Case Study: Towada Art Center achieves safer, community-driven art experiences with Microsoft Corporation

IoT drives fusion of art and community in a perception-altering exhibition

Towada Art Center wanted to create a community-focused exhibition that pushed art beyond the museum walls, but it needed a safe way to let visitors and local residents use loaned vehicles around the city while staying within local regulations. To support the LOST TERMINAL project in the Stranger Than Fiction exhibition, the center turned to Microsoft Corporation and its Azure-based IoT and location-tracking capabilities.

Microsoft Corporation, through a solution built by Nissho Electronics on Azure IoT Hub, Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Cosmos DB, and Bing Maps, enabled GPS tracking of the vehicles in real time. The system was developed in just 10 business days, reduced staff safety concerns, triggered alerts when vehicles left designated areas, and helped visitors feel more secure—while turning the live location display into part of the artwork itself.

Towada Art Center

Mari Satomura

Assistant Curator