Museums must find an ideal balance between the public's desire for intimate engagement with the art and the need to discreetly secure irreplaceable objects. Cameras and guards cannot cover and respond to everything. It's critical that any unauthorized movement of any object be detected at the point and moment of contact.

Museum collections present unique challenges. A single gallery might contain paintings, small artifacts, documents, and sculptures—all requiring different protection approaches. Traditional motion sensors are not comprehensive and vibration sensors must allow for ambient conditions.

Traveling exhibitions, loans between institutions, and special displays require flexible protection that adapts quickly and easily to changing needs.

MAP sensors create an invisible security perimeter around each individual object, regardless of size and shape, whether hanging or seated. A small rare-earth magnet attaches discreetly to the piece using museum-approved adhesives. The sensor is placed nearby—behind hanging works or beneath seated objects or their supporting surface. Both are completely hidden from view. Any unauthorized movement triggers an immediate, location-specific alert.

Conservators approve MAP because the magnet attachment is less invasive than mounting sensors directly on artwork. The system scales from protecting vulnerable pieces to comprehensive gallery coverage and from works for permanent installations to temporary exhibitions, and sensors can travel with loaned works to satisfy lenders' and insurers' requirements.

Whether integrated into a host of popular panels and access control systems or deployed in either of the dedicated MAP Systems, the MAP sensor provides across-the-board security.