A SCOTTISH island museum is using new technology to help protect its history.
The Ravenspoint Centre Museum in Lewis is harnessing Internet of Things (IOT) technology to help safeguard its cultural legacy and the historically important exhibits.
The centre is home to the Angus Macleod Archive – which provides a unique perspective on Scottish history, chronicling one man’s experience of life in the Gaelic-speaking village of Calbost through documents, videos and voice recordings.
The volunteer-run attraction has partnered with CENSIS – Scotland’s innovation centre for sensing, imaging and IOT technologies - and connectivity consultancy FarrPoint to install crucial new technology.
The new network will help to monitor and control humidity levels – which can cause damage or deterioration – as well as monitor visitor numbers.
Monitoring and controlling humidity levels is critical to the protection of historic items while access to real-time data from the new system will also enable the museum to track visitor numbers and identify if there has been any damage to the building.
Donnie Morrison, chairman of the Pairc Historical Society, which runs the museum, said: “The Ravenspoint Centre Museum and the Angus Macleod Archive are testament to our community’s commitment to preserving its heritage.
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"With the technology we have installed, we can better protect the artefacts and ensure they are kept in the best shape possible for generations to learn from and enjoy.
“The Angus Macleod Archive provides a unique perspective on Scottish history and consistently attracts a lot of visitors and researchers. But, from this summer we are expecting a surge of tourists due to the new deep water port in Stornoway which is attracting more cruise ships.
"The people-counting technology will be a valuable asset to have during this time, supporting our continued accreditation and giving us a more accurate gauge of the museum’s popularity."
The new system will automate data collection, a task previously performed manually by volunteers.
Having a clear record of information is a requirement for the museum to retain its accreditation from Museum Galleries Scotland, which allows for access to funding, advice and training.
Ally Longmuir, business development manager at CENSIS, added: “This project shows that no matter where you are based, you can take advantage of the benefits that IOT technologies can offer.
"With access to live and historic data, the Pairc Historical Society will be in a better position to protect the Isle of Lewis’s, and Scotland’s, heritage, make better informed decisions about how to manage the museum and archive as well as better cater to visitors’ needs.
"It was a pleasure to collaborate with the Pairc Historical Society and FarrPoint, and play a small role in safeguarding the legacy of Scotland’s rich history.”
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