700104Rapid, subterranean gas leak location monitorClosedGRD Proof of MarketInnovate UKA potentially significant application has emerged for a sensing system which would rapidly pinpoint the location of natural gas (largely methane) leaking from mains gas pipes into commercial service cable ducting (e.g. for telephone & TV cables) under town and city streets. Repairing these leaks is a time consuming and expensive process for the gas distributor and the industry has failed to successfully deliver a technical solution to this issue. OptoSci believes that an all optical Tuneable Diode Laser Spectroscopy (TDLS) based methane sensing system could provide an elegant and cost effective solution to this problem which would substantially reduce the gas leak identification and repair time and ultimately the cost for the gas distributor. In addition this solution would offer other public benefits like increased safety, minimised transport disruption and reduced fugitive methane (a potent greenhouse gas) emissions to the atmosphere. OptoSci is a micro SME with limited personnel and financial resources, so the purpose of this project is to establish the product proof of market and hence its commercial viability prior to any substantial investment in the full development of a prototype system.