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tors remain operational and go into alert status. Gas levels are measured and trans- mitted to the surface every second, pro- viding mine operators with full knowledge of the underground environment. A specially designed graphic user inter- face at the surface displays gas readings, alarms, operational status and the battery voltage of each detector underground. An illustrated mine map indicates the exact location of each unit and its real-time operating status. This optimizes and sim- plifies mine atmospheric monitoring as well as gas detector maintenance. Two- way communication with the gas detec- tors underground enables remote control of the units and mine operators can turn units on and off, adjust data acquisition rates, monitor and adjust sensor thresh- olds, and activate or deactivate emergency alerts/alarms. Furthermore, with two digi- tal inputs and two digital outputs includ- ed, remote control of other underground devices such as pull-cord switches, remote pumps and contacts on fire suppression systems is possible. All controls are initiat- ed at the user interface on the surface. The newest addition to Strata's wire- less atmospheric monitoring line is the Mine Safety and Health Administration ( M S H A ) - a p p r o v e d r e f u g e c h a m b e r Sentry integrated with Strata's commu- nication technology. Sentry units detect and monitor carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and methane gases, as well as humidity levels and atmospheric pressures inside the refuge chamber. A sampling pump facili- tates the testing of air directly outside the chamber. When the refuge chamber is utilized in a mine emergency, the activation of the Sentry unit will send an alert to the surface control room, informing personnel that the chamber is in use. All data readings taken by the system are then streamed over the wireless commu- nications networks to the surface control rooms for full acknowledgment of the environmental conditions in and around the chamber. Breathing Easier A producer of gas monitors since 1974 and self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) in the U.S. since 1982, Pennsylvania-based CSE has been a central name in the mine res- cue and mine safety circle for decades. m i n e r e s c u e c o n t i n u e d 38 www.coalage.com November 2014 In addition to its wireless communications, Strata's focuses also include refuge alternatives, gas monitoring and AMS. Strata installing the CommTrac system at a mine. Looking at mine movements and incoming monitoring data in real time with the CommTrac user interface.