Aston University is spearheading a £5.5 million European research initiative aimed at transforming existing telecommunication fibre-optic cables into sensors capable of detecting natural hazards, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as monitoring the condition of civil infrastructure.
The project, named ECSTATIC (Engineering Combined Sensing and Telecommunications Architectures for Tectonic and Infrastructure Characterisation), forms part of the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA), which seeks to address global challenges and enhance the industrial competitiveness of Europe.
The conversion of telecom fibres into effective sensors necessitates advanced digital signal processing to overcome the limitations in data storage and processing inherent in current communication networks. To tackle this, the project will employ localised, high-performance digital processing, incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. The aim is to optimise the complexity of algorithms while ensuring highly precise, real-time sensing of events and network conditions.
The innovative laser interrogation and signal processing methods will be trialled using existing fibre optic networks, including those situated underwater, in urban environments, and along railway lines, to evaluate their effectiveness.
The project is being carried out by a consortium of 14 partners from across seven countries, representing both academic and non-academic sectors. The research is set to commence in February 2025 and will continue for three and a half years.
Leading the Europe-wide team is Professor David Webb from the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT).
“There are more than five billion kilometres of installed data communications optical fibre cable, which provides an opportunity to create a globe-spanning network of fibre sensors, without laying any new fibres,” said Professor Webb. “These traverse the seas and oceans – where conventional sensors are practically non-existent – and major infrastructures, offering the potential for smart structural health monitoring.”
Professor Webb will collaborate closely with fellow researchers, including Professor Sergei Turitsyn, Dr Haris Alexakis, and Dr Pedro Freire, throughout the duration of the project.
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