CGD Technology

Sentinel - a ground gas detection system with wireless remote monitoring

Background

The team behind CGD are expert in ground gas detection for buildings, contaminated sites, and petroleum exploration.  Limitations in available monitoring equipment presented opportunities to develop improved, safer detection systems.

Objectives included:

• Remote user configurable wireless monitoring of data from multiple gases.

• Intuitive user experience and interface.

• ATEX and EX compliant for sampling in explosive environments.

• Options to securely site in boreholes, on walls or shelves.

Discovery

To understand human, logistics, regulatory and technical challenges our designers liaised continually with scientists, site operators and CGD’s in-house team. 

Mapping service delivery, product lifecycle and considering the competitive context, we prioritised opportunities to add value from product build through dispatch, use, servicing and end-of-life.

Design

Lucid’s team developed concepts for managed gas flow to multiple sensors, valves, vents, and filters within tight size constraints to fit bore-holes.

Working through options with user interface wireframes, animation, sketch visuals, 3D CAD, block models, and working prototypes, stakeholders were engaged in usability feedback throughout.  Significant materials research was required to meet exacting performance standards.

Design for electromagnetic compatibility, ingress, and explosive atmosphere safety testing was optimised concurrently with consideration of access for servicing, disassembly, and recycling.

Delivery

Providing unambiguous engineering design specification, manufacturing subcontractors were involved early in the design process.

Lucid builds prototype batches of gas Sentinel sub-assemblies for handover to CGD Technology for final manufacture.

Results

Usability

Human factors engineering included optimising the design for simple and intuitive remote digital monitoring and alert interactions, with easy build and servicing access.

Brand impact

Coherent messaging throughout a clear user-interface elevates the perception of the product’s value.

Safety

ATEX, EX and ICEX standards and safety principles were applied throughout, resulting in first-time safety certification.

Sustainability

Design for low wireless power consumption extends battery life and service cycles to minimise environmental impact.

Manufacturability

The modular design of independent sub-assemblies enables efficient, low-volume batch build and test.