News

FOSA News

Fotech Group: Turning Fiber Optics Into Smart Security Perimeter Systems

Security breaches of borders, utility plants and airports can have catastrophic and devastating consequences, so protecting assets is vital....fiber optic cable picks up any acoustic or vibrational energy, which changes the light pattern that is reflected back to the hardware

FOSA News

Optasense Application of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing for Pipeline Integrity and Security

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing is a technology that can be employed to provide real-time Leak Detection, Third Party Intrusion and Scraper Tracking all from a single networked platform.

FOSA News

FOSA DFOS Glossary Android App now available on Google Play

FOSA DFOS Glossary Android App now on Google Play

FOSA News

FOSA Elects 2021 Officers & Board Members

FOSA announces the election of five board members, as well as its officer slate for 2021. FOSA is committed to protecting infrastructure with advanced, innovative technologies, and is a go-to resource for learning about fiber optic sensing to improve safety and productivity

FOSA News

Take the Eh? train: Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) of commuter trains in a Canadian City

Fotech Solutions attach a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system to an existing telecom fiber that follows the Red Line of the City of Calgary Light Rail Transit (LRT).

FOSA News

Finalists in the Mining Magazine Awards 2020 are…

excellence in the mining industry...shortlisted finalists [include] Category: Technology - Hawk Measurement. Fiber optic sensing is increasingly being used in the mining industry to monitor conveyor and power cable health....The Praetorian Fiber Optic Sensing System

FOSA News

Distributed fiber-optic sensing applications at the Semmering Base Tunnel, Austria

At the Semmering Base Tunnel, Austria, fiber-optic sensing is used at every construction location to monitor tunnel linings, shafts, reinforced earth structures and pipelines.

FOSA News

Acquisition Creates a New Fiber Sensing Powerhouse, Luna acquires OptaSense, a Market Leader in Distributed Acoustic Sensing

Luna Innovations…acquired OptaSense, a recognized market leader in fiber optic distributed monitoring solutions for pipelines, oilfield services, security, highway and railway monitoring, and power and utilities monitoring systems.

FOSA News

New Technology Leading the Way for Pipeline Leak Detection

US has the largest network of energy pipelines in the world….It is vital to keep pipelines operating smoothly & to quickly detect any sign of leakage or other physical damage....HAWK's Praetorian System features Fiber Optic Sensing technology allowing continuous real-time monitoring of long assets

FOSA News

GeoSystems Annual Research Symposium

4th GeoSystems Engineering Annual Research Symposium…aims to show research within the group and to bridge the gap between academic research and the industry

FOSA News

New Video of Studying Geodesy at TU Graz

TU Graz released a new image video of the Geodesy degree program on the TU Graz YouTube channel. Learn how geodesy impacts our daily life and how you can shape the future as a geodesist.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Presents 2020 Champion of Innovation Award to PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) today awarded its annual Champion of Innovation Award to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator Howard “Skip” Elliott.

FOSA News

AP Sensing Monitors Alcohol Tanks in Chile

AP Sensing's Fiber Optic Linear Heat Detection (FO LHD) solution was selected to monitor a tank farm in the Panimex Quimica chemical plant in Chile.

FOSA News

Do smart cities come at the cost of data privacy? By Fotech Solutions’ Chris Shannon

The smart city movement has grown in the last 10 years as a direct result of the world’s increasing urbanization. Indeed, by 2050 more than two-thirds of the earth's population will live in urban areas.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Technology: Beyond Traditional Linear Heat Detection

AP Sensing’s novel solution addresses the need for monitoring storage tanks and pipelines….storage tanks are filled with chemicals that are flammable and oftentimes explosive…DFOS technology is becoming an increasingly popular method for monitoring critical infrastructures

FOSA News

FOSA Recognizes National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month

“Critical infrastructure is essential to America’s economic prosperity and national security. Any loss or disruption to these assets, whether by natural disasters or deliberate attacks, could have a debilitating effect,” said FOSA Chairman Mike Hines.

FOSA News

The Integrated Solution of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for a Rapid Response to Protect Pipelines

‘The Integrated Solution of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for a Rapid Response to Protect Pipelines’ presented at Virtual Pipeline Summit

FOSA News

OptaSense involved in the Virtual Pipeline Summit

OptaSense involved in the Virtual Pipeline Summit, latest in fiber optic leak detection technology

FOSA News

Machine Learning Approach to Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) for Securing Pipelines in Urban Areas

Fiber optic Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) are useful and proven tools for third party interference detection. DAS...uses standard telecommunications fiber optic cable that is buried parallel to the pipeline as an array of acoustic sensors...[Aselsan] proposes

FOSA News

Increase Mine Safety, Productivity and Profitability with the Latest Technology

Praetorian Fiber Optic Sensing System developed by Hawk Measurement Systems has the ability to detect conveyor fires, reports in real-time and can monitor up to 50 miles

FOSA News

PureTech Systems Announces Successful Integration and multiple Deployments with OptaSense

PureActiv® software with OptaSense Linear Ground Detection Systems….provides perimeter intrusion detection using advanced distributed acoustic sensing technology capable of detecting, classifying and locating multiple threats in real time

FOSA News

Increase Plant and Operator Safety by Monitoring Equipment Health

monitor equipment health and protect assets, Hawk Measurement Systems Fiber Optic Sensing….conveyor health, pipeline leak detection, monitor ground disturbances, identify manual and machine excavation, vehicle movement, hot tapping, perimeter security, power cables

FOSA News

ASELSAN received the Innovation Award from the European Railway Clusters Initiative

ASELSAN MIDAS-(R)ailway Multi Purpose Intelligent Distributed Acoustic Sensor rewarded with the "Best Innovation Award 2020" in big companies category in 6th ERCI Innovation Awards - using DAS technology to collect acoustic data and analyze it to detect intrusions on the railway

FOSA News

Increase Profitability and Productivity by Reducing Conveyor Downtime

There is now a smarter, more efficient and reliable method to monitor conveyor health and prevent costly downtime. The Praetorian™ Fiber Optic Sensing System, developed by Hawk Measurement Systems, has the ability to immediately detect which idlers have failed or will soon fail, identifies the exact

FOSA News

Preventing internet chaos: finding subsea cable faults quicker with DAS

chaos caused when the two main submarine cables carrying internet traffic into and out of Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR suffered…problems…still looking for [the fault] weeks [later]…DAS can detect disturbances and pinpoint the exact location of the fault - allowing operators to respond decisively

FOSA News

The million sensors you didn’t know you already have

Fotech Solutions’ Stuart Large presented the webinar “The million sensors you didn’t know you already have, the unexpected value of a city’s fiber revealed” to SmartCities World

FOSA News

Long-term health monitoring of levee cutoff wall under Garden Highway in Sacramento by DFOS technology

US Army Corps of Engineers is currently implementing a levee improvement project,,,,With support from the National Science Foundation and USACE, the [Berekely Engineering] research team embedded optical fiber sensors

FOSA News

80% of smart city leaders more likely to invest in projects that maximize existing infrastructure

Chris Shannon, CEO, Fotech Solutions, said, “The findings of this research not only demonstrate that the appetite for smart city progress remains strong, they also highlight the need for more practical approaches to creating smart city systems

FOSA News

AP Sensing DAS used for Earthquake Monitoring Pilot Observations

AP Sensing’s DAS system was used for preliminary earthquake observations and research at the University of Tokyo….One DAS interrogator unit was installed… and data collected over 100 km

FOSA News

FOSA congratulates UC Berkeley on grant to study pipelines

PHMSA awarded the University of California, Berkeley with US$250 000 from its Competitive Academic Agreement Program. FOSA member Dr. Soga is the Donald H. McLaughlin Chair in Mineral Engineering and a Chancellor’s Professor at UC Berkeley.

