Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing: A Versatile Condition-Monitoring Tool for the Industry

Distributed temperature sensing (DTS), distributed strain sensing (DSS), and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) are now standard fiber-sensing-based tools deployed in the field for multiple applications. Distributed temperature sensing is being used in the pipeline industry for leak detection and erosion, while distributed acoustic sensing provides third-party intrusion detection. Distributed strain sensing provides pipeline deformation and ground-movement data.

When applied to the power cable industry, as an example: DTS is the most suitable tool for hot-spot detection and dynamic load management, whereas DAS is more suitable for fault detection. In other fields, those technologies are being deployed to provide meaningful information to asset owners and operators. Etienne Rochat shares expertise on how to efficiently use distributed fiber-optic sensing (DFOS) systems as versatile condition-monitoring tools. This talk includes a brief reminder of the underlying physics of DFOS and then reviews applications in energy transportation.

About the presenter
Etienne Rochat, Ph.D., is CTO of Omnisens. received a master's degree in engineering from the Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL) and a doctorate in science from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. Prior to working at Omnisens, Rochat served as a research scientist at the ABB Corporate Research Center in Switzerland, where he developed fiber sensors for remote pressure and temperature measurement in oil reservoirs. Then, as a research fellow at the University of Essex in England, focused on non-conventional optical communication. Rochat joined Omnisens in 2004. Prior to his current role, he worked as R&D manager for fiber-optic distributed sensing from 2009 to 2013. At Omnisens he oversees product research & development for monitoring solutions, focusing on optical interrogators, sensing cables, and novel applications-applications for this work include pipeline monitoring and power-cable monitoring. Rochat is the author of more than 50 papers and applicant for 10 patent families.