LIMSen

LIMSen is an open-source hardware and software platform designed to enable sensor networks in laboratory and industrial environments. The name LIMSen is often expanded as Laboratory Integrated Monitoring Sensor. The project emphasizes modularity, low power consumption, and straightforward integration with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

Architecture: The system uses a modular central controller with sensor modules for temperature, humidity, CO2, particulate matter, and other signals. Wireless options include Wi‑Fi, Zigbee, or LoRa for local or mesh networks. The software stack includes firmware for data collection, a local data store, and a middleware layer that exports data to external systems via MQTT or REST, with timestamps and access controls.

Operations and features: LIMSen supports offline operation, scheduled sampling, data logging, real-time dashboards, and alerting through email or SMS. It offers basic role-based access control and is designed to align with common lab data standards. The platform is suitable for use in cleanrooms, cold storage, and general environmental surveillance.

History and reception: LIMSen originated as an open-source initiative in the mid-2010s to lower barriers to environmental monitoring in labs. It has spawned several community forks and commercial offshoots, varying in hardware compatibility and software features.

Applications: It is used to monitor storage temperatures, CO2 levels in classrooms or labs, particulate concentrations near critical processes, and other environmental parameters to support regulatory compliance and data provenance.

See also: Laboratory Information Management System; Internet of Things; Environmental monitoring.