CCR to contribute to three European projects—ARGUS, HERITALISE, and IPHOTOCULT—specifically in the fields of microclimate monitoring and documentation. Through these collaborations, the methodologies developed on site are being translated into shared practices, interoperable digital infrastructures, and new paradigms for preventive conservation across the cultural heritage sector.