Abstract
We demonstrate the ability of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) sensors to protect large areas from unauthorized activities in railway scenarios such as stations or tunnels. We report on the technological strategy adopted to protect a specific depot, representative of a common scenario for security applications in the railway environment. One of the concerns in the protection of a railway area centers on the presence of rail-tracks, which cannot be obstructed with physical barriers. We propose an integrated optical fiber system composed of FBG strain sensors that can detect human intrusion for protection of the perimeter combined with FBG accelerometer sensors for protection of rail-track access. Several trials were carried out in indoor and outdoor environments. The results demonstrate that FBG strain sensors bonded under a ribbed rubber mat enable the detection of intruder break-in via the pressure induced on the mat, whereas the FBG accelerometers installed under the rails enable the detection of intruders walking close to the railroad tracks via the acoustic surface waves generated by footsteps. Based on a single enabling technology, this integrated system represents a valuable intrusion detection system for railway security and could be integrated with other sensing functionalities in the railway field using fiber optic technology.
Highlights
To meet the ever-increasing demand for improved security, worldwide research on intrusion detection sensing systems has grown significantly
We report on the development of an intrusion detection system based on Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) that is well suited for protecting railway areas from unauthorized access
In a practical situation, the intruder step could occur at a distance from the FBG, and it is of crucial importance to investigate the FBG response when the load is not applied directly to it
Summary
To meet the ever-increasing demand for improved security, worldwide research on intrusion detection sensing systems has grown significantly. Intrusion-sensing systems are becoming much more attractive to the transport sector in which increased protection for passengers, assets, and infrastructure is greatly needed. The usage and implementation of intrusion detection systems in railway scenarios would allow monitoring and protection of railway tunnels, level crossings, train depots, and other similar areas featuring railway scenarios. In these cases, intrusion detection systems could be used to protect properties from theft or vandalization, leading to significant cost savings. An additional difficulty lies in the increased complexity required to multiplex a large number of sensors, which affects the efficiency of their use for large-area protection. Infrared (or photoelectric) sensors instead are sensitive to dust and weather conditions, and their operation is limited to straight-line detection
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