Fiber optic sensing technology has revolutionized the way we monitor and manage buried fiber optic cables. By converting optical fibers into thousands of virtual sensors, we can detect changes in temperature, strain, and other critical parameters. Duct fiber optic cables—often called “duct fiber”—are specialized optical cables engineered to be installed within pre-existing ducts (hollow tubes) rather than buried directly in soil or strung from poles. What can be detected is the cable strengthening, the jacket, the trenching, the ducts they are in and if included. Fiber optic cable is a type of cabling that contains one or more optical fibers for transmitting data at high speeds and/or over long distances using light. These fibers are most commonly made of glass and are very thin, typically less than a tenth of the width of a human hair. Any such damage may alter the cable's characteristics to the extent that the cable section may have to be replaced. To ensure all specifications are met, consult the specific cable specification sheet for the cable you. DNV is a leader in verifying distributed fibre-optic sensing (DFOS) systems for pipeline leak detection.
