High-sensitivity, long-reach localization and mapping of fiber optic networks using cost-efficient distributed vibration sensing

We present a novel high-sensitivity technique and algorithm for fiber localization and mapping over extended fiber optic networks. This is achieved using a cost-efficient distributed vibration sensing (DVS) system built upon commercially available off-the-shelf optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) optoelectronics. Our system accurately detects localized fiber vibrations and determines optical distances in operational networks over spans of up to 100 km, achieving a distance precision of less than 10 m under diverse environmental conditions. This capability represents a significant advancement for cost-effective infrastructure monitoring and mapping, addressing the limitations of existing DVS systems in long-reach applications. By integrating localized fiber vibration signatures with optical fiber lengths, our DVS-OTDR system enables highly accurate optical-to-physical correlation and mapping of the physical fiber cable infrastructure. This, combined with geographic information system (GIS) data and network topology information, offers an invaluable cost-effective solution for sensitive, accurate and rapid testing, monitoring and troubleshooting of extensive fiber optic cable networks.