Optical fiber degradation monitoring by distributed temperature sensing
Aspects of the present disclosure describe monitoring of optical fiber by distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and determining optical fiber degradation and/or abnormal environmental events including landslides, fires, etc., from DTS data.
1. A distributed temperature sensing (DTS) method for determining an optical fiber degradation comprising:
operating a DTS system to obtain temperature measurements at points along a fiber optic cable;
determining daily temperature variability at each of the measurement points based on the temperature measurements; and
determining an optical fiber degradation indication from the daily temperature variability at the measurement points;
wherein the temperature measurements are obtained during a time period comprising a multiple of 24 hours; and
wherein the optical fiber degradation is caused by a bending of the fiber optic cable.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bending of the fiber optic cable is caused by shifting of a ground material in which the fiber optic cable is buried.
3. A distributed temperature sensing (DTS) method for determining an optical fiber degradation comprising:
operating a DTS system to obtain temperature measurements at points along a fiber optic cable;
determining daily temperature variability at each of the measurement points based on the temperature measurements;
determining an optical fiber degradation indication from the daily temperature variability at the measurement points; and
determining an abnormal temperature indication from the daily temperature variability at the measurement points;
wherein the abnormal temperature indication is caused by a fire proximate to the fiber optic cable.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising generating a report to a maintenance facility indicating the abnormal temperature due to fire and location in the fiber optic cable.
5. A distributed temperature sensing (DTS) method for determining an optical fiber degradation comprising:
operating a DTS system to obtain temperature measurements at points along a fiber optic cable;
determining daily temperature variability at each of the measurement points based on the temperature measurements;
determining an optical fiber degradation indication from the daily temperature variability at the measurement points;
wherein the DTS system is a Raman-based OTDR system; and
determining any cable installation characteristics from Raman-based OTDR data generated by the Raman-based OTDR system; by
measuring an amplitude of stokes and anti-stokes components of the Raman-based OTDR data from which both a temperature along a length of the optical fiber and fiber optic cable health, degradation, and characteristics may be determined.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining a loss indicative of a bad installation from the cable installation characteristics.