Optical fibres are thin, glass cables that can be attached to or embedded in materials to measure a range of physical, mechanical and chemical changes.
Field measurements
Our main expertise in field measurements includes:
- Active seismic surveys using borehole and surface fibres,
- Passive seismic monitoring in boreholes and on the surface,
- Environmental and infrastructure acoustic monitoring (structural health, intrusions, natural hazards, etc.),
- Ground deformation and temperature change monitoring
Laboratory measurements
At the laboratory scale, we are able to perform:
- Deformation measurements on small rock and synthetic material samples during mechanical and hydraulic tests,
- Fracture and failure detection and monitoring,
- Estimation of temperature gradients and changes over time.
Equipment
ASN OptoDAS
Our Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) interrogator, ASN OptoDAS, allows interrogation of over 100 km of fibre. The minimum distance between measuring points is just above 1 m, with a gauge length (the length of fibre section used to collect data assigned to a given measuring point) of around 2 m. The maximum sampling frequency is 100 kHz.
In addition to measuring active and passive seismic and acoustic signals, the DAS interrogator can also be used for deformation monitoring (“low-frequency DAS”).
Luna ODiSI
Our Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) and Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) interrogator, Luna ODiSI, allows interrogation of multiple fibres of up to 100 m length each simultaneously. The distance between measuring points is under 1 mm, as are the gauge lengths. The maximum sampling frequency is 250 Hz and the sensitivity of the system is at sub-micron level. In addition to deformation and temperature measurements, this interrogator can also be used for low-frequency vibration monitoring.
The combination of our interrogators, auxiliary equipment, and experience allows us to prepare and install fibres, perform measurements, and analyse the results independently.
Literature
1) Pavez-Orrego, C., Duda, M., Urozayev, D., Dupuy, B., Barbosa, N. (2026). Storm Amy observations with fibre-optic DAS data at the Svelvik CO₂ Field Lab, Norway: Implications for Monitoring and Networks. EGU General Assembly. 4-8 May 2026.
2) Fechner, T., Mackens, S., Duda, M.I., Jordan,M., Koedel, U. (2026). Shear-wave crosswell tomography using distributed acoustic sensing: A breakthrough in geotechnical site characterization. The Leading Edge. https://doi.org/10.1190/tle-2025-1012
3) Lang, L., Duda, M.I., Berntsen, A.N., Salazar Vasquez, A. F (2025). A Review of Fiber Optic Sensing in Geomechanical Applications at Laboratory and Field Scales. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2025.100699
4) Pavez-Orrego, C., Lior, I., Jordan, M. CO2 signature identification using DAS recordings at the ECCSEL Svelvik CO2 Field Lab, southern Norway.(2024) Biennial Geophysical Seminar, 13-15 March, 2024, Kristiansand, Norway.
5) Pavez-Orrego, C., Jordan, M. (2023). DAS monitoring at the ECCSEL Svelvik CO2 Field Lab, southern Norway: Preliminary results. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco. 11-15 December 2023.
6) Duda, M., Dlugosz, S., Wilczynski, Z., Ligas, E., Pantaleo, G., Meneghini, F., Mithassel, B. (2026). “Quantitative comparison of DAS and point seismic sensors at Svelvik CO2 Field Lab”. Galileo Conference: Fibre Optic Sensing in Geosciences. Aussois, France, 1 Sep 2026.
7) Lozovyi, S. (2026). “Distributed fiber-optic strain sensing on cylindrical geomaterial specimens under triaxial stress, pore pressure, and temperature conditions”. Galileo Conference: Fibre Optic Sensing in Geosciences. Aussois, France, 2 Sep 2026.