A Scalable LoRaWAN-Based Environmental Sensing System for Cultural Heritage Sites

Preserving cultural heritage requires reliable and non-invasive monitoring in different environments, including open-air archaeological sites, museums, and exhibition areas. This study presents a scalable environmental sensing system based on a LoRaWAN architecture and ExoSense sensor nodes. The system is capable of measuring temperature, humidity, pressure, light, and air quality. It is modular and can be easily expanded with additional sensors. In-field tests were conducted in San Marco d’ Alunzio, a small Italian village with a rich history dating back to ancient Roman times. The site offers both indoor and outdoor cultural heritage scenarios, such as the Temple of Hercules and the Byzantine and Norman Figurative Arts Museum. Experimental results confirmed stable network coverage and low packet loss rate when adaptive data rate was enabled, even in the presence of complex topographies and architectural obstacles.