An extensive network of detectors and sensors may not be needed in the future to detect earthquakes, since lines of communication and supply internet access could do the same thing.
Researchers have developed a technology that detects seismic activity through vibrations that line the optical fibers. Special optical detectors (Laser interrogators) detect the disturbances in the fiber and send information about the magnitude and direction of the vibrations. The system will not only be able to detect different types of seismic vibrations (and therefore determine the severity of the threat), but will also detect very small or local earthquakes that could go unnoticed.
Fiber optic detection technology is not entirely new. It used to be used as an "acoustic" sensor, placing the optical fibers in cement, on a surface or in any other way that could be ensured that they came in contact with the ground, so that they could detect signal fluctuations.
This is not necessary with the new method, as the scientists can use the existing fiber lines that exist within the plastic tubes. So if required to develop into one region a series of seismic sensors this technology will allow the use of existing optical fibers, which means it will be much easier and cheaper to implement.
But there are also many advantagescalls to make it come true.
The new technology is limited by the size of the existing fiber optic network, and this is a problem for rural areas with very little to no fiber.
The research was done with a relatively modest, 3-mile cuclickor course, around Stanford University. Perhaps the prospect of a sensor network in an entire city with the existing infrastructure, much less in the province or the entire country acting as a single sensor, is daunting.
However, with the new technology, it could become much more accessible and easy to detect earthquakes than to start installing new classic ones. detectors and would even provide additional information as well as more detection accuracy, which is not possible with the old technology.
