Feasibility study on Sensing Cable Technologies

Polar Connect will be an unprecedented long-haul fiber optic link going through the Arctic from Europe to Asia. Today, it is possible to use fiber optic cables for sensing in addition to telecommunication. Since the Arctic Ocean is relatively unexplored due to its remoteness and extreme climate, and since studying the Arctic Ocean is important within climate research, applying fiber optic sensing on Polar Connect is a unique and unprecedented opportunity. Having reliable and continuous measurements in the Arctic is highly wished by scientists on Arctic research.

In this deliverable, a feasibility study on sensing applications of subsea fiber optic cables is provided. The study is based on input from a submarine cable vendor, general research literature, other similar sensing projects and consultations with relevant researchers and companies. 

In the deliverable the following is investigated:

• Which fiber sensing technologies are relevant to Polar Connect and for Artic cable systems in general?
• What applications do current fiber sensing technologies offer?
• What future applications are requested by Arctic scientists?
• The feasibility of meeting the requests of the scientists by the capabilities of fiber optic sensors.