FiberSCOPE
The FiberSCOPE project, winner of the France 2030 "Deep Seabed" Call for Projects, aims to develop an intelligent seabed monitoring system. This system will support studies in seismology, oceanography, and the positioning of acoustic sources (such as ships and AUV) using existing and already deployed fiber-optic cables.
- Project Duration: 36 mois
- Budget: 4,324,215€
- Technology: Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)
- Application: Oceanography, Cable monitoring, Security
Enhancing and maintenance of our submarine cables
Submarine cables are essential to global telecommunications, with 1.4 million kilometers currently in service worldwide, facilitating 99% of the EU’s data traffic with the rest of the world. France, the EU’s most connected country, has 23 submarine cables linking it to major maritime routes. These cables also support offshore wind farms, where incidents cause significant downtime and losses. FiberSCOPE, in partnership with Orange, offers innovative monitoring solutions to detect cable faults and enable predictive maintenance, extending cable lifespan and reducing costly failures.
An intelligent surveillance system
FiberSCOPE leverages fiber optics for real-time monitoring, enhancing the security of communication networks and critical infrastructure against threats like tampering and intrusions. It enables remote tracking of underwater activities, including AUVs, using existing submarine cables. The project leverages the expertise of ISEN Ouest and École Navale in underwater acoustics and fiber-based systems to advance research and develop innovative defense applications.
Geosciences and the study of the seabed
The FiberSCOPE project, thanks in particular to IFREMER, marks a major step forward in seabed monitoring in the geosciences. The data collected by these sensors provides a more detailed analysis of underwater hazards, such as tsunamis, landslides and earthquakes, thereby enhancing the ability to anticipate risks for coastal populations.
The consortium
FOSINA
IFREMER
Orange
École Navale
ISEN Ouest
SHOM
Short-range tests in a controlled environment
This test focuses on calibrating and improving the understanding of physical measurements through comprehensive testing in the controlled environment of the Ifremer test basin in Brest. The objectives include evaluating the performance of DxS technology on fiber optics by experimenting with different types of submarine cables, sensors, and acoustic sources. These tests involve varying parameters such as cable length, acquisition settings, and signal characteristics, with a focus on assessing bandwidth, sensitivity, and noise levels. The trials, supported by Ifremer’s team and infrastructure, include generating controlled swell conditions, using both fixed and mobile acoustic sources, and employing divers to position or adjust cables. This initiative aims to provide each partner with a reliable dataset to enhance the characterization and calibration of these innovative measurement systems.
Highlights from this milestone:
Short-range tests in natural Environment
The short-range trials in natural environments on “sites 2 and 3” primarily aim to detect and locate acoustic sources, study cable coupling, and exploit data for geoscientific and cable integrity applications. On site 2, the project focuses on analyzing the detection potential of acoustic sources using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for events such as earthquakes, vessels, and marine mammal vocalizations, as well as the acoustic-based geolocation of AUVs and data transmission through subsampling techniques and TDOA algorithms. This lot also includes the classification of acoustic and vibrational sources, evaluation of cable coupling with the seabed, and validation of an additional module for the DxS interrogator. On site 3, the focus is on assessing cable stress and the quality of cable installation by analyzing acoustic and seismic signals recorded via DAS, while characterizing natural ambient noise (micro-seisms, earthquakes). This lot also includes the design of a range-extension module for the DxS and the automation of signal calibration. The work involves on-site experiments in collaboration with various partners (Orange, IFREMER, ISEN, and École Navale) and includes measurement campaigns, numerical simulations, the use of OBS sensors, and the development of technical solutions to process and analyze the collected data.
Long-range tests and validation of data over different distances.
This test focuses on long-range testing in a natural environment to detect passive sources, geolocate active sources, and monitor cable integrity over varying distances. The goal is to qualify the DxS interrogator with real cable infrastructure, ensuring compatibility with complex, large-scale underwater observatories. Tests will involve coupling cables, assessing signal quality over distances up to 200 km using optical fiber coils, and evaluating data accuracy for event detection. Additionally, a remotely operated robot will emit acoustic signals to simulate underwater drones, enabling validation of geolocation algorithms by comparing DAS data with precise positioning from USBL systems.
Distributed Acoustic Sensors for AUV geolocalization in deep sea environments.
P.-J. Bouvet, T. Paviet Salomon, ISEN Ouest, L@bISEN
A. Constantinou, A. Hartog, T. Le Du, FOSINA
