Coherent fiber-optic intrusion sensor for long perimeters monitoring

The buried fiber optic cable as a distributed intrusion sensor for detecting and locating intruders along the long perimeters is proposed. Phase changes resulting from either the pressure of the intruder on the ground immediately above the buried fiber or from seismic disturbances in the vicinity are sensed by a phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer. Light pulses from a Er:fiber cw laser with a narrow, <3kHz-range, spectral width and a frequency drift of < 1 MHz/min are injected into one end of the fiber, and the backscattered light from the fiber is monitored with a photodetector. Results of preliminary studies, measurement of phase changes produced by pressure and seismic disturbances in buried fiber optic cables and simulation of ${\varphi}-OTDR$ response over long fiber paths, to establish the feasibility of the concept are described. The field experiments indicate adequate phase changes, more than 1t-rad, are produced by intruders on foot and vehicle for burial depths in the 0.2 m to 1 m range in sand, clay and fine gravel soils. The simulations predict a range of 10 km with 35 m range resolution and 30 km with 90 m range resolution. This technology could in a cost-effective manner provide enhanced perimeter security.