FOSA News

Monitoring the Wind Farms of the Future

UCB researchers have been working closely with engineers…to identify and evaluate technologies that can assess the structural health of wind turbine towers....Supported by…[FOSA member] Optasense, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) was also put to the test.

FOSA News

Overcoming the Challenges and Increasing Value in Fiber Optic Monitoring

Hifi Engineering’s HDS technology utilizes the power of high fidelity fiber optic dynamic sensing to detect small changes in the optical path length between two adjacent fiber bragg gratings, which are used as low angle wavelength reflectors.

FOSA News

CPT Installation of Fiber Optic Strain Extensometer

Soga Research Group distributed fiber optic team performed a field installation of a vertical fiber optic strain sensing cable using a Cone Penetration Test truck...a new method of installing fiber optic cable for strain monitoring....setup [uses FOSA member] Omnisens analyzer and portable generator

FOSA News

OZ Optics Featured Company Spotlight

OZ Optics offers award-winning fiber optic sensor systems for remote monitoring of oil and gas pipelines, wells, refineries, bridges, dams and other large structures, security fences and for fire detection.

FOSA News

New Pavement Research

The Soga Research Group in collaboration with the UC Pavement Research Center has been researching the transportation networks of the future by installing state-of-the-art sensors into a new roadway system

FOSA News

OptaSense Delivers Effective Monitoring Solution to Optimize Reservoir Production

OptaSense was chosen to provide frequent time-lapse 3D DAS VSPs for detailed tracking of the water-flood as part of the operator’s enhanced oil recovery technique to optimize production in two reservoirs.

FOSA News

Enabling smart highways, not just smart motorways, with DAS

With a fiber alongside a motorway, DAS can provide full continuous monitoring of the entire motorway – providing additional detecting capabilities to spot disruptions in the flow of traffic and changing behavior in the vehicles.
Enabling smart highways, not just smart motorways, with DAS

FOSA News

Salt Conveyor Belt Monitoring in Germany

AP Sensing is monitoring conveyor belts at the largest salt production site in Germany. The Zielitz Plant extracts approximately 12 million tons of crude salts per year and the mine operator, K+S, is an international mining company with sites across five continents.

FOSA News

115KV Underground Power Cable Monitoring Saudi Arabia

Saudi Electricity Company selected AP Sensing for a project monitoring two 115kV power circuits. AP Sensing technology provides not only the thermal profile of the power cables, but also insights into the actual conductor temperature and transient statuses with our Real Time Thermal Rating

FOSA News

FOSA Files "Dig Once" Comments with the Federal Highway Administration

FOSA filed comments with the Federal Highway Administration on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding Broadband Infrastructure Deployment and Dig Once rules.

FOSA News

FOSA Congratulates UC Berkeley on US DoT Grant to Study Distributed Strain Sensing on Pipelines

FOSA congratulates Dr. Kenichi Soga and the University of California, Berkeley on its $250,000 Competitive Academic Agreement Program award from PHMSA.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Comments on Army Corps of Engineers Levee Safety Circular

FOSA filed comments with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on its draft Engineer Circular for the USACE Levee Safety Program. FOSA Chairman Mike Hines states, “FOSA appreciates the Corps of Engineers’ Levee Safety Program’s focus on monitoring and managing flood risks associated with levees.

FOSA News

FOSA congratulates member UC Berkeley on US Department of Transportation PHMSA Grant

Dr. Kenichi Soga and the University of California, Berkeley received a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on August 17.

FOSA News

FOSA Comments on Army Corps of Engineers Levee Safety Circular

Commenting on the USACE Circular, FOSA Chairman Mike Hines said, “FOSA appreciates the Corps of Engineers’ Levee Safety Program’s focus on monitoring and managing flood risks associated with levees. Given the dynamic nature of flood risk, this Circular establishes an appropriate framework.”

FOSA News

FOSA praises PHMSA safety research, development and testing announcement

FOSA had previously called for government and the pipeline industry to work together to establish a pipeline safety test facility. Based on operator input, FOSA issued a concept paper suggesting a buried ‘flow-loop’ pipeline to emulate leak

FOSA News

High Resolution Traffic Monitoring at the Speed of Light

Managing the impact of rapidly increasing traffic volumes and minimizing congestion and journey times on existing road infrastructure is a significant issue for the Georgia DOT (GDOT)…. To this end, GDOT has engaged in a demonstration agreement with OptaSense

FOSA News

Light Shows the Way to Build “Smart” Infrastructure

Governor Cuomo abandoned plans for a 15-month shutdown of the Canarsie Tunnel....The team consulted with Kenichi Soga, Berkeley professor of civil engineering and a leader in developing fiber optics to detect potential vulnerabilities in large-scale infrastructure projects.

FOSA News

UC Berkeley: Light Shows the Way To Build "Smart" Infrastructure

Kenichi Soga leads research developing distributed fiber optic sensors to detect defects, distortions and other vulnerabilities in large-scale infrastructure….Cuomo brought together a team of experts…consulted with Soga, Berkeley professor of civil engineering and a leader in developing fiber optics

FOSA News

Hifi Announces New HDS 2.0 Hardware and HDS Monitor Software

internally developed innovations help support not just preventative pipeline leak detection, but broaden into operational applications and help support environmental, social, and governance scorecard strategies.....The HDS system has been deployed by a number of pipeline operators...around the world

FOSA News

Reopening the Plum Railway

Using a system supplied by Frauscher, a fiber-optic cable is laid along the line, which uses rail defectoscopy to detect cracks or breaks in the rail by picking up the vibrations produced by the train passing by.

FOSA News

FOSA Praises PHMSA Safety Research, Development and Testing Announcement

FOSA praises PHMSA announcement of $10 million for the conceptual study, design, and development of what will be a world-class pipeline Research, Development, and Testing (RDT) facility at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado

FOSA News

Georgia Department of Transportation Invests in Fiber-Optic Traffic Monitoring

In the first quarter of 2020, GDoT completed a successful project to deploy the OptaSense Traffic Monitoring Solution on a section of the I-20 Highway in Atlanta. This project validated the performance of OptaSense’s distributed fiber-optic sensing-based traffic monitoring solution

FOSA News

How DAS can take Ubiwhere’s Smart Cities product to the next level

Distributed Acoustic Sensing data can help create the smart cities of the future – and there are huge benefits to incorporating DAS into city management systems. However, one of the questions we get asked the most is how DAS integrates with existing data collection methods and analysis platforms

FOSA News

Omnisens officially announces ‘ODAS’, its new generation of DAS interrogator for the Test and Measurement market

Omnisens SA, the Swiss supplier of distributed fiber optic sensing systems and instruments, has announced the release of ODAS, its new family of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) interrogators.

FOSA News

Fotech Unveils Brand Refresh

Since the acquisition by Launchpad, BP’s business-builder, Fotech has worked to unveil a refreshed brand identity that is closely aligned to BP and a mission statement that represents the company’s sense of purpose and growth trajectory

FOSA News

Prysmian's Inter-array Cables for Saint-Brieuc Offshore Wind Farm

Italian marine cable installation company Prysmian has won an €80 million contract to provide the submarine inter-array cable systems for the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France.

FOSA News

New Products, Innovative Technology Showcased at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020

Ditch Witch offered an up-close look at new equipment that boasts convenience, power and productivity. SK3000 brings true stand-on visibility to the full-size skid steer class, with an easy-on, easy-off platform.

FOSA News

Prysmian's Cables for Hollandse Kust Zuid III and IV Offshore Wind Farm

…Prysmian, has finalized a contract for a project awarded by offshore wind farm developer Vattenfall. The contract is for the provision of the subsea inter-array cable systems for the Hollandse Kust Zuid III and IV offshore wind farm in The Netherlands

FOSA News

OptaSense Provides Early Detection and Assessment Solution for Protecting Data Centers

In today’s world, access control and physical security also play a key role in securing critical information for financial, medical, government, public infrastructure and private data center users….OptaSense’s Perimeter Intrusion Detection System….utilizes one strand of a single mode...fiber

FOSA News

2020 G20 Recommendations for Promoting Innovation, Digital Technologies, and Trade

Today, FOSA and more than 30 technology and business trade associations from around the world issued recommendations for G20 governments as officials meet to discuss the role of digital technologies in promoting economic growth.

