City gas pipeline safety monitoring system based on distributed optical fiber sensing

To mitigate the risks associated with third-party construction damage and gas leakage in urban pipelines, and to overcome the limitations of traditional monitoring methods such as blind spots and delayed response, a safety monitoring system based on distributed optical fiber sensing is proposed in this paper. The system integrates distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technologies. Optical fiber cables are deployed along the pipeline to continuously monitor vibrations and temperature variations, enabling early identification and warning of construction activities and abnormal thermal events. The response characteristics of the optical cables under various laying conditions are investigated, and a reliable event database is established. The system is implemented along approximately 7.3 kilometers of gas pipeline in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, achieving 24-hour continuous monitoring and providing accurate warnings for multiple high-risk incidents. This application offers a scalable technical reference for enhancing the safety of urban underground gas pipeline networks.