Smart city sensing through below-ground fibre optics

Distributed sensors provide natural disaster alerts and flag infrastructure risks

Spotted: By 2025, experts predict that global data creation will reach 180 zettabytes. Such rapid growth is made possible by the billions of kilometres of fibreoptic cabling buried underground around the world.

Now, Australian technology company FiberSense is transforming underground cable networks into data collection and alert systems for everything from seismic activity and autonomous vehicle hazards to urban traffic patterns and threats to underwater internet cables. Using networks of distributed fibre sensors connected to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning software, the FiberSense analysis distinguishes between typical urban noise and causes for concern.  

The smart monitoring systems track customised parameters for every environment, such as water mains and seismic activity, enabling each organisation to monitor assets in real time. FiberSense’s solutions, DigitalLeak, DigitalSeismic, DigitalCity, DigitalMarine, and DigitalAsset, provide highly accurate data and analysis for each area, allowing companies to act quickly and specifically should any risks be identified.  

Each early intervention saves time, money, and resources for the organisation and the wider community. Distributed sensor networks make it possible to monitor huge and densely populated geographic areas, and FiberSense’s AI can differentiate between everyday and unusual sounds and activity.

Because they require no specialised physical equipment, FiberSense’s solutions are quickly installed and integrated into an organisation’s existing data management systems. They are available as a sensing-as-a-service offering for a monthly fee.  

Cabling is essential to the connectivity of today, with innovations in Springwise’s library including underwater cabling that brings solar power to the UK from Morocco and new superconducting cables capable of handling the high speeds and temperatures of increasing data loads.

Written By: Keely Khoury