FOSA News

Conduit Pathway Advantages Relative to Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)

Based on research that concludes the commercial viability of distributed acoustic sensing in conduit, the sensing industry can enjoy the same robust conduit pathway benefits and advantages with highly sensitive commercial DAS implementation.

FOSA News

OptaSense Introduces New Advanced Interrogator Unit for the Oil and Gas Industry

Built upon the industry’s leading interrogator unity technology, OptaSense is excited to introduce the latest in our cutting-edge portfolio of interrogator units, the ODH4+. Unlike conventional interrogators , the ODH4+ IU is capable of measuring with ANY fiber from ANY vendor

FOSA News

Smart City Tech in the Social Distancing Era

smart city technology....DAS could be used to identify locations where there are concentrations of people above a certain threshold in real-time…could also be used to ensure key amenities are not overwhelmed….Crucially DAS data is completely anonymized

FOSA News

How Fiber Optic Fire Detection Systems Save Lives in Our Tunnels

a truck filled with cardboard caught fire inside the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel in CO. What could have ended up being a major disaster was resolved in three hours. Thanks to the fiber-optic fire detection system there were no casualties nor damage to the tunnel structure

FOSA News

Latest Version of OptaSense Visualization Software Released

OptaSense recently released of Version 2.9 of its DxS Browser Visualization Software suite. The software allows users to easily integrate large distributed data sets into workflows, including 3D depth, time and measurement data, while managing quality control, analysis and interpretation.

FOSA News

AI-backed distributed acoustic sensing to monitor cities

If big data is the new oil, as it has often been said, then Fotech offers the right tools to dig for more of it and feed the insatiable needs of tomorrow’s smart cities....the untapped potential of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) for smart cities

FOSA News

OptaSense Continues to Meet Customer Needs Despite COVID-19 Restrictions

Despite restrictions caused by COVID-19 global pandemic, OptaSense has been able to continue meeting the needs of its customers, while following...health & safety requirements. A major pipeline customer in Brazil recently was able to receive a shipment of vital equipment required for installation

FOSA News

Control Centers at the Heart of Innovation, Advancement

For operators tied to Canada’s considerable long-line pipeline network, the sky’s the limit for innovation, too…CEPA Innovation Award-winning Calgary-based firm Hifi Engineering, which is “set to become the new global standard for pipeline monitoring,” according to CEPA officials.

FOSA News

Train Location Systems

Acoustic Sensing - A train’s vibration pattern as it progresses its journey is picked up by lineside sensing equipment, usually a fiber optic cable....Installations exist worldwide, including on Network Rail and London Underground.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensors for more efficient Railway Operations

Fiber optic sensors, which work on the basis of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), provide comprehensive access to a wide range of information surrounding the railway....These solutions allow an overview of the entire railway network, including rolling stock, to be formed in real-time.

FOSA News

FOSA joined 28 Associations Around the World to Call for Uniform Guidance for Essential Tech Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

28 trade associations from around the world...call for governments at all levels worldwide to adopt clear and uniform guidance regarding essential information and communications technology (ICT) workers...to protect public health

FOSA News

Making Sense of Unconventionals With DAS

Three members of the OptaSense Oilfield Services technical team recently authored an article in January/February issue of Oilfield Technology magazine....spotlights technology innovations that enhance the exploration and production of hydrocarbons

FOSA News

AP Sensing Acoustic Power Cable Monitoring

AP Sensing is monitoring a 110kV underground high-voltage power cable utilizing Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). The cable is located between the substations of Herrenberg and Gueltstein, Germany

FOSA News

AP Sensing Reservoir Water Pipeline Monitoring

An AP Sensing Distributed Temperature Sensing solution was selected to monitor a pipeline transporting reservoir water in northern Germany….This pipeline is used to transport deposit water. The water cannot be discarded above ground due to its natural, slight radioactivity

FOSA News

AP Sensing Delhi Metro Fire Detection

AP Sensing was selected by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to provide a Linear Heat Detection solution to monitor its phase III underground tunnel project. Specifically,…for monitoring hot spots, tunnel temperatures which vary during congestion and other ventilation system operation modes.

FOSA News

The Fiber Optic Future

Fiber optic based technology can provide cities with real-time positional insights about their road and public transport infrastructure....DAS is a photonic sensing technology that essentially ‘plugs in’ to existing fiber optic cable networks and transforms them into sophisticated acoustic sensors.

FOSA News

Shedding (Fiber) Light on Wells

OptaSense, a QinetiQ company, has been deploying fiber optic DAS technology to gather permanent flow, seismic and vertical seismic profile data for clients. It’s cheaper than using ocean bottom nodes as well as offering a permanent broadband sensor downhole for time-lapse surveys

FOSA News

BP’s business-builder unit buys fiber optics developer

Launchpad has bought a technology company that focuses on developing and deploying fiber optic sensing. Fotech’s technology combines photonics, advanced artificial intelligence and edge computing to deliver advanced digital monitoring and asset management solutions

FOSA News

FOSA praises PHMSA’s safety and development announcement

“FOSA applauds PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott’s leadership toward creating a Pipeline Safety Facility,” said FOSA Chairman Mike Hines. “The test facility...we believe will dramatically improve pipeline safety."

FOSA News

FOSA Praises PHMSA Safety Research and Development Announcement

“FOSA applauds PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott’s leadership toward creating a Pipeline Safety Facility.” said FOSA Chairman Mike Hines. “The test facility announcement represents another giant step towards the realization of such a capability

FOSA News

Fotech acquired by Launchpad - BP’s business-builder

Chris Shannon, Chief Executive of Fotech, commented: “We are excited to have a new investor at this pivotal point in Fotech’s growth story. Fiber optic sensing solutions have proven themselves invaluable in protecting pipelines, perimeters and borders around the world....

FOSA News

Next-Generation Ditch Witch RT80: Designed for Versatility

“The RT80 trencher was built to adapt,” said Chris Thompson, Ditch Witch product manager, heavy-duty trenchers. “Faced with tighter deadlines, smaller budgets and more congested underground networks, contractors need a utility trencher that can fit and function in any environment.

FOSA News

AP Sensing Invests in New Tree Planting Initiative

The AP Sensing tree planting initiative, called Passion for Plants, is intended to be a long-term partnership with WeForest. “Malawi Mulanje is a relatively new project, so we hope to contribute to this specific project for a long time, ” explained Clemens Pohl.

FOSA News

Protecting Subsea Cabling

DAS technology provides a ready-made solution for the offshore wind industry to monitor and protect these crucial cables. DAS identifies, with clarity and confidence, the different disturbances that impact cabling in offshore wind farms

FOSA News

Aselsan announces its turnover in 2019 reaches historic record levels

Turkish Aselsan's exports reached a record 50% rise, the company said in a statement

FOSA News

Smart City Expo 2019: Shaping the future of urban environments

Using solutions such as DAS, fiber optic cabling can be transformed into a network of highly sensitive acoustic sensors – innately ‘listening’ to the activities around them.

FOSA News

Work Underway Across Alberta

Great to see TMX pipe going in the ground along with the Hifi Engineering conduit for fiber optic based high fidelity dynamic sensing for preventative leak detection

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association elects new board members

Fiber Optic Sensing Association elects new board members, Mike Hines of OFS succeeds J.J. Williams of OptaSense as chairman of the FOSA

FOSA News

Buried fiber-optic cable doubles as roadway sensor

Researchers are studying ways to use existing fiber-optic cables as distributed sensors to collect data on city road conditions. Verizon and NEC recently conducted a proof-of-concept field trial

FOSA News

For Frauscher, a “New Era”

Frauscher has founded a new, separate company, Sensonic, for its Fiber Optic Sensing (FOS) business, and rebranding itself as two technology companies “ready for the future.”

