Acoustic Emission Monitoring

Picture a special device that listens to the sounds objects make when they crack.
This device is called acoustic emission monitoring, or AE for short. It's usually used to inspect
airplanes and bridges for potential issues, but now, scientists at Getty are using it to prevent
damage in cultural heritage objects.
AE can detect tiny cracks in materials like wood by capturing ultrasound waves and turning them
into electrical signals we can see. This real-time data allows us to monitor how objects change
over time, identify variations in temperature and humidity that may lead to damage, and even
uncover unexpected visitors like termites.
For more information check out Monitoring Climate-Induced Physical Damage in Art Objects on Getty.edu: www.getty.edu/...