Fiber Optic Distributed Strain and Temperature Sensors (DSTS): BOTDA Module

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Specifications

Spatial Resolution: 0.1 m
Max Sensing Range: 100 km
Dynamic Range: 30 dB
Temperature Range: -270 – 1000 deg C
Temperature Resolution: 0.005 deg C
Strain Range: -3 – 4 %
Maximum Sensing Range Per Channel: 100 km
Maximum Fiber Length: 160 km
Fiber Type: Standard telecom single mode fiber
Measurement Types: Distributed strain and temperature
Measurement Mode: Real-time
Product Series: Foresight DSTS BOTDA module

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Features

  • Distributed Strain & Temperature Sensing (DSTS) with BOTDA – Uses Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) to provide fully distributed measurements of strain and temperature along the entire fiber length, rather than at discrete points.
  • Compatible with Standard Telecom Single‑Mode Fiber – Operates on standard SMF (e.g., ITU‑T G.652) for sensing, minimizing installation costs and enabling use of existing fiber infrastructure in industrial and civil environments.
  • Simultaneous & Independent Strain and Temperature Measurement – Distinguishes between mechanical strain and temperature effects on the same fiber, allowing accurate identification of temperature‑induced strain and true structural deformation.
  • Ultra‑High Spatial Resolution – Down to 0.1 m – Detects highly localized events such as cracks, leaks, hot spots or structural discontinuities with spatial resolutions as fine as 10 cm, comparable with state‑of‑the‑art BOTDA systems.
  • Very Long Sensing Range – Up to 100 km per Channel – Monitors large‑scale assets such as long pipelines, power cables, border fences, dams, levees, and transportation corridors with sensing distances up to 100 km (up to 160 km fiber length).
  • Real‑Time, Continuous Monitoring – Provides real‑time acquisition of strain and temperature profiles, supporting early‑warning and condition‑based maintenance strategies for critical infrastructure.
  • High Measurement Accuracy and Resolution – Delivers fine strain and temperature resolution and excellent repeatability along the entire sensing fiber, suitable for structural health monitoring (SHM) and geotechnical applications where small changes are critical.
  • Robust, Industrial‑Grade 3U Chassis – Packaged in a compact 3U rack‑mountable module designed for field and control‑room deployment, compatible with standard 19‑inch racks for easy integration into existing cabinets.
  • Multi‑Application Platform – One system can support a broad range of applications including:
    • Oil & gas pipeline leak detection and integrity monitoring
    • Oil & gas wellbore temperature, strain, and pressure profiling (with appropriate sensing cable)
    • Refinery temperature profiling for efficiency and safety
    • Dam internal temperature and deformation monitoring
    • Civil structures and SHM (bridges, tunnels, buildings, foundations)
    • Highway and railway subsidence and strain monitoring
    • Geohazard monitoring (landslides, levees, slopes, embankments)
    • Overhead power line and utility corridor monitoring
  • Fast Acquisition / Short Response Time – Optimized measurement cycles allow rapid detection of anomalies, suitable for dynamic environments and assets where conditions can change quickly.
  • Hydrogen‑Insensitive Sensing Fiber Options – Compatible with sensing cables and coatings that are not sensitive to hydrogen darkening, ensuring stable performance in oil & gas wells, refineries, and harsh chemical environments.
  • High Reliability and EMI Immunity – Optical fiber sensing is immune to electromagnetic interference, lightning, and radio frequency noise, making the system ideal for high‑voltage power grids, substations, and industrial plants.
  • Long‑Distance Asset Coverage with Localized Detail – Combines long reach (tens of kilometers) with fine spatial resolution, enabling both macro‑level condition assessment and pinpoint localization of faults, leaks, or cracks.
  • Distributed Temperature Profiling for Process Optimization – Captures continuous temperature profiles in furnaces, reactors, pipelines, and storage tanks to improve process control, energy efficiency, and safety.
  • Non‑Intrusive & Safe Sensing Medium – Optical fibers are passive, non‑conductive and intrinsically safe, suitable for explosive or hazardous areas where electrical sensors are restricted.
  • Low Total Cost of Ownership – Uses low‑cost telecom‑grade single‑mode fiber and can often leverage installed dark fibers, reducing cabling costs compared with dense point‑sensor networks.
  • Comprehensive Structural Health Monitoring – Monitors strain, cracks, sedimentation, deformation, and seepage in critical infrastructure such as dams, bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, and foundations over their full length.
  • Geohazard & Ground Movement Trend Analysis – Enables long‑term tracking of soil movement, landslides, levee stability, and ground subsidence by continuously comparing strain and deformation profiles over time.

