Episode 271: The Low-Cost Seismic Revolution Already Buried in Your City
Andrew
Last updated
"By mapping fiber optic cables accurately, we can transform them into dense seismic arrays. This opens the door to city-scale imaging and monitoring."
Haipeng Li explains how distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) can turn existing urban fiber optic cables into powerful seismic arrays for near-surface imaging and monitoring. By using everyday traffic and ambient noise, his team can track groundwater changes, detect geohazards, and study fault structures without costly field deployments. This approach offers a new way for geophysicists, engineers, and city planners to work together for safer, more resilient urban environments.