(Source: www.optics.org, August 8, 2018)
CARDIFF, United Kingdom — Fiber Optic Acoustic Detection (FOAD) is an emerging technology with the potential to enhance safety in the railroad industry by continuously monitoring the condition of rail, track and rolling stock. A FOAD system pulses laser light down a fiber optic cable buried near a railroad track and, using Rayleigh backscatter, can detect acoustic and seismic signals produced by such events as train movement, rail breaks, wheel impacts, and dragging equipment.
Full story: www.optics.org