Built for the Utility UndergroundSolutions.

Providing real-time insights for underground environments

Sentir (SX2.1 and SX2.2)

Sentir is an IP68 rated grid-edge hardware technology that supports a variety of industry standard digital I/Os enabling easy integration of CNIguard and third-party environmental, electrical and asset monitoring sensors. Sentir supports LTE CAT-M1 secure cellular communication and operates seamlessly with US and international cellular networks. Sentir provides edge management functions for sensors and is over-the-air configurable.

Sentir is designed to be easily installed in a utility vault or manhole and is purpose-built to withstand harsh underground environments. Sentir can harvest power from existing utility circuits or support AC power.

SensorView

SensorView Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is an intuitive, secure by design web application that provides geospatial and device data visualization and is accessible by authorized utility personnel from their desktop, tablet or smart phone. The system supports a “red, yellow, green” alert status approach for utility distribution operations personnel, providing alerts on valid alarm conditions enabling precise response and efficient action. SensorView also analyzes sensor data and provides advanced notifications for predictive maintenance, avoiding potential outages and safety events.

CNIguard is ISO27001 certified, and SensorView provides robust reporting, enterprise back-office integration and complete alarm management and operations response workflow.

Fault Indication, Prediction and Advanced Electrical Monitoring

CNIguard has partnered with leaders in industrial and ruggedized underground electrical sensing to integrate their devices with Sentir and SensorView providing advanced monitoring and analytics of distribution circuits. Automated location-based fault notification, with corresponding electrical data, significantly reduces the time to isolate underground faults, improving system reliability and uptime. Continuous electrical monitoring of current, voltage, transient disturbances, power load and partial discharge events provides circuit health and performance information and early actionable warning of potential issues.

Integrated Visual and Infrared Cameras

Sentir will support up to three (3) integrated visual and infrared cameras. The camera assemblies attach directly to Sentir or they can be installed remotely up to 33 ft (10m) from Sentir. The image capture frequency and the flash intensity for visual images is over-the-air configurable.

SensorView processes all images and provides automated notification of hot spots, visual changes to structures, early failure conditions on equipment and cables, and other IR and visual anomalies. The images are automatically analyzed, categorized and sent to utility operators for required action. The images can be used to augment or replace infrequent (e.g., every few years) manual inspection thereby dramatically improving inspection frequency while reducing O&M costs.

External Sensor Module (ESM)

The ESM connects with Sentir and detects flammable gases (methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and others) that collect in confined spaces from overheating and degradation of electrical cable insulation or leaking from co-located or nearby buried natural gas lines. The types of conditions and the associated gases are described in IEEE Guide 2417-2022 for Early Detection, Mitigation, Preventative Measures, and Response to Smoke, Fire, and Explosions in Underground Electrical Structures. Early warning of explosive gases is critical for worker and public safety, can mitigate significant fire and dynamic events, and significantly improves a utility’s risk posture especially in high-density areas and for circuits near critical infrastructure.

The gas sampling frequency is fully configurable over-the-air and the ESM is IP58 certified.

Jonathan Taylor
VP Customer Delivery

Jonathan is an engineer and project executive with a combined 15 years of experience in utility, manufacturing, deploying, and implementing solutions utility and heavy industrial sectors. He was previously with Osmose Utility Services and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, after starting his career within Aerospace and Pulp and Paper. Jonathan holds an Executive Leadership Certification and a BSME from the Georgia Tech, as well as an active Project Management Professional license from PMI.


Jens Sterum
VP Business Development

Jens has over three decades of experience in international business development, specializing in complex technology sales. Spanning FMCG, logistics, security and utilities, his experience traverses EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. Prior to joining CNIguard in the USA, he served as MD for a specialized company in industrial automation, having secured and managed a highly successful telemetry framework for the largest water utility in the UK . Jens has a BS in International Economics from Duke University and MS in Management and Organizational Development from University of Aalborg, Denmark.

Jim Darroch
Chief Technology Officer

Jim is a software development executive with 30 years’ experience in designing software and data solutions for Data/Telecoms, Industrial and IoT markets – with an emphasis on reliability, high availability, safety, and security. He has experience in building and leading software teams on a global scale for multiple large corporations (notably HP, Emerson and Honeywell) as well as several small/start-ups; establishing teams to quickly deliver innovative Software solutions. Jim holds a B.Sc. with First Class Honours in Computer Science from Strathclyde University.

Stephen Rose
Chief Financial Officer

30 years qualified accountant with industry based board level experience in the UK, Europe and China. Stephen is a commercially focused accountant having been group financial director for Eaglemoss Publications, an international publishing group for over 20 years. Other roles include management accountant for Porcelanosa and a consultancy role for fashion group, Jumper Retail.

Chris Quire
Chief Executive Officer

Chris is an engineer and technology executive with over 30 years of global experience in designing, manufacturing, deploying, and supporting wireless solutions in the utility and consumer electronics sectors. He was previously with Landis+Gyr and Comverge, after starting his career with Panasonic. Chris holds a MBA from Georgia State and a BEE from the Georgia Tech, as well as two patents.

Jason Wilson
Chief Commercial Officer

Jason is a seasoned sales and business development leader with over 30 years of global experience in high tech and wireless industrial internet of things with a focus on Smart Grid and Digital Oilfield solutions. He was previously with On-Ramp Wireless after starting his career in the United States Air Force. Jason has a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelors in Astronautical Engineering from the US Air Force Academy.