FOSA News

Scientists discover tectonic fault zone through undersea fiber-optic cables

Observing this "backscatter" phenomenon through a technique called Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), the 20 km long cable was turned into a bed of 10,000 motion sensors that could detect seismic activity with picometer precision.

FOSA News

Scientists Spot an Undersea Fault Using Fiber-Optic Cables

Working from a beachside shack on California's Monterey Bay, Nate Lindsey fired a stream of infrared laser pulses down a long fiber-optic cable extending onto the ocean floor. The miles-long cable had been there for a decade...but Lindsey, a geoscientist at UC Berkeley, was trying something new

FOSA News

Mysterious tectonic fault zone found off California

Scientists discovered California’s newest known offshore faults by borrowing a garden hose-size fiber optic cable that spans the seafloor of Monterey Bay and turning it into an ad-hoc seismic array….

FOSA News

AP Sensing - Network Rail to trial an energy-efficient predict-and-prevent maintenance system

AP Sensing...recently received funding from the Department for Transport as part of Network Rail’s R&D program....sensors will tap into Network Rail’s existing fiber optic cable network using AP Sensing’s Distributed Acoustic/Vibration Sensing

FOSA News

Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems, Graz University of Technology honored at Inventors' Gala

IGMS has been recognized for its patent activities at the inventors’ gala held in the historic city centre of Graz. Within the last years, the IGMS team has filed three patents in the field of fiber optic sensing.

FOSA News

How Smart Cities Can Improve Services via Optical Sensor Tech

A recent proof-of-concept field trial from Verizon and NEC demonstrated the ability “to use network infrastructure with existing fiber-optic cables already laid in the ground as distributed optical sensors to collect information on city traffic patterns

FOSA News

OptaSense Earns Acclaim from Frost & Sullivan for Its World-class Engineered Fiber Solutions Suite

OptaSense DAS technology's unique features deliver unmatched measurement performance in the market. Based on its recent analysis of the European distributed fiber-optic sensing market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes OptaSense with the 2019 Europe Product Leadership Award

FOSA News

FOSA Anticipates a Busy 2020 with Election of New Board Members

FOSA announced the election of five board members, as well as its officer slate for 2020. Paul Baird, Prysmian; Deep Desai, Frauscher Sensonic; Paul Dickinson, Dura-Line; Steve Koles, Hi-Fi were each elected to two-year terms beginning on January 1, 2020. Mark Bradley of Corning

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Presents 2019 Champion of Innovation Awards to Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)

FOSA announced the winners of its annual Champion of Innovation Awards, selecting Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) based on their extraordinary leadership in enhancing the safety and security of U.S. critical infrastructure through the use of advanced technology.

FOSA News

AP Sensing’s Role in Kriegers Flak Combined Grid Solution

Kriegers Flak is Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm with a production capacity of just over 600 MW....AP Sensing is monitoring a total of 300 km of this asset, using 6 Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) units and 9 Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) units

FOSA News

Verbatim: I&M drone inspections scheduled

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) has contracted with Asymmetric Technologies

FOSA News

Verizon Wants to Turn Fiber Networks into Citywide Sensors

Vehicle counts, traffic slow-downs and other pieces of data central to traffic management may one day be gleaned from a city’s fiber-optic communications network. Verizon and technology company NEC have been leading research into the concept of turning a fiber network into one big sensor

FOSA News

NKT Photonics Expands Facilities in China

NKT Photonics has expanded its facilities in Shenzhen, China, in response to increasing demand in the region.

FOSA News

Pipeline protection: Heightened security risks call for specialist solutions

Threats to pipelines are seemingly on the rise. In a report published earlier this year, the U.S Congressional Research Service positioned pipeline protection as a significant factor in ensuring national security

FOSA News

OptaSense Demonstrates Ability to Detect Pipeline Leaks Using Fiber Optic Sensing in Unique Testing Environment

OptaSense recently invited several key customers and interested parties to witness a one-of-a-kind demonstration of its fiber-optic-based pipeline leak detection technology.

FOSA News

A/S Norske Shell Awards OneSubsea Integrated Subsea Compression Frame Agreement for Ormen Lange

Schlumberger project to deliver the industry’s longest deepwater tieback using a subsea multiphase compression system….an award to OneSubsea by A/S Norske Shell

FOSA News

UC Berkeley CEE ranked 5th among Best Global Universities for Civil Engineering

US News & World Report's 2020 rankings for Best Global Universities for Civil Engineering places Berkeley CEE in 5th place. The rankings are based on reputation and research in the field. Berkeley CEE is the highest ranking US university on the list.

FOSA News

Boston is Open!

On October 30th, NKT Photonics opened its new production facility and application lab in Boston. The facility will accommodate a state-of-the-art single-frequency fiber laser production as well as a brand-new application and service laboratory.

FOSA News

Revolution in Railway Operations Frauscher becomes Frauscher Sensor Technology and Frauscher Sensonic

Frauscher Sensonic is the first company to develop railway-specific solutions based on fiber optic sensing (FOS). The goal is to offer easy-to-integrate, yet highly efficient end-to-end solutions in our markets worldwide. The base technology for this is the latest FOS generation

FOSA News

Graz University of Technology IGMS exhibits at BeSt3

IGMS present[ed] the Bachelor and Master Courses “Geodesy” at the work and study fair BeSt3….the largest fair for education programs in Austria…visited by up to 30,000 pupils and teachers. IGMS demonstrated live how geodesy digitizes the world with…fiber optic sensing.

FOSA News

Rockwell Automation and Schlumberger close on Sensia Joint Venture

Rockwell Automation Inc. and Schlumberger Ltd. closed on the Sensia Joint Venture, a new oil and gas industry integrated automation solutions provider.

FOSA News

Sensing project on aging railway infrastructure

A project on monitoring the health of aging railway infrastructure was awarded the New Civil Engineer TechFest Rail Visionary award in London, UK.

FOSA News

Highway Agencies visit Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems, Graz University of Technology

The Austrian Highway Agency and representatives from the Japanese Express Way company NEXCO and the Metropolitan Express Company Shutoko visit the Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems, Graz University of Technology...assessing the integrity of infrastructure objects

FOSA News

MA 41 visits Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems Zentrum am Berg

The surveying department of council of Vienna visit[ed] the fiber optic tunnel monitoring installation at the Zentrum am Berg (ZaB). ZaB is one of the largest tunnel research centers in Europe.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Releases Cable Installation Considerations for Highways

"Distributed fiber optic sensing techniques offer powerful tools for the monitoring of long, linear assets, such as highways, " reports Gareth Lees, FOSA Technology Committee Chairman.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Releases Cable Installation Considerations for Fire Detection

FOSA released a brief primer entitled Cable Installation Considerations for Fire Detection. The document contains guidance on specific requirements of fire detection in tunnels, large buildings, industrial sites and large equipment.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Releases Cable Installation Considerations for Power Utilities

FOSA released an educational primer to inform the power industry on how to deploy sensing technologies: Cable Installation Considerations for Power Utilities.

FOSA News

NEC and Verizon just made fiber sensing a whole lot easier

NEC Corporation and Verizon were able to use network infrastructure with existing fiber optic cables already laid in the ground as distributed optical sensors to collect information....first time and longest distance that such sensing data has been collected through an operational telecom network

FOSA News

AP Sensing Takes Off on a New Track

Beyond our proven DAS benefits such as monitoring train location and detecting wheel flats, cable theft, and trespass, this project expands into previously unexplored areas of rail monitoring, states AP Sensing Director of Research and SpectRail project leader Dr. Gareth Lees

FOSA News

OFS Webinar Series

“Everything you wanted to know about fiber but were afraid to ask” webinar presented by OFS

FOSA News

OptaSense Monitors EU Border with Fiber-based Solution

OptaSense recently partnered with FIMA, a leading intelligent infrastructure solutions company in the Baltic Sea region, to provide border surveillance along the Lithuania - Belarus border.

