The 'fiber optic network' helps thousands of people avoid landslides

The fiber-optic 'nerve' network can detect small movements of soil and rock, promising the possibility of early warning of landslides and saving thousands of lives every year from this disaster.

It is estimated that about 8,000 people die each year from landslides. While many others have very few ways to get rid of these horrifying disasters.

Highway California landslide in February 2017.(Photo: sfgate.com).

But recently a way of predicting landslides is being developed by scientists at the Second University of Naples, Italy. This system uses a network of fiber optic sensors that operate like a 'nervous system' on steep slopes.

This type of technology can detect small movements in the soil and can be used in large areas to detect potential landslides before these disasters threaten people's lives and livelihoods. people.

Previously fiber optic sensors were often used to monitor the conditions of infrastructure such as tunnel walls, dams, pipes and railroads in remote rural areas - places where people were difficult to obtain. can be observed.

Optical sensor fibers can monitor the movement of soil and rock.(Source: Dailymai).

When used in such cases, the sensors will respond to signals to electronic devices for processing. The sensor fibers can measure overload, temperature or pressure according to quality standards and will show through the intensity, wavelength or time of light movement in the fiber.

Inheriting that way, Italian researchers attached optical sensor strands to shallow pipes into the slope to detect and track both large landslides or rib movements. slope at slow speed.

The second University of Naples team said landslides are essentially a major collapse of soil or rock from a mountain or a cliff and always occur due to unbearable tension. previous overload.

This overload depends on the amount of stone or soil attached. In order to calculate this phenomenon, the electric sensors can do it, but this type of sensor is more susceptible to damage than optical fiber sensors. Furthermore fiber optic sensors are more economical and sensitive.

'Distributed fiber optic sensors can act as a' nervous system 'of slopes by measuring the tension of the soil they are installed in,' said Professor Luigi Zeni of the research team. .

Rescue workers find people missing after a landslide in California.(Source: Dailymail).

Optical sensor fibers are also placed in plastic tubes that allow it to move flexibly according to the forces of stressful town pulses. Using this technology can monitor the movement and flexing of remote fiber to determine the upcoming landslide.

"These sensors can be used in very large areas - many square kilometers - and are evaluated over a continuous period of time to indicate any potential landslides," Professor Zeni said.

Scientists believe that based on follow-up tests, this type of technology will be developed into a new tool for monitoring landslide-prone areas and developing into early-warning systems. Small movements of soil and rock.

In fact, a large landslide can completely erase houses in a matter of seconds, as well as wipe out families and residential communities. The team hopes their invention will help protect human life as well as track disasters to enhance coastal rescue.