Detection of aircraft noise using distributed acoustic sensing with a buried telecommunication cable

Abstract Buried distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) arrays are known to detect and monitor various sources of seismic waves, both natural and anthropogenic. But can buried DAS detect sources in the atmosphere such as aircraft? There is some evidence of aircraft signal in DAS data, but more research is needed to understand the detection capabilities and estimate flight parameters. A four-week continuous DAS recording with a gauge length of 10 m using a telecommunication cable buried beneath the Curtin University campus in Perth, Western Australia shows distinct signatures of aircraft in the frequency range of 70 to 120 Hz at distances of up to 2.5 km. However, the system detected only propeller but not jet aircraft, which are known to emit sound at higher frequencies and thus require a smaller gauge length. The findings reveal a potential for independent monitoring of aircraft traffic using existing telecommunication infrastructure.