Sensor and measurement solutions
Start with the challenge. Not the product.
Some applications are difficult because of the measurement. Others because of everything around it: movement, ice, limited power, hazardous areas, difficult liquids, high-speed data or complex systems. Gill Solutions starts with the engineering challenge, then considers the measurement approach, integration requirements, trade-offs and appropriate technology.
Choosing the right approach
More than product selection
Environment, power, installation, communications, response rate, certification and maintenance can all affect sensor selection. Our Solutions pages bring these considerations together to help identify the appropriate measurement approach, including where a different technology may be better suited.
Measurement challenges
Measurement in demanding conditions
Ultrasonic wind measurement
Cups, vanes and bearings wear, particularly where access is difficult. Ultrasonic measurement removes these mechanical components, while siting, icing and flow distortion remain important considerations.
Explore ultrasonic wind sensingWind on moving platforms
Movement changes the wind a sensor measures. Apparent wind, platform motion, sensor position and the data required by the wider system all need to be considered.
Explore wind on moving platformsWind measurement in icing conditions
Ice can affect measurement when reliable data matters most. Heating can help maintain performance, but temperature, exposure, available power and duty cycle influence the appropriate solution.
Explore heated wind sensingTurbulence and high-speed measurement
Higher sampling rates capture more of a changing airflow, but also increase data, storage and processing requirements. Gill three-axis research anemometers support applications where dynamic airflow needs to be measured at high speed.
Explore turbulence & fluxSite weather monitoring
Regional forecasts cannot represent conditions at every site. On-site measurement provides local weather data and a record of the conditions behind operational decisions.
Explore site weather monitoringOptical rainfall measurement
Optical measurement detects precipitation without the moving mechanism used by a tipping-bucket gauge, providing an alternative where installation, reliability and maintenance influence the choice of technology.
Explore optical rainfallHeat-stress measurement
Temperature alone does not represent the full thermal environment. WBGT and TWL combine environmental measurements to provide a more useful basis for assessing heat-stress conditions.
Explore heat-stress measurementFuel and oil level measurement
Vibration, movement and temperature change can affect float-based measurement. Gill capacitive sensors provide continuous level measurement without moving parts, with different configurations available for the installation.
Explore fuel and oil level sensingDifficult-liquid level measurement
Foam, vibration, contamination and aggressive fluids can complicate level measurement. Capacitive sensing provides a sealed, solid-state approach for demanding liquid and tank applications.
Explore difficult-liquid level sensingNon-contact position measurement
Repeated movement, vibration and contamination can make mechanical contact a weakness. Gill inductive sensors provide non-contact linear and angular position measurement for demanding applications.
Explore non-contact position sensingOil condition monitoring
Wear can develop before machinery shows obvious symptoms. WearDetect continuously monitors ferrous wear debris in oil, with configurations that can also monitor oil temperature and water presence.
Explore oil condition & wear monitoringGas engine control
Ignition timing and air/fuel control directly affect gas engine operation. Gill technologies support precise engine control, including individual-cylinder control, mapping and integration with wider engine systems.
Explore engine controlIntegration and system requirements
Beyond the measurement
A sensor also has to work with the system around it. Power, communications, electrical outputs, mechanical interfaces, certification and data handling can all influence the specification.
Sensor integration and outputs
Analogue, serial, Modbus, SDI-12 and NMEA are useful only when they fit the receiving system. Gill products provide different communications and output options to support environmental and industrial applications.
Explore system integrationMarine system integration
Marine applications bring established communications, navigation and data requirements. Sensor configuration, NMEA compatibility, installation position and how the data will be used all influence integration.
Explore marine integrationMeteorological data for air quality
Pollutant measurements need meteorological context. Wind direction can help identify likely sources, while wind speed, turbulence, temperature, humidity and pressure support interpretation of dispersion conditions.
Explore air quality monitoringWind alarms and operating limits
Operational wind limits depend on conditions at the equipment, not the regional forecast. Sensor position, gust measurement and the way warnings are communicated all affect the monitoring system.
Explore wind alarmsLow-power remote monitoring
Remote systems have limited energy for sensing and communications. Battery capacity, solar generation, telemetry, sampling, heating and duty cycle all influence system design.
Explore low-power applicationsOEM sensor integration
Integrating a sensor into another product introduces mechanical, electrical, software, testing and production requirements. Gill can support integration of existing sensing technologies or application-specific development.
