In the past decade, the data transmission potential of optical fiber cables has vastly increased, as manufacturers have developed cables that pack in more individual fiber strands to the same size or even smaller cables. Because of this new density and increased capacity, industry leaders and policymakers are looking at how this technology can be used for more than just providing internet service to businesses and consumers.
What Fiber Can Do for Your ITS
While it might not be obvious at first glance to the average driver or rail rider, DOTs have already been capitalizing on the vast potential of connectivity along roadways with Intelligent Transportation System networks. Placing cables along roadways allows authorities to provide data-driven functionality of everything from traffic signals to real-time road condition updates to drivers.
Where earlier technologies like copper cable provided the foundation for smart transportation, increasingly dense fiber optic cables – secured in a flexible, scalable, rugged conduit system – take these efficiencies along roads and highways to the next level.
Distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) both compliments and further capitalizes on fiber’s broadband capability by providing additional multi-use capabilities. The fiber can be used to immediately detect and transmit environmental disturbances anywhere near the right-of-way that pass through its light stream – like sounds and movement – with little additional effort or resources required, enabling damage prevention, security, situational awareness, operational insights, pro-active preventative maintenance, traffic monitoring and much more. Here are just a handful of the revolutionary capabilities that fiber optic sensing can bring to your roadside network.
Real-Time Road Accident and Traffic Reporting
A single spare fiber along roadways, combined with additional sensing hardware and software, can detect and communicate data from passing traffic, such as speed, traffic flow, accidents, and any disruptions. This low-latency data can then inform and enable faster response times and allow authorities to provide estimated travel times and alternative routes.
Rural roads with minimal existing traffic monitoring equipment, but fiber existing or planned along the roadway, may have the most to gain from implementing this technology. Adding this passive and low-maintenance technology to the existing DOT portfolio of traffic monitoring technologies can also help lower operational and capital expenses. With additional advancements in artificial intelligence, fiber optic sensing has the potential to make roadways easier to govern and conditions easier to manage, meaning safer and faster traveling for drivers, rail riders, and pedestrians.
Early Warnings of Natural Disasters
Extreme sensitivity also means that optical fibers can detect the smallest ground vibrations. This, plus the capacity to send data to a Network Operations Center (NOC) with minimal latency, can enable much earlier warnings and possibly prevent injury and save lives in the event of natural disasters like rock falls, avalanches, or extreme weather events.
Immediate Detection of Security Risks to Physical Assets and Facilities
Advanced acoustic sensing equipment can be connected to a fiber network to detect with granular detail any disturbance in the optical signal near important assets, and can even tell the difference between passing wildlife and human attackers down to the direction of footsteps near the network. This enables authorities to intercept threats and attacks on utilities and other critical assets.
In addition to ITS capabilities, fiber adjacent to gas, electric, water or telecom can provide an early utility warning alert system so action can be taken before a security breach or damage occurs. This early detection can mean you’ll avoid catastrophic damage, compromise, and service interruptions from attacks to your assets. As we continuously expand our utility grid, this becomes even more important.
Fiber Optic Sensing in Action: UDOT Distributed Acoustic Sensing Project and Texas 811
In 2023, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), in collaboration with Dura-Line and Luna Innovations, conducted a field-trial to assess how emerging Smart Road technologies could help them better monitor vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic patterns and crashes, monitor for natural hazards common to Utah like avalanches and rockfalls, and provide better utility protection at the same time.
This project, which garnered a joint 2023 Project of the Year Award for Dura-Line and Luna Innovations, serves as a case study for the revolutionary potential of fiber optics and Microtechnology in alignment with the public good. And as federal funding for broadband expansion rolls out, it will be imperative for DOTs and the private telecommunications sector to collectively seize opportunities to make our roadways safer and more efficient.
Hear More About How Communities Are Putting Distributed Fiber Sensing’s Capabilities to Work
Fiber optic sensing is also at work right now detecting underground utility strikes in the state of Texas. Our very own Paul Dickinson, Business Development Director for Sales and Marketing, recently spoke with Fierce Network’s Linda Hardesty on The Five Nine podcast about how the Texas 811 call center is using fiber optic sensing to protect underground utilities from accidental damage. Listen to their discussion here.
MicroTechnology Unleashes the Potential of Fiber Optic Sensing for Smart Infrastructure
For planned builds or expansions to roadside networks, you face an unprecedented opportunity to empower your transportation system with not only broadband capabilities but also the immense sensing capabilities fiber offers, with no additional digging beyond your original network plans. With conduit, especially the increased flexibility and future-proofing that FuturePath from Dura-Line provides, you can ensure your network and any sensing you choose to empower it with remain scalable, flexible, and future-ready for the technological advancements on the horizon.
