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. 2014 Jun 4;14(6):9813-32.
doi: 10.3390/s140609813.

A new dusts sensor for cultural heritage applications based on image processing

Andrea Proietti  1 , Fabio Leccese  2 , Maurizio Caciotta  3 , Fabio Morresi  4 , Ulderico Santamaria  5 , Carmela Malomo  6
Affiliations

A new dusts sensor for cultural heritage applications based on image processing

Andrea Proietti et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new sensor for the detection and analysis of dusts (seen as powders and fibers) in indoor environments, especially designed for applications in the field of Cultural Heritage or in other contexts where the presence of dust requires special care (surgery, clean rooms, etc.). The presented system relies on image processing techniques (enhancement, noise reduction, segmentation, metrics analysis) and it allows obtaining both qualitative and quantitative information on the accumulation of dust. This information aims to identify the geometric and topological features of the elements of the deposit. The curators can use this information in order to design suitable prevention and maintenance actions for objects and environments. The sensor consists of simple and relatively cheap tools, based on a high-resolution image acquisition system, a preprocessing software to improve the captured image and an analysis algorithm for the feature extraction and the classification of the elements of the dust deposit. We carried out some tests in order to validate the system operation. These tests were performed within the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums, showing the good performance of the proposed sensor in terms of execution time and classification accuracy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Micron MT9V032 with the LED lamp both connected by USB and a detail of the CMOS sensor, where the dust deposition occurs.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A screenshot of the MT9 Dust Detector Interface GUI.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Preprocessing flowchart (a) and images resulting by each preprocessing steps (b).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The two simplest dust types considered for the dusts classification: filiform and circular shapes.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
An example of a dust amplitude spectrum for a captured image.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
The “Cantoria” viewed from the Sistine Chapel.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
The acquisition device placed inside the “Cantoria” of the Sistine Chapel.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Comparison between the sensor before and after cleaning.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Some images acquired at different times.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Output results for the three samples image: the dusts classification (black for the circular type and grey for the filiform type), the dusts amplitude spectrum and the discarded elements due to the scanning windows size.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
The sensor during the laboratory test and the resulting amplitude spectrum.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. D'Agostino V., Mazzei P. Condizioni microclimatiche e di qualità dell'aria negli ambienti museali (Microclimate and air quality conditions in museum environment) [(accessed on 18 April 2014)]. Available online: http://www.fedoa.unina.it/1071/1/Tesi_D'Agostino_Vanessa.pdf.
    1. Waite E.R. A Museum Enemy—Dust. Rec. Aust. Mus. 1896;2:95–98.
    1. Yoon Y.H., Brimblecombe P. Clothing as a source of fibres within museums. J. Cult. Herit. 2000;1:445–454.
    1. Adam S., Brimblecombe P., Yoon Y.H. Comparison of two methods for measuring the deposition of indoor dust. The Conservatory. 2001;25:90–94.
    1. Grau-Bové J., Strlic M. Fine particulate matter in indoor cultural heritage: A literature review. Herit. Sci. 2013;1:1–8.

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