From Surface to Subsurface: Advancing Infrastructure Monitoring with Fiber Optics

Summary Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) technologies are transforming infrastructure monitoring by providing continuous, high-resolution data through techniques such as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS). These systems enhance real-time assessment of structural integrity, operational performance, and environmental conditions in both offshore and onshore applications. Beyond asset protection, DFOS also serves as a powerful tool for geoscience, enabling seismic monitoring and subsurface analysis in previously inaccessible areas. A key advantage of DFOS is its ability to generate valuable geoscience data alongside infrastructure monitoring. Fiber networks originally installed for communications and operational needs can also serve as seismic sensors, providing insights into subsurface dynamics, seismic events, and environmental changes in areas that were previously difficult to monitor. By repurposing fiber networks for sensing, DFOS enables a cost-effective expansion of geophysical data collection while enhancing infrastructure resilience.