How IoT Sensors Can Preserve Historical Gems

In May of 2016, a sinkhole opened up in the middle of Florence, Italy. An underground water pipe ruptured, creating a 200-yard-long pit that dissolved two football fields worth of road. The collapse of the embankment swallowed almost 30 vehicles. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, however, the incident raised serious concerns for local authorities. The sinkhole opened up a stone’s throw from the Ponte Vecchio, one of Italy’s oldest and most historic landmarks — and one of the most famous bridges in the world. Tourism in Italy has grown to the point the nation attracts over 100 million visitors annually. The resulting immense foot traffic, coupled with natural wear and tear, was adding significant physical stress to the iconic centuries-old landmark. So, naturally, local authorities became deeply concerned about protecting this monument from a sudden disaster.