Natural hazards engineers at the University of Texas are using fiber optic cable for subsurface and structural sensing. It’s called distributed acoustic sensing, or DAS, and it is much more efficient than traditional geophones or accelerometers. By sending laser light pulses through fiber optic cables — which are ultra-sensitive to light deflections — researchers can measure ground disturbances for up to 30 meters. 

Sound interesting? Contact the NSF-funded NHERI network to learn more: [email protected].

NHERI at UTexas recently presented a workshop on DAS technology, including a live demonstration of a levee in Blackhawk, Louisiana. View the workshop recordings here.