Sensor-Driven Preventive Preservation of Underground Heritage: A Case Study of the Wine Cellars of Baltanás

Underground wine cellars represent a fragile form of cultural heritage, where long-term microclimatic imbalance can lead to material degradation, structural instability, and internal collapses. High humidity, limited ventilation, and the difficulty of access complicate both diagnosis and conservation. This study presents preliminary results from a preventive monitoring strategy applied to the underground wine cellars of Baltanás (Palencia, Spain), focusing on temperature, relative humidity, wall moisture content, and ventilation as key drivers of deterioration. A wireless network of commercial temperature–humidity sensors, wall moisture probes, and airflow sensors was deployed in four sections of a representative cellar over a monitoring period exceeding two years. In addition, mobile monitoring was performed using a quadruped robot equipped with a rotating environmental sensing module, enabling measurements in confined and unstable areas. Results reveal strong thermal inertia, persistently high relative humidity frequently approaching saturation, low and intermittent natural ventilation, and sustained internal wall moisture. These conditions are consistent with observed material decay and internal landslides. The monitoring with quadruped robot proved particularly valuable for identifying localized humidity pockets and stagnant air zones beyond the reach of fixed sensors. The study demonstrates how different solutions for monitoring can support preventive conservation strategies for subterranean heritage, providing a scalable framework for early risk detection and informed management decisions.