FOSA News

Ditch Witch JT24 drill aimed at fiber optic installation market

Ditch Witch’s new 24,000-pound thrust/pullback JT24 horizontal directional drill fills the gap between the company’s JT20 and JT25 drills, and is aimed at the on-fire fiber optic installation market, along with gas and water.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensors Compete in Environmental Monitoring Market

Despite fiber optics being used for telecommunications for decades and in the sensing worlds for more than 20 years already, many in certain industries still see it as a new technology without a track record. For Etienne Rochat, Chief Technology Officer at Omnisens

FOSA News

Product Showcase

The following Pipeline Equipment Spotlight features the latest and greatest in vacuum excavator technology….The enhanced lineup of Ditch Witch vacuum excavators boosts productivity and versatility on municipality and underground construction jobs.

FOSA News

Hifi Named CEPA Foundation 2019 Innovation Award Winner

Hifi Engineering…selected by the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) Foundation, as the winner of their 2019 Innovation Award.

FOSA News

NKT Photonics Opens Production Facility and Sales Office in Boston

NKT Photonics will celebrate the grand opening of their Boston office on Oct. 30. The facility…will not only serve as a headquarters for U.S. sales and support, but will also accommodate state-of-the-art single-frequency fiber laser production and an application and service laboratory.

FOSA News

Schlumberger, Chevron and Microsoft to collaborate on digital transformation

Schlumberger, Chevron and Microsoft have announced the industry’s first three-party collaboration to accelerate creation of innovative petrotechnical and digital technologies.

FOSA News

Schlumberger, IHS Markit bring analytics-ready data to GAIA platform

Schlumberger has established a strategic collaboration between WesternGeco, the seismic and geophysical data solutions division of Schlumberger, and IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.

FOSA News

Fiber-Optic Sensing Used to Protect Nuclear Power Plant

OptaSense’s Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) using distributed fiber-optic sensing was selected by a nuclear power plant operator in order to meet strict regulatory requirements for perimeter protection.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Praises PHMSA Pipeline Rulemaking

“PHMSA deserves praise for taking significant steps toward enhancing the safety of pipelines, including extending leak detection requirements," said FOSA Chairman JJ Williams.

FOSA News

OptaSense at Rio Pipeline 2019

Dr. Chris Minto, Engineering Director for OptaSense, delivered “Challenges in Validation and Verification of External Fiber Optic Leak Detection Systems,” at Rio Pipeline 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

FOSA News

NKT Photonics News

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FOSA News

TGS, Schlumberger bring Red Sea into focus

TGS and Schlumberger’s WesternGeco are close to finishing 3D seismic reimaging on Egypt’s Red Sea

FOSA News

Omnisens on Export Cable Watch for Ørsted

Ørsted and Omnisens have signed a framework agreement for the supply of fiber optic-based power cable monitoring solutions for Ørsted’s future offshore wind farms. The 5+ year framework agreement covers the integrity and performance monitoring of export cables of all offshore wind farms....

FOSA News

Prysmian Moves Forward with the Construction of the New Cable-Laying Vessel - Leonardo da Vinci

Prysmian Group, a world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, takes a step forward in the construction of its new cutting-edge cable-laying vessel….

FOSA News

Emerging Applications for Optical Fiber

FOSA Treasurer Joseph Herridge, Business Development Manager, Corning Optical Communications, was a presenter in Cabling Installation & Maintenance’s webcast “Emerging Applications for Optical Fiber.”

FOSA News

AP Sensing Conveyor & Reclaim Tunnel Fire Detection

AP Sensing provided its reliable Linear Heat Detection solution to monitor surface and coal reclaim tunnel conveyors at the Bulga Coal Handling Plant, Australia.

FOSA News

Prysmian Group Telecom Recognized on Broadband Communities Magazine’s FTTH Top 100 List

Every year, Broadband Communities Magazine recognizes the top-100 organizations that lead the way in building a fiber-connected world. For the seventh consecutive year, the publication featured Prysmian Group on the list,

FOSA News

Innovative axle counters for Taiwanese railway industry

Over several years, Frauscher has supplied various projects in Taiwan with innovative, tailored solutions – based on their product’s unique capabilities

FOSA News

Hifi presents at the Society of Petroleum Engineer’s Workshop

Pipeline Integrity Monitoring with High Fidelity Fiber Optic Sensing” was the title of a presentation by Hifi Engineering’s President and CEO Steve Kols at SPE

FOSA News

Forget Panic Rooms and Alarms, State-of-the-Art Security Is Now Insanely High-Tech—and Nearly Invisible

protection services firm AS Solution, likes to start by laying down a fiber-optic cable, such as one by OptaSense, that detects changes in acoustics.

FOSA News

Omnisens presentation at CIGRE in Denmark

CTO Etienne Rochat presented the Symposium "Combining Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Dynamic Cable Rating (DCR) as an efficient means of managing submarine cable load" during the CIGRE conference in Denmark in June.

FOSA News

OptaSense Conducts Unique Live Pipeline Leak Detection Demonstration

OptaSense presented a one-of-a-kind demonstration of its fiber-optic-based pipeline leak detection system on a 2.5 Km buried flow loop that has been instrumented with the OptaSense fiber-optic-based system.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing for Enhanced Border Security

AP Sensing’s Director of Research, Dr. Gareth Lees, collaborated on a Laser Focus World article titled “Smart fiber-optic sensing systems enhance physical border walls and fences.”

FOSA News

Woodside to Implement Schlumberger's DELFI

Australia's largest oil and gas operator Woodside Energy will leverage Schlumberger's DELFI cognitive cloud-based software

FOSA News

Independent Analysis of Heat and Fire Detection for Conveyer Belts

Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa study concludes that using the LIOS Linear Heat Detector LHD3 series will greatly improve safety for life and assets.

FOSA News

“See” Ahead of the Bit

Schlumberger launched the IriSphere look-ahead-while-drilling service, which uses deep directional electromagnetic (EM) technology to detect formation features as far as 100 feet ahead of the drill bit in real time, which allows drillers to adjust operations accordingly.

FOSA News

Fotech Solutions now ISO 14001 accredited

Congratulations Fotech Solutions - Fotech Solutions has been recognized by ISO, and is now accredited with international standard ISO 14001.

FOSA News

Let Fiber Optic Sensing Systems be your Eyes and Ears, Border Monitoring Made Easy

If you want to monitor physical borders, such as walls and fences, a fiber-optic sensing system is ideal as they enable you to measure sound, movement or temperature – continuously and in real-time – along with long structures.

FOSA News

Choosing the Right Teeth for Your Trencher Operation

Trencher tooth selection should be based on soil conditions to get the most productive trenching: Compact walk-behind trenchers are increasing in popularity, come in a variety of sizes and can be customized, depending on your business and jobsite needs.

FOSA News

Fotech technology enhances downhole imaging capabilities

As oil and gas producers look to realize ever greater efficiencies in their downhole operations, Fotech has launched its new Helios Quasar solution to enhance downhole imaging capabilities.

FOSA News

OptaSense Earns Acclaim from Frost & Sullivan for Its World-class Engineered Fiber Solutions Suite

Frost & Sullivan recognized OptaSense with the 2019 Europe Product Leadership Award for its highly effective fiber-optic sensing solution

FOSA News

Microtrenching Goes Mainstream

Dura-Line’s Technology Summit 2019: MicroTrenching was organized to shed light on how microtrenching is being deployed in several cities around the country, including Austin, Texas; New York; San Francisco; San Antonio; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

FOSA News

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing on a Large Tunnel Construction Site

2019 Best Paper, International Conference on Smart Infrastructure and Construction

FOSA News

FOSA Commends Senate Commerce Committee’s Passage of PHMSA Legislation Mandating Pipeline Safety Test Facility

FOSA commended the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation for its passage of S. 2299, Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2019.

