Controlled Field Experiment Research Articles

Drone-based infrared thermography to measure the intranasal temperature of baleen whales

ABSTRACT Traditional methods for quantifying the internal temperature of marine mammals require handling live animals, which is not practical for free-swimming baleen whales. Developing a less invasive, more repeatable method would significantly improve our understanding of whale health and thermal physiology. Infrared thermography (IRT) devices compatible with remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) have facilitated qualitative assessments of heat signatures from marine mammals at sea, but absolute temperatures derived using this approach are rare. The goal of this study was to develop a precise empirical method for estimating intranasal temperatures of baleen whales using RPAS-based IRT. We conducted controlled field experiments and flights over North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis, NARWs) to develop and test the methodology. Two approaches were evaluated to estimate intranasal temperatures from IRT sensor intensities: a three-point empirical line regression calibrated per flight using known-temperature objects and a generalized linear model incorporating environmental variables. