Fiber-optic geodesy: high-resolution subsurface deformation monitoring with telecommunication infrastructure

By converting telecommunication fiber-optic cables into dense strainmeter arrays for real-time monitoring, the method addresses the challenge of capturing minute-scale mass movements, offering enhanced forecasting capabilities for volcanic and geological hazards.

WO2026128906A1 Publication Date: 2026-06-18CALIFORNIA INST OF TECH +2
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
CALIFORNIA INST OF TECH
Filing Date
2025-12-15
Publication Date
2026-06-18

AI Technical Summary

⚠Technical Problem

Existing geodetic techniques struggle to capture the detailed evolution of mass movement phenomena such as magma intrusions on a minute timescale or in real-time, lacking the spatiotemporal resolution needed for reliable forecasting of hazards like volcanic eruptions, landslides, and sinkholes.

⚗Method used

Utilizing telecommunication fiber-optic cables for distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to convert them into dense arrays of strainmeters, processing low-frequency content of cable vibrations for real-time monitoring of subsurface quasi-static deformations, and using a system-level physical model to predict future mass movements based on strain rate data.

🎯Benefits of technology

Enables high-resolution, real-time monitoring of subsurface deformations, providing critical insights into magmatic evolution and enabling early warnings for volcanic eruptions and other hazardous events with improved sensitivity and temporal resolution.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A geodesy technique using telecommunication fiber-optic cables for real-time monitoring of subsurface quasi-static deformations. The fiber-optic cables comprise dense arrays of strainmeters, measuring strain rate data by processing the low-frequency content of cable vibration or deformation signals contained in optical backscattering. The technique is demonstrated to image the magma movement during dike intrusion events at minute time scale, exhibiting enhanced sensitivity and achieving high-temporal resolution and low noise levels with minimal data processing. The system can measure subsurface deformation in both onshore and offshore environments.
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