FOSA News

Smart fiber-optic sensing systems enhance physical border walls and fences

Laser Focus World July Cover Story written through the collaboration of FOSA members Wieland Hill, director of Advanced Sensing Systems at NKT Photonics, John J. Williams, regional director of infrastructure monitoring for the Americas at OptaSense, and Gareth Lees, research director at AP Sensing.

FOSA News

Chevron awards Schlumberger 20-year contract for offshore projects in Gulf of Mexico

Oil giant Chevron has awarded Schlumberger a 20-year equipment and service contract for offshore projects in Gulf of Mexico.

FOSA News

FOSA Contributes to Smart Cities Council

Fiber optic sensing included in “A Resilient Technology Roadmap for Rebuilding Texas.” FOSA contributed to an effort led by the Smart Cities Council to assist communities affected by Hurricane Harvey

FOSA News

Fotech delivers breakthrough in DAS-based seismic imaging at greater well depths

As oil and gas producers look to realize ever greater efficiencies in their downhole operations, Fotech has launched its new Helios Quasar solution to enhance downhole imaging capabilities

FOSA News

Hifi completes $10 million in equity financing

Calgary-based Hifi Engineering Inc., a developer and supplier of fiber optic sensing technology used to monitor pipelines and oil and gas wells, announced $10.0 million equity financing

FOSA News

Wabtec & Hifi Engineering to enhance digital pipeline monitoring for miners with fiber optics

Wabtec announced it is collaborating with Calgary-based Hifi Engineering to enhance digital technologies that monitor asset health to predict and prevent failures at mine sites….

FOSA News

Using Fiber Optic Cables to Deliver Intelligent Traffic Management in Smart Cities

DAS converts a standard single mode telecoms fiber optic cable into an array of distributed sensors to deliver spatially and temporally rich traffic management information.

FOSA News

New Distributor in South Korea

During Laser Munich 2019, CEO of NKT Photonics Basil Garabet and CEO of Laser Spectronix Dr Kim signed the final agreement, making Laser Spectronix our official distributor in South Korea.

FOSA News

WDF 2019: Identifying trends – shaping the future

More than 260 visitors from 40 nations represented 101 companies and institutions from the railway industry at this year’s WDF…. Operators, system integrators, technical experts and decision-makers got in touch in an informal atmosphere.

FOSA News

DAS advances delivering win-win for rail operators and passengers

…the capabilities of DAS in rail applications have moved on quickly....These advances have been made possible by our own technical developments. Innovations like our Helios Theta platform offer exceptional high-resolution monitoring….can cover over a range of 40km….

FOSA News

Hifi Engineering Hosts Saskatchewan Energy Minister Bronwyn Eyre

Hifi hosted the Saskatchewan Energy Minister Bronwyn Eyre, during the Global Petroleum Show for a demonstration of Hifi's high fidelity dynamic sensing (HDS) technology for preventative pipeline leak detection.

FOSA News

OptaSense awarded key Pakistan pipeline and producing facility perimeter intrusion detection project

OptaSense, a QinetiQ company, a world leader in fiber-optic-based acoustic sensing and its regional project management partner, a local security systems integrator based in Pakistan, have been awarded a key pipeline and gas producing facility perimeter intrusion detection system project.

FOSA News

FOSA Urges ‘Smart Infrastructure’ Technology

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) has urged House and Senate Committees to incorporate advanced technologies that will help make the nation’s infrastructure safer, more resilient and longer lasting.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Commends Proposed LIFT Act Legislation for including Smart Infrastructure Technology Provisions

FOSA commended the recent introduction of an infrastructure package by 31 House Energy and Commerce Committee members, the Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s America Act, or LIFT America Act (H.R. 2741). Smart Infrastructure technology will spur continued economic growth.

FOSA News

FOSA pushes for smart tech integration

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association, the US’ leading organisation association focused on fiber optic sensing, was one of 11 signatories of a letter requesting congress incorporate smart technologies in order to improve and transform infrastructure around the country.

FOSA News

Smart cities: Non personal, data driven, and effective

Fotech’s trials in Calgary are one of the first instances where we have shown the value of DAS monitoring platforms by offering the transport insights smart cities will need.

FOSA News

Frauscher at ASLRRA 2019

Frauscher Sensor Technology USA exhibited at the ASLRRA (American Short Line Railroad Association) 2019 Connections Convention, April 7-9 in Orlando, Florida. Representatives from Frauscher’s Technical Sales and Engineering teams were on hand to showcase wheel detection and axle counter products.

FOSA News

Meet the 2019 Daily Oil Bulletin Energy Excellence Award champions, Digital Oilfield

The Digital Oilfield subcategory focused on improving productivity to reduced costs, enhanced safety and environmental benefits….[finalists included]: Hifi Engineering Ltd.

FOSA News

Innovative companies driving the digital oilfield of the future

...building new pipelines has become a national issue, due in no small part to fears over leaks, a new fiber optic-based pipeline monitoring technology has arrived at an opportune time. Hifi Engineering Inc.’s high fidelity dynamic sensing system provides a fully distributed monitoring

FOSA News

Combating congestion with the digitalization of transport management systems

If cities are serious about improving traffic flows…then technologies like [Distributed Acoustic Sensing] DAS have a key role to play in gaining intelligent insights, managing motorways and roadways, and managing transport networks more efficiently.

FOSA News

ASSOCIATIONS IN THE NEWS

Pipeline & Gas Journal reports Fiber Optic Sensing Association Board of Director officer elections.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Announces Mid-Year Meetings in Conjunction with University of Cambridge Smart Infrastructure Conference

“FOSA is pleased to participate in ICSIC and then to continue the discussions at our own mid-year meeting in Cambridge,” said FOSA Chairman JJ Williams. “We believe fiber optic sensing will play a critical role in smart infrastructure construction around the world over the next few years."

FOSA Press Releases

FOSA Joins Leading Technology Organizations in Urging the Inclusion of “Smart Technology” in Infrastructure Legislation

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association has been joined by ten other leading technology trade associations in urging Congress to fully incorporate smart technologies into proposals to improve and transform U.S. infrastructure.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Joins Leading Technology Organizations in Urging “Smart Technology” in Infrastructure

There is an unequivocal opportunity for policymakers on both sides of the aisle to bring U.S. infrastructure into the 21st century and leave a lasting legacy that will improve the lives of Americans for decades to come.

FOSA News

NKT Photonics opens new production facility and sales office in Boston

NKT Photonics is growing…with a new facility in Boston….“The new facility will be an important hub for all our North American activities”, says Stephen Phillips, Operations Manager.

FOSA News

Smart cities: Why public-private-partnerships are necessary for funding smart city initiatives

DAS is an example of how cities can build new intelligence into existing infrastructures, advancing monitoring and future planning capabilities. Augmenting fiber optic cables with DAS platform technologies can provide city authorities with real-time data streams

FOSA News

Fotech presents ‘new and promising’ research showing DAS sensitivity in leak detection

“The benefit of what we’ve shown is not just for leak detection in pipelines....The [DAS] technology has greater benefits for the safety of the human race, long term.” [explains Dr. Peter Hayward of Fotech Solutions]

FOSA News

Best Practices for Extending Trencher Component Life

…trenchers are efficient and effective digging machines for installing pipe and cable. To keep trenchers hard at work on the job and in peak performance, operators and rental yards must monitor and maintain the machine and components over time. Chain, teeth and sprocket components need to be replace

FOSA News

Prysmian Group returns in the submarine optical cable business

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, through its submarine telecom division NSW, showcase[d] for the first time, after the merger with General Cable, its state-of-the-art range of products and services for the submarine telecommunication cable industry

FOSA News

Sercel extends boundaries of well exploration with SigmaWave

Chris Shannon, Fotech Solutions CEO said, “SigmaWave represents the best of two industry leaders and demonstrates how, together, we continue to push the boundaries of innovation in upstream applications – with the opportunity to enable the best of DAS technology for the seismic industry.”

