Fiber Optic Sensing Applications Enter An Explosive Period

Although fiber optic sensing technology has been around for decades, the application of fiber optic sensing has previously been modest. As fiber optics becomes more widely available across the country, driven by state and private investment, opportunities for new applications are emerging for fiber optics that are no longer limited to providing high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved areas. Fiber optic sensing is opening the door to a variety of new applications, from monitoring cicadas to finding new sources of energy.

 

 

Distributed fiber optic sensing technology

 

Fiber optic sensing technology works by measuring the naturally occurring changes in light scattering in an optical fiber. It can monitor the physical state of an optical fiber by detecting changes in vibration, strain and temperature, using the entire length of the fiber as a sensor. Fiber optics can provide real-time information about their physical environment, and the data collected can pinpoint events and conditions near the sensing cable.
Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), as defined by the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), works by measuring the small movements of an optical fiber caused by acoustic vibrations that alter the optical signal transmitted through the fiber. In effect, the entire length of the fiber becomes thousands of sensitive virtual microphones that can be used to monitor physical assets and geophysical events. Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) can detect fires in tunnels and buildings, monitor the temperature of cables, and even detect widespread leaks along pipelines and storage tanks. Distributed Stress Sensing (DSS), on the other hand, uses the optical properties of fiber optics to provide information on ground motion, deformation monitoring, cable extension, bending and fatigue monitoring, as well as bridge and excavation work.

 

 

New applications are emerging all the time

 

Using existing dark fiber or fiber optic technologies in use, there is no need to install and maintain dedicated Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to provide a wealth of information about the physical world around us at little additional cost. By applying multiple technologies to different scenarios, this data can help protect critical infrastructure such as bridges, pipelines and cables.

 

New Application 01: DAS Monitoring of Songbirds

Imagining aerial fiber optic cables mounted on utility poles that not only provide broadband but also monitor cicada activity sounds both strange and amazing. According to a November 2023 report in the Journal of Insect Science, existing fiber-optic cables could easily cover and monitor a 50-kilometer route, providing a resolution of about 1 meter, which is equivalent to installing 50,000 sensors along the same route without the need for additional installation and power. During the 2021 cicada outbreak cycle, the researchers monitored cicada activity for 16 days in central New Jersey, allowing them to easily listen to cicada sound patterns, see direct correlations between cicadas and local temperatures, and monitor their activity over the course of their life cycle.

 

New Application 02: DAS Traffic Monitoring
While fiber optics will be the communications backbone for self-driving cars and connected vehicles of the future, today it's already being used to monitor physical events on the nation's highways and byways. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has buried more than 3,250 miles of fiber alongside its roads to detect and monitor real-time events, including collisions, avalanches, vehicle speeds, and travel times. The information obtained is transmitted to UDOT's Traffic Operations Center for use in assessing traffic conditions, dispatching emergency vehicles, and warning drivers of hazardous conditions.DAS complements the existing network of sensors, radar, and cameras, providing an affordable monitoring solution for less densely populated areas.

 

New Application 03: DAS Railway Safety Monitoring
For terrestrial transportation, fiber is a technology that will provide support for a long time. Roadside fiber provides 5G backhaul connectivity and security for today's consumers and will power connected vehicle technology in the future. At the same time, fiber is used to protect rail monitoring and security. DAS-based systems can detect vehicle intrusions and widespread animal intrusions, and help detect theft and other criminal activity.

 

New Application 04: DAS Cable Monitoring
The role of fiber optic sensing in the power industry is also expanding, both in terms of monitoring infrastructure and finding new resources through geosensing technology. Monitoring technology installed on power transmission lines can provide temperature, burial depth and cable condition monitoring. In the event of a break or other damage to a cable, fiber optics help to quickly identify the location of the damage so that repair crews can be dispatched quickly to where they are needed.

 

 

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