Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)

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|UPDATED: 13 FEB 2025

|OVERVIEW|

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is an advanced sensing technology that uses standard fiber optic cables to detect acoustic, seismic, and vibrational signals over long distances.

DAS transforms fiber optic cables into a continuous array of sensors, leveraging their ability to detect minute disturbances in the environment. Underwater distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) involves the use of unused or "dark" subsea fiber optic cables to sense underwater acoustic or seismic energy. A device called an interrogator transmits pulses of light along the length of the dark fiber optic cable. When the light comes in contact with tiny imperfections in the FO cable, it is reflected back toward the interrogator (a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering). Acoustic or seismic energy causes strain in the FO cable, which in turn impacts the phase of the Rayleigh backscatter. This strain can then be sensed and measured by the interrogator.

By enabling real-time, large-scale monitoring with high precision, DAS could transform how maritime forces monitor and protect critical infrastructure, detect underwater threats, ensure domain awareness, and construct a common operational picture.

OPERATIONAL COMPONENTS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEFENSE APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
LIMITATIONS
FUTURE PROSPECTS

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ACOMMS APPLICATIONS

Recent research suggests that underwater DAS could be used to structure an underwater acoustic communication network, with potentially significant implications for signnals intelligence (SIGINT) operations, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and subsea/seabed warfare (SSW).

WHALE CONSERVATION

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is emerging as a powerful tool in whale conservation, offering continuous, high-resolution monitoring of underwater acoustic environments.


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|STRIKEPOD PRODUCTS|

‣ ⿻ S&T Brief: DAS for ACOMMS - 7 July 2024
Hearing the Light: DAS could Revolutionize Subsea Defense - 26 January 2023


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|INTEL FEED|

|2024|2023|2022|2021|2020|2019|

2025

2024

Submarine Optical Fibers: A Window into Climate Change
(Optics & Photonics News, 9/2024)
Thales teams up with FEBUS Optics to develop a solution to protect critical underwater infrastructure
(Naval News, 6/11/2024)
TNO develops detection system to protect cables and pipelines on seabed
(TNO, 6/6/2024)
Harnessing Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for Maritime Innovation
(Institute for Infocomm Research, 4/12/2024)
Fiber optic cables are an effective way to detect tsunamis, researchers show
(TechXplore, 2/13/2024)

2023

Reconsider Using Undersea Cables as Military Sensors
(National Defense, 9/29/2023)
Protecting submarine cables for enhanced connectivity
(Open Access Government, 3/24/2023)
Hearing the Light: DAS could Revolutionize Subsea Defense
(Marine Technology News, 1/26/2023)

2022

Internet Cable Reveals the Source of Underwater Vibrations
(Eos, 9/30/2022)
Using a Distributed Fiber Optic Hydrophone to Detect Underwater Acoustic Signals
(AZO Optics, 8/25/2022)
When telecom fiber can sense
(Nokia, 8/3/2025)
Listening across the oceans: Distributed acoustic sensing
(Ocean Outreach, 7/20/2022)
Making subsea cables smart, and helping save the planet
(Data Center Dynamics, 6/7/2022)

2021

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) in exploring the ocean
(Optromix, 4/27/2021)
Distributed acoustic sensors (DAS) are applied underwater
(Optromix, 3/29/2021)

2019
Undersea Fiber-Optic Cables Make Superb Seismic Network
(SciTech Daily, 11/29/2019)


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