FOSA News

Prysmian to Supply Cables for French Floating Wind Farm

Cable systems manufacturer Prysmian Group…has been awarded a contract worth approximately €30 million to develop of a turnkey submarine cable system for EDF Renewables' Provence Grand Large (PGL) floating offshore wind farm project in South France.

FOSA News

Technology could make a hard border disappear, but at a cost

For remote borders with little or no infrastructure, there are various techniques that can keep an eye, or rather an ear, out. QinetiQ, a British firm, has a system called OptaSense, which uses a fiber-optic cable laid in the ground. Sound from above creates vibrations in this cable.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Urges “Smart Infrastructure” Technology be included in Infrastructure Legislation

FOSA has urged the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Commerce Committee to incorporate advanced technologies to help make the nation’s infrastructure safer, more resilient, and longer lasting.

FOSA News

OFC 2019: Fiber Optic Sensing Association present[ed] "Towards 1 Billion Sensors"

Dr. Chris Minto, Engineering Director of member company OptaSense…[presented] “Towards 1 Billion Sensors: Distributed Fiber Sensing as a Pervasive IoT Contributor” on behalf of FOSA during…Optical Networking and Communication Conference (OFC) in San Diego, California.

FOSA News

OFS launches AcoustiSens single-mode optical fiber for enhanced vibration sensing

“OFS recognizes the value of DAS and sees a need for significant improvements in how optical waveguides support this problem-solving technology," comments Mike Hines, market manager for OFS [and FOSA Vice Chairman].

FOSA News

Hifi Engineering Announces 50 Patent Milestone and Fiber Optic Flow Monitoring Patent Approval

Hifi Engineering Inc….announced a major intellectual property milestone with their portfolio growing to over 50 patents approved and pending.

FOSA News

Security: Monitoring measures, methods and the benefits of digital security technologies

Technologies such DAS...provide coverage of an entire perimeter and raise alerts in real-time, give security teams a comprehensive overview of their operations. In particular, the ability to detect potential intrusions at the earliest possible opportunity

FOSA News

Frauscher Sensor Technology acquired by Delachaux

Delachaux Group completed the acquisition of a majority stake in wheel sensor and axle counter manufacturer Frauscher Sensor Technology

FOSA News

Fiber Optics for High-Power Applications

As new applications require more laser power, components make the difference between success and failure for fiber optics laser and delivery systems

FOSA News

Securing the perimeter: Enhancing airport perimeter security with DAS

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)…[offers] a platform to significantly enhance the efficacy of security monitoring at airport perimeters.

FOSA News

AP Sensing Deploys DTS/DAS Combo in Denmark

AP Sensing's latest power cable commissioning deployed both DTS and DAS technologies in Copenhagen, Denmark.

FOSA News

Digitalization crucial to maintaining legacy water infrastructure

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)...will allow water companies to digitize their pipeline infrastructure and detect and monitor ruptures and leaks in existing pipes. Through the use of DAS technology — which harnesses optical fiber cables installed parallel to the water pipes

FOSA News

The Energy Excellence Awards Announces Its Inaugural List of Nominees!

Energy Excellence Awards [Hifi Engineering nominated for Operational & Project Excellence in Pipelines & Facilities]…nominees from across Canada’s energy industry, who through their ongoing work, display excellence….

FOSA News

The Toro Company Announces Charles Machine Works Acquisition

The Toro Company announced Feb. 15 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held The Charles Machine Works, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation and the parent company of Ditch Witch

FOSA News

Prysmian involved in the upgrade of Washington, D.C. area’s power transmission grid

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, will carry out a project aimed at upgrading the U.S. Capital area's power transmission system.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Presents at OFC: "Towards 1 Billion Sensors"

Dr. Chris Minto, Engineering Director of member company OptaSense, will present “Towards 1 Billion Sensors: Distributed Fiber Sensing as a Pervasive IoT Contributor” on behalf of FOSA during this week’s Optical Networking and Communication Conference (OFC) in San Diego, California.

FOSA News

5 Minutes With… JJ Williams chairman of the Fiber Optic Sensing Association

Fiber optic sensing technology converts cables installed alongside transport infrastructure, such as railroads or highways, into an array of thousands of sensors which can detect acoustics, temperature or strain signals by using optical sensing techniques.

FOSA News

Fotech Solutions: Building the transport infrastructure that cities of the future need today

Chris Shannon, CEO, Fotech Solutions discusses the need to improve transport infrastructure for cities today….Combining cutting-edge photonics, AI and edge computing, new sophisticated distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) platforms can interpret this acoustic data.

FOSA News

Ditch Witch: Ditch Witch to Feature the HX30 Vacuum Excavator and More at ARA Show

Ditch Witch …versatile new HX30 Vacuum Excavator [showcased] at the ARA Show.

FOSA News

AP Sensing: Reservoir Water Pipeline Monitoring

An AP Sensing Linear Pro Series DTS solution was selected to monitor two reservoir water pipelines in northern Germany. These pipelines are used to dispose of water leftover from oil and gas production, which cannot be discarded above ground due to its natural, slight radioactivity.

FOSA News

A simple technology could secure the US-Mexico border for a fraction of the cost of a wall

"Our approach has always been that when fiber-optic sensing is used, it's usually one of many other solutions," Mark Uncapher, the director of the Fiber Optic Sensing Association, told INSIDER.

FOSA News

OFS: OFS Announces AcoustiSens™ Single-mode Optical Fiber for Enhanced Vibration Sensing

“OFS recognizes the value of DAS and sees a need for significant improvements in how optical waveguides support this problem-solving technology," said Mike Hines, Market Manager for OFS, [and FOSA Vice Chairman]. “AcoustiSens helps by meeting the challenge of greatly increasing Rayleigh backscatter

FOSA News

OFS: Testing Optical Fiber: Undersea and Downhole Applications

Many land and undersea oil operations rely heavily on temperature sensing for improved safety and functionality in harsh environments. Silica-based optical fibers have been increasingly used for distributed temperature and acoustic sensing applications….In recent work, OFS performed an experimental

FOSA News

NKT Photonics: NKT Photonics Koheras Harmonik Laser System

NKT Photonics is introducing the Koheras HARMONIK system: A high-power, frequency-converted and ultra-low noise laser system offering up to 7 W output. With a market leading low phase noise and narrow linewidth at 775-780 nm, it is ideal for ultracold atom applications.

FOSA News

OptaSense: 'Build the wall' with fiber optics

For intrusion detection, OptaSense uses a distributed acoustic sensing setup that analyzes the Rayleigh scattering....The strain signature of a fiber-optic cable around 50 km long can be deconvolved to detect movement at distances of around 10 m from the fiber with a 1 m accuracy.

FOSA News

AP Sensing: AP Sensing A 2019 Top Employer

Focus, a leading German business magazine, ranked AP Sensing as one of its Top Employers of 2019. AP Sensing achieved the outstanding position of 11th in the industry segment of ‘machinery and equipment,' an important industry in Germany. The survey ranked 750,000 German companies.

FOSA News

Frauscher Sensor Technology USA Inc.: Frauscher USA exhibits strong growth

The North American Frauscher team proudly states that every Class 1 freight railroad in North America has installed the company’s sensors.

