Real options of distributed DAS sensing applied to road transport engineering

Abstract

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) techniques with Optical Fibers are able to provide a wide range of data for very long distances. The technique is used for monitoring purposes on the energy sector (i.e.: oil &gas pipes, electricity transport lines, etc..), where the resiliency of the infrastructure linear layout is low, and the associated loss-of-service costs are high. The significant cost barriers of the technology are changing due to the scientific advances and the economy of scale effects; however, the use within the road transport engineering is still not widespread and limited to specific applications. This work explores the cost-benefit analysis of using the DAS technique for transport engineering, including a sensitivity analysis on the foreseeable cost reductions and technical characteristics of the technology applied to planning, operation and maintenance purposes. The real options of installing new fiber optic layout vs using dark fiber networks is also analysed and compared to the use of standard ITS systems.