Internet Photonic Sensing: Using the Internet Optical Transport Signals for Vibration and Deformation Sensing

In this paper, we introduce Internet Photonic Sensing (IPS), a new framework for deformation and vibration measurement and monitoring based on signals that are available from standard fiber optic communication hardware deployed in the Internet. IPS is based on the hypothesis that atmospheric, seismic, anthropogenic and other natural activity cause deformations and vibrations in the earth that trigger detectable changes in standard optical signals that transmit data through Internet fiber. We assume a simple system component model for optical communication hardware and identify two candidate signals that may reflect deformation and vibrations and that can be measured through standard interfaces: Optical Signal Strength (OSS) and Bit Error Rate (BER). We investigate the efficacy of IPS through a series of controlled, laboratory experiments that consider how the candidate signals respond when fiber is subjected to a range of mechanical deformations. We believe that advancement of IPS offers the potential to transform the practice of scientific, commercial and public safety-related vibration monitoring applications by providing a highly-sensitive platform that is available at a global scale.