FOSA News

OFS: Lighting Up Dark Fiber

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Dr. Jonathan Ajo-Franklin is using dark fiber to measure seismic signals. Dr. Ajo-Franklin’s team gained permission to access a section of a dark fiber network between Sacramento and Calusa, California.

FOSA News

Frauscher Sensor Technology USA: Three years of Frauscher USA: A look back - and beyond

In a short time, [Frauscher Sensor Technology has] successfully achieved positive recognition of the company and products within the US and North American railroad markets.

FOSA News

Hifi Engineering: Hifi Engineering of Calgary can detect leaks within a ten-meter radius of pipelines that are thousands of miles long

We can tell where the leak is detected and when,” says Steven Koles, president of Hifi Engineering in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Hifi uses a specialized fiber-optic sensing technology to measure sound, temperature changes and kinetic energy – movement and vibration – in pipelines.

FOSA News

Frauscher Sensor Technology USA: 'Saluting the Stalwarts' an Initiative to Honor Railway Legends

Legendary Railway Signaling and Telecom Engineers who completed five decades of serving across the world making significant contributions in the field of Railway Signaling and Telecom were honored….Global CEO Frauscher Sensor Technology Michael Thiel.

FOSA News

Fotech Solutions: Breaking Boundaries with DAS

There is enormous potential for our DAS solutions to enable city authorities to improve traffic flows and gain new insights to manage road and transport networks better. [Fotech Solutions] partnered with the city of Calgary.

FOSA News

Asymmetric Technologies: I&M Using Drones to Inspect Fort Wayne Transmission Lines

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will use drones to inspect transmission lines…. I&M is contracting with Asymmetric Technologies.

FOSA News

Hurd Receives 2018 Champion of Innovation Award from Fiber Optic Sensing Association

FOSA recognized Representative Will Hurd (R-TX) as a recipient of FOSA’s Champion of Innovation Award for 2018. The selection, based on the extraordinary leadership demonstrated by Hurd in the 115th Congress to make U.S. security programs more effective

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Elects Board Members

FOSA, the nation’s premier trade association dedicated to fiber optic sensing, announced the election of five board members, as well as its officer slate for 2019, at the organization’s Annual Meeting in Washington DC.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Presents 2018 Champion of Innovation Awards to Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Representative Will Hurd (R-TX)

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Representative Will Hurd (R-TX) recognized as recipients of FOSA’s Champion of Innovation Award for 2018. The selection was based on their extraordinary leadership in the 115th Congress to make U.S. security programs more effective through advanced technology.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Calls for U.S. Pipeline Safety Test Facility

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) today called for the federal government and the pipeline industry to work together to establish a pipeline safety test facility in the United States.

FOSA News

Fotech Solutions: The importance of intelligent traffic systems to smart city initiatives

When it comes to smart cities, DAS is set to be a vital part in the technology puzzle.
Due to its flexibility, DAS is likely to be one of the first ‘live’ installations of true smart city technology.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Applauds Rail Study Results

FOSA applauds Transportation Technology Center, Inc. study Fiber Optic Availability and Opportunity Analysis for North American Railroads. “The findings of this Federal government study confirm that fiber optic sensing can make significant cost-effective contributions to enhancing rail safety,"

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Urges Government Action on Pipeline Safety Issues

Fiber Optic Sensing Association urges Congress and the Trump Administration to move forward with development of standards for pipeline leak detection technology and other actions designed to enhance pipeline safety in the United States.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Applauds “Dig Once” Legislation

FOSA applauded the enactment of “Dig Once” legislation designed to facilitate the deployment along U.S. highways of fiber optic cables for purposes of extending broadband and fiber optic sensing networks.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Releases Installation Considerations for Pipelines

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), the world’s premier trade association for distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS), today released a brief primer entitled FOSA Installation Considerations for Pipelines.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Urges Rail Safety Technology Testing

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), the nation’s premier trade association dedicated to fiber optic sensing, urged a House subcommittee today to provide greater funding to the Federal Railroad Administration for testing of advanced technologies to improve U.S. rail safety.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Data on Global Installations

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), the world’s premier fiber optic sensing trade association, released details on more than 1,300 installations of distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) around the world. The November 2107 data reflects the largest representative sample ever published.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Elects Board Members, Officers

FOSA officer slate for 2018: Greg Williams, Prysmian, was elected to the Board, and Geoffroy Lacoin, Omnisens, Gordon Youle, OZ Optics, and Vivek Caroli, Frauscher Sensor Technology USA, Inc. were reelected, to serve 2-year terms. Mike Hines Mike Hines of OFS, rose from Vice Chair to Chair.

FOSA News

Fotech Solutions: Global Partnership with Sercel to Deliver Next Generation of Advanced Downhole Technology

Fotech Solutions has entered a partnership with Sercel to jointly develop future borehole seismic and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) monitoring technology. Within the partnership, Fotech Solutions will contribute DAS measurement solutions.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Releases New Data on Global Installations

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), the world’s premier fiber optic sensing trade association, today released details on more than 1,300 installations of distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) around the world. The data reflects the largest representative sample ever published.

FOSA Press Releases

FOSA Applauds PHMSA Nominee’s Focus on Technology

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) today applauded PHMSA Administrator nominee Howard Elliott’s focus on technology solutions to address safety issues, including in the pipeline and rail sectors.

FOSA Press Releases

FOSA Applauds U.S. House Action to Facilitate Pipeline Safety

FOSA applauded recent action by the U.S. House of Representatives to facilitate greater pipeline safety.

FOSA News

What is Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing?

Distributed and quasi-distributed fiber optic sensors are systems that connect opto-electronic interrogators to an optical fiber (or cable), converting the fiber to an array of distributed sensors.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Applauds Pipeline Agency for R&D on External Leak Detection

Fiber Optic Sensing Association today applauded the U.S. Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for promoting research and development on pipeline safety, including taking the first step in developing a Recommended Practice document for external pipeline leak detection.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Names Technology Committee

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association announced the creation of a Technology Committee consisting of industry experts. As an initial activity, the committee will address fiber sensing installation considerations at a high level.

FOSA Press Releases

Fiber Optic Sensing Experts Address Opportunities for Telecom Sector

Fiber Optic Sensing Experts Address Opportunities for Telecom Sector, Panel at FiberConnect Conference and Exhibition discusses technology and case studies

FOSA News

Frauscher: Preventive and Predictive Maintenance based on FOAD

Over the past few years, Fiber Optic Acoustic Detection (FOAD) has attracted a lot of attention throughout the global railway industry, Frauscher Sensor Technology officials say. By combining this technology with proven wheel detection systems and axle counters, the company has created a system call

FOSA News

AFL: The Evolution of Optical Fiber Cable Design for Sensor Applications

Optical fiber based systems have enabled improvements in capabilities and functionality that are simply not possible with copper-only systems.

FOSA News

Fiber Optic Sensing Business Gets a Voice

Twelve companies have banded together to form a new trade association focusing on the fiber optic sensing business. The new group, the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), officially launched on 24 April 2017, and is slated to hold its first public meeting on 17 May.

FOSA News

Industry Leaders Launch Fiber Optic Sensing Association

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), the nation’s first trade association dedicated to fiber optic sensing, launched today with a focus on educating industry, government and the public on the benefits of this cutting-edge technology.

FOSA News

New Ditch Witch MT16 Microtrencher Cuts Cost-Per-Foot on Fiber Jobsites

To increase productivity and improve ROI on fiber jobsites, the Ditch Witch organization, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced the MT16 microtrencher. The cost-effective microtrencher creates an ideal trench in a single, quick and efficient pass when working with the Ditch Witch RT55 or R

FOSA News

SoCalGas to Use Fiber Optic Technology to Monitor Pipeline Leaks

Southern California Gas Company has officially announced that the company will be one of the first natural gas utilities in the United States to incorporate innovative fiber optic cable technology to detect impacts and leaks along its transmission and high-pressure pipeline system.