Monitoring transport network infrastructure
AssigneeOptasense Holdings Limited
InventorAlastair Godfrey
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Abstract
The present invention relates to conditions monitoring of structures forming part of a transport network, e.g. structural health monitoring of structures, especially tunnels by performing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) on at least one optical fiber (104) deployed so as to monitor the structure (206) and detecting and analyzing the acoustic response to movement of traffic (205) on the network in the vicinity of the structure to detect the acoustic response (303, 304) of the structure. The acoustic response of the structure is then analyzed to detect any change in condition.
Claims20
A method of condition monitoring of a structure forming part of a transport network comprising:
- performing distributed acoustic sensing on one or more optical fibres deployed to monitor said structure to provide a measurement signal from each of a plurality of acoustic sensing portions;
- analysing the measurement signals generated from movement of traffic on the transport network in a vicinity of said structure to identify acoustic signals associated with said structure;
- and
- analysing said acoustic signals associated with said structure to provide an indication of any changes in condition of said structure;
- wherein analysing said acoustic signals associated with said structure comprises identifying acoustic waves propagating in the structure and analysing the propagation speeds of acoustic waves in the structure.
A method of condition monitoring of a structure forming part of a transport network, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of measurement signals acquired by a one or more distributed acoustic sensors having one or more optical fibres deployed to monitor said structure;
- analysing the measurement signals generated from movement of traffic on the transport network in a vicinity of said structure to identify acoustic signals associated with said structure;
- and
- analysing said acoustic signals associated with said structure to provide an indication of any changes in condition of said structure;
- wherein analysing said acoustic signals associated with said structure comprises identifying acoustic waves propagating in the structure and analysing the propagation speeds of acoustic waves in the structure.
A distributed acoustic sensing system comprising:
- an interrogator unit for, in use, performing distributed acoustic sensing on one or more optical fibres deployed to monitor a structure of a transport network to provide a measurement signal from each of a plurality of acoustic sensing portions;
- and
- a processor configured:
- to analyse the measurement signals generated from movement of traffic on the transport network in a vicinity of said structure to identify acoustic signals associated with said structure;
- and
- analyse said acoustic signals associated with said structure to provide an indication of any changes in condition of said structure by identifying acoustic waves propagating in the structure and analysing the propagation speeds of acoustic waves in the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.