An extended one may not be needed in the future network with detectors and sensors to detect earthquakes, since optical lines of communication and providing internet access could do the same thing.
Researchers have developed a technology that detects seismic activity through vibrations that the fiber optic lines undergo. Special optical detectors (Laser interrogators) detect the disturbances in the fiber and send information relative to the magnitude and direction of the vibrations. The system will not only be able to detect different types of seismic tremors (and therefore determine the severity of the threat), but also detect very small or localized earthquakes that could go unnoticed.
The detection technology with base Fiber optics are not entirely new. In the past it was used as an "acoustic" sensor, placing the optical fibers in cement, on a surface or otherwise could be ensured to be in contact with the ground so that they could detect variation anomalies in the signal.
This is not necessary with the new method, as scientists can use the existing fiber lines inside the plastic tubes. So if it is necessary to develop a series of seismic sensors in an area, this technology will allow the use of existing optical fibers, which means that it will be much easier and cheaper to apply.
But there are also many challenges to make it a reality.
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.
Η research it was done on a relatively moderate, 3-mile loop 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.