Explore OEM solutionsCalibration and traceability
Some applications require measurement performance to be independently demonstrated. Calibration and traceability can therefore form part of the specification, with Labcal providing UKAS-accredited calibration across multiple parameters for suitable equipment within its accredited scope.
Explore calibrationMultiple measurement requirements
Considering the complete system
Some applications require several measurements rather than one sensor. Gill brings environmental sensing, level and position measurement, condition monitoring and control technologies together across the Group, allowing the wider measurement architecture to be considered as a whole.
Custom engineering
Requirements beyond standard products
Not every application fits an existing product. Gill R&D and engineering work across sensing, electronics, firmware, communications and mechanical design to adapt existing technologies or develop solutions for requirements beyond the standard range.
Application examples
Proven in demanding environments
Gill technology operates across autonomous marine, extreme weather, infrastructure and other demanding applications. MaxiMet supported the Mayflower Autonomous Ship, a custom WindMaster measured 109.83 knots aboard Saildrone during Hurricane Sam, and WindSonic sensors provide wind measurement at the Burj Khalifa.
Specifying a measurement solution
What to consider
Start with what needs to be measured, the operating environment, available power, required response rate, communications, applicable standards and how the instrument will be installed and maintained. These requirements quickly narrow the appropriate measurement technologies.
Discuss your application
You don’t need to know the product
Tell us what you need to measure, where it needs to work and what makes the application difficult. You may already know the measurement, platform or environmental conditions, or simply know that the obvious approach will not work. We can start there.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sensor and a measurement solution?
A sensor measures a physical parameter. A measurement solution considers that sensor alongside the environment, installation, power, communications, certification, maintenance access and the system receiving the data. Gill uses this broader approach when helping customers select sensing technologies, including identifying where a different technology may be more appropriate.
How do I choose the correct sensor for my application?
Start by defining what needs to be measured, then consider the operating environment, installation constraints, required accuracy and response, available power, outputs, communications, approvals and how the data will be used. Gill can help assess these requirements and identify the correct technology or specification.
Can sensors work on moving platforms?
Yes, but the application has to be considered carefully. On a vessel, vehicle, buoy or UAV, platform movement affects the relationship between the sensor and the surrounding environment. Wind measurement may therefore require consideration of apparent wind, sensor position, platform motion and how the resulting data is used.
How do ultrasonic wind sensors work?
Ultrasonic wind sensors measure the time taken for ultrasonic signals to travel between transducers. Changes in transit time caused by airflow are used to calculate wind speed and direction. Because the measurement does not rely on rotating cups or vanes, ultrasonic technology can remove mechanical wear points from the wind measurement system.
What is optical rainfall measurement?
Optical rainfall measurement uses a light-based sensing method to detect precipitation rather than a mechanical tipping mechanism. Gill’s TruMet PW100 uses optical measurement for rainfall applications where avoiding moving components can be beneficial, and where reliability, installation and maintenance requirements make the sensing method itself part of the decision.
What are WBGT and TWL?
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and Thermal Work Limit (TWL) are heat-stress indices. WBGT combines air temperature, humidity, radiant heat and air movement to assess heat exposure. TWL estimates the conditions under which a person can safely perform physical work. Gill’s MaxiMet Heat Stress provides integrated environmental measurement for both.
What communications protocols do Gill sensors support?
The available interface depends on the product. Gill technologies include analogue outputs, serial communications, SDI-12, Modbus and NMEA across relevant product ranges, with outputs suitable for monitoring and control architectures such as SCADA. The important question is whether the output fits the system receiving it and how the data needs to behave there.
Are Gill sensors available for hazardous areas?
Yes. Gill provides hazardous-area sensing options, including intrinsically safe wind measurement. ATEX, IECEx and UKEX may all form part of the specification depending on the application and location. An approved sensor does not make the installation compliant on its own, so Gill explains what the approval does and does not cover.
Will Gill tell me if its technology isn’t the correct solution?
Yes. The correct technology depends on the application, and the useful answer is not always the sensor with the longest specification sheet. Where another measurement approach is better suited to the requirement, Gill aims to identify that during the specification process rather than after installation.
Have an application to discuss?
Speak to our team
Tell us what you need to measure, where and under what conditions. We’ll help you work out the appropriate approach.