Preserving history: Protecting the wooden church of Javorca with Tector
In the heart of the Slovenian wilderness stands the wooden church of Javorca, a poignant memorial to fallen soldiers of World War I. Over time, however, this historic structure faced decay from harsh mountain weather.
To safeguard its legacy, Boštjan Lesar’s team from the University of Ljubljana turned to Tector, for real-time water ingress monitoring and protection. Through careful data analysis and targeted interventions, Boštjan’s team is preserving the church's structural integrity while maintaining its original character.
Challenge
Project Javorca is a special place. It is a wooden church in the middle of nature with scenic views. The church celebrates the fallen Austro-Hungarian defenders of the Isonzo Front battlefield (1915–1917). It's the most beautiful World War I memorial in Slovenia, it was placed on the list of particularly important European historical and cultural heritage back in 2007,receiving the European Heritage label in 2018.
Since the Church was primarily built just for World War I., it is simple wooden construction with a low number of protection details for harsh mountain weather. This has led to increased moisture in wood and the appearance of the decay in some places, demanding urgent intervention to preserve its historical significance.
Solution
Since the church is in a remote location, Boštjan’s team monitors moisture content on critical locations and sees how moisture content fluctuates. They see measuring results at the platform, accessible everywhere with internet connection.
“With discrete sensors strategically placed within the church, we gained real-time insights into moisture levels, enabling proactive preservation measures. Tector's user-friendly platform facilitated remote monitoring, allowing stakeholders to access critical data effortlessly. This innovative approach empowered us to identify vulnerable areas and implement targeted protection measures without altering the church's original aesthetic.”
Impact
Since the church is in a remote location, Boštjan’s team monitors moisture content on critical locations and sees how moisture content fluctuates. They see measuring results at the platform, accessible everywhere with internet connection.
“With discrete sensors strategically placed within the church, we gained real-time insights into moisture levels, enabling proactive preservation measures. Tector's user-friendly platform facilitated remote monitoring, allowing stakeholders to access critical data effortlessly. This innovative approach empowered us to identify vulnerable areas and implement targeted protection measures without altering the church's original aesthetic.”