Applications

  • Oil & Gas Pipeline Leakage Monitoring: Continuous distributed strain and temperature profiling along buried or subsea pipelines to detect leaks, coating failures, illegal tapping, buckle and ground movement; enables rapid localization of anomalies over distances up to 100 km per channel with sub‑meter spatial resolution.
  • Oil & Gas Well Integrity and Completion Monitoring: Distributed temperature and strain sensing along production and injection wells for monitoring casing deformation, cement integrity, thermal fronts, sand production, water or gas breakthrough, and zonal isolation performance in real time.
  • Downhole Pressure / Temperature / Strain Profiling: Combined BOTDA-based measurements (with suitable hybrid sensing cable design) to infer pressure fronts, thermal transients and mechanical loading in high‑pressure, high‑temperature (HPHT) wells without electronics in the wellbore.
  • Refinery and Petrochemical Process Optimization: Distributed temperature monitoring on reactors, distillation columns, furnaces, pipelines and heat exchangers to track temperature profiles, improve process control, increase energy efficiency, and reduce unplanned shutdowns.
  • LNG & Storage Tank Monitoring: Continuous thermal and strain monitoring around LNG tanks, crude oil storage tanks, and spherical/vertical vessels to detect leaks, settlement, shell deformation, insulation failures and abnormal cooling or heating patterns.
  • Dam Internal Temperature and Seepage Monitoring: Installation of sensing fiber in dam galleries, grout curtains and foundations to monitor internal temperature fields, detect seepage paths, assess curing behavior of concrete and identify anomalous zones that may indicate internal erosion.
  • Dam Structural Deformation and Crack Detection: Long‑range strain monitoring over the full dam length and abutments to identify crack initiation, joint opening/closing, arch and gravity dam deflection, and long-term deformation trends under varying load and temperature conditions.
  • Reservoir Embankment and Levee Surveillance: Distributed strain/temperature sensing along earth embankments, levees and dikes to detect settlement, piping, internal erosion, localized seepage and slope instability before visible distress appears.
  • Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Bridges: Deployment along girders, decks, pylons and stay cables to track strain distribution, crack development, cable tension variation, thermal effects and long-term fatigue in concrete and steel bridges over tens of kilometers.
  • Tunnel and Underground Structure Monitoring: Continuous deformation and convergence monitoring for transportation tunnels, utility tunnels, metro systems and caverns, including lining stress, ground response to excavation, and long‑term performance under urban loading.
  • Building and High-Rise Structural Assessment: Embedded or surface-mounted sensing fibers in critical elements (columns, shear walls, slabs, mega‑braces) to measure distributed strain and temperature, detect abnormal drift and track health during construction and throughout service life.
  • Highway and Railway Subgrade Monitoring: Strain and temperature-based monitoring of pavement layers, subgrade and embankments to detect settlement, voids, delamination, frost heave and fatigue damage along many kilometers of roadway or track.
  • Railway Track and Ballast Condition Monitoring: Distributed sensing along rails and sleepers to identify localized strain peaks, track buckling risk, ballast washout, broken rails and differential settlement without the need for dense arrays of discrete sensors.
  • Highway and Bridge Expansion Joint Surveillance: Focused high‑resolution monitoring around expansion joints, bearings and connections to detect abnormal strains due to temperature variation, traffic loading, corrosion or component degradation.
  • Geohazard Monitoring for Landslides: Installation in boreholes, trenches or surface routes across slopes to measure distributed strain signatures indicative of landslide initiation, shear zone development and progressive mass movement in real time.
  • Subsidence and Ground Deformation Tracking: Long‑range monitoring over mining areas, karst regions, urban redevelopment zones and reclaimed land to detect subsidence, heave and lateral spreading that could affect critical infrastructure.