Environmental monitoring for universities & research
Protecting a lifetime of research, from experiment to archive.
Research samples and data move through six critical stages. XiltriX maps the whole journey, watches the incubators, freezers, LN₂ tanks and shared facilities at every stage, and escalates deviations to your team before they become catastrophic losses.
Protecting irreplaceable work, at every stage.
A university or research institute depends on stable conditions from the first experiment to long-term archiving. The sector card below maps the operational journey in six stages: the key processes, the rooms, the equipment that must stay within range, the environmental parameters to watch, the standards that apply, and where XiltriX adds value. It is the same map our engineers use when designing a monitoring system for a research facility.
Six stages, one monitoring map.
Select a stage to see the processes, locations, equipment, parameters, standards and XiltriX value for that stage.
Research setup
Key processes
- Project & lab setup
- Equipment installation
- Access control
- Safety & risk assessment
Locations
- Research labs
- Teaching labs
- Start-up & biosafety labs
- Facility onboarding areas
Assets to monitor
- Lab refrigerators (2-8°C)
- Freezers (-20°C / -80°C)
- Incubators & shakers
- Safety cabinets
Environmental parameters
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Door status
- Room pressure
Compliance & standards
- Local university regulations
- Biosafety (BSL 1-4)
- Health & safety
- Risk management
XiltriX value
- Fast, reliable deployment
- Supports research continuity
- Early-warning alerts
- LIMS link via REST API
Experiments
Key processes
- Sample handling
- Experiments & analyses
- Equipment monitoring
- Data logging
Locations
- Wet & dry laboratories
- Analytical & imaging labs
- Biosafety & containment labs
- Teaching & student labs
Assets to monitor
- Incubators (CO₂/O₂)
- Centrifuges & analysers
- Microscopes & imaging
- Specialised equipment
Environmental parameters
- Temperature
- Humidity
- CO₂ / O₂
- Vibration / shock
Compliance & standards
- GLP (where applicable)
- Biosafety regulations
- Chemical storage compliance
- Data integrity (ALCOA+)
XiltriX value
- Real-time monitoring & alerts
- Less equipment downtime
- Early warning for research
- Multi-user environments
Sample storage
Key processes
- Short- & long-term storage
- LN₂ storage with auto-fill
- Inventory management
- Sample tracking
Locations
- Sample storage rooms
- Ultra-low freezer rooms
- LN₂ storage areas
- Central research repositories
Assets to monitor
- Ultra-low freezers (≤ -80°C)
- LN₂ tanks & auto-fill supply
- Sample storage cabinets
- Backup power & alarms
Environmental parameters
- Temperature (to -196°C)
- LN₂ level, pressure, fills
- Humidity
- Door & power status
Compliance & standards
- ISO 20387 (if applicable)
- Research best practice
- Data integrity
- Audit & documentation
XiltriX value
- Auto-fill: level & pressure
- Closed valves flagged early
- Inventory tracking
- LIMS link via REST API
Shared facilities
Key processes
- Core lab equipment
- Multi-user environments
- Utilisation monitoring
- Preventive maintenance
Locations
- Core facilities & shared labs
- Imaging centres
- Sequencing & omics facilities
- Central equipment rooms
Assets to monitor
- High-value instruments
- Environmental rooms
- HVAC systems
- Gas supplies (CO₂, N₂, O₂)
Environmental parameters
- Temperature
- Humidity
- CO₂ / O₂
- Room T/RH/pressure
Compliance & standards
- GLP (core facilities)
- Equipment qualification
- Data integrity
- Shared facility compliance
XiltriX value
- One system across facilities
- Better equipment utilisation
- Actionable alarms
- Supports cost efficiency
Fieldwork
Key processes
- Remote location monitoring
- Mobile sensors & loggers
- Transport (via partners)
- Off-grid solutions
Locations
- Field stations
- Remote research sites
- Temporary field labs
- Mobile research units
Assets to monitor
- Remote sensors & loggers
- Portable freezers
- Transport containers
- Solar/battery powered units
Environmental parameters
- Temperature
- Humidity
- GPS & shock (via partners)
- Battery status
Compliance & standards
- Transport regulations (IATA)
- Cold chain compliance
- EM standards
- Research permits
XiltriX value
- Flexible, scalable set-up
- Remote monitoring & alerts
- Field samples (via partners)
- Global visibility
Archive & data
Key processes
- Storage & archiving
- Data management (LIMS)
- Audit & reporting
- Research continuity
Locations
- Archive & record rooms
- Long-term storage facilities
- Data centres
- Institutional repositories
Assets to monitor
- Archive freezers & LN₂ tanks
- Storage room environment
- Backup HVAC & power
- Building management
Environmental parameters
- Temperature
- Humidity
- CO₂ / O₂
- Room environment & power
Compliance & standards
- ISO 20387 (if applicable)
- Data management (FAIR)
- GDPR (personal data)
- Long-term data preservation
XiltriX value
- Long-term sample integrity
- Audit-ready evidence
- Multi-site oversight
- Data integrity & compliance
Beyond monitoring.
The monitoring system is only part of the answer. XiltriX adds the IT and validation expertise that regulated research labs need.
IT expertise
In-house IT know-how: SSO with Active Directory, ISO 27001, full encryption, and a REST API that connects to LIMS, BMS and EMS.
Consultancy and validation
Risk inventory, URS and validation support (IQ/OQ), from design to inspection.
Visualisation, built in
Zoomable floor plans and live dashboards on any device, with wall screens built into your lab.
Proven where research is on the line.
Proven since 1987
No customer has lost irreplaceable material because our monitoring failed.
24/7 technical support
The monitoring chain is watched around the clock. Alarms escalate to your own on-call team.
GxP where it applies
GLP, ISO 20387 and local regulations: validated monitoring, audit-ready.
XiltriX detects, alerts and escalates through your own configured on-call contacts. Your team responds to alarms; the XiltriX 24/7 team keeps the monitoring system itself healthy.
Take the sector card with you.
The printable card summarises the six stages, the parameters and the standards on one page. Share it with your quality team, lab manager or research colleagues.
Universities & research: monitoring the full lab journey
What are the key parameters to monitor in a research lab?
Critical parameters include temperature in incubators, refrigerators and freezers (down to -196°C); CO₂ and O₂ levels; humidity; room pressure; and liquid nitrogen levels and pressure in cryogenic storage. Monitoring door status and power is also essential to protect against human error and equipment failure.
Which standards apply to monitoring in university and research environments?
This depends on the research type. GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) is common, as is ISO 20387 for biobanking. Data integrity principles like ALCOA+ are crucial. Monitoring must also comply with local university, biosafety (BSL), and health and safety regulations.
How can you monitor equipment across multiple shared core facilities?
A centralised monitoring system can connect to sensors in diverse equipment across different labs and buildings. This provides a single view for oversight, utilisation tracking, and maintenance planning, ensuring high-value shared instruments are always performing correctly for all users.
Does XiltriX respond to alarms in our research laboratory?
No. XiltriX detects, alerts and escalates through your own configured on-call contacts, and your team decides who responds. The XiltriX 24/7 team is available when the monitoring system itself has a technical issue.
Ready to protect your research, from setup to archive?
Tell us about your laboratories, shared facilities and the samples you cannot afford to lose. We will map the monitoring points with you.