What Is FOTAS?
FOTAS is a fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system that uses optical fibers to detect and analyze acoustic signals along their entire length. It enables the monitoring and measurement of acoustic waves, vibrations, and other acoustic events in real-time over long distances.
How Does It Work?
A laser beam is transmitted through an optical fiber, and the fiber itself acts as a sensor. The laser light interacts with the fiber and experiences microscopic changes due to various physical phenomena, including acoustic waves. These changes in the light are detected and converted into electrical signals for analysis.
What Advantages Does It Offer?
FOTAS has the benefit of being able to deliver continuous, distributed monitoring over great distances without the need for additional sensors. FOTAS can cover several kilometers of optical fiber with a single device and has a high spatial resolution, making it appropriate for a variety of applications where standard point sensors could be unfeasible or too expensive.
What Applications Does It Have?
FOTAS can provide valuable information about the location, intensity, and frequency content of acoustic events. They find applications in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, perimeter security, transportation, and seismic activity monitoring. Some applications of FOTAS systems include:
- Oil and gas pipeline monitoring at BOTAS in Turkey, and PEMEX in Mexico.
- Perimeter security at multiple sites in Turkey, Italy, Czech Republic, Israel, Mexico, Brazil, India, Angola
- Seismic activity monitoring in Turkey for developing an early alarm system against earthquake
- Highway monitoring in Turkey
