Salem District Distributed Acoustic Sensing Pilot on I-81: Performance Evaluation Research Proposal

About the project

VDOT has an extensive network of fiber optic cables that provide the opportunity for Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to monitor traffic. DAS operates on existing dark (i.e., unused) fibers, using vibrations to characterize events such as passing cars or incidents like vehicles stopping or crossing over rumble strips. By following traces along a cable, these systems can often identify vehicle trajectories and impute speeds and vehicle class. The accuracy and sensitivity of DAS systems is greatly impacted by fiber installation parameters, including the cable type, installation method, depth, and distance from the roadway. This has the potential to greatly add to VDOT’s sensing space along rural roads without additional capital investment, supplementing existing camera systems. Salem District is piloting a DAS unit at three different sites to determine its effectiveness for TOC alerts of events like disabled vehicles. This project will evaluate the system’s effectiveness for alerts and traffic parameter measurements, enumerate considerations for statewide deployment, and study how VDOT’s fiber installation policies impact DAS sensing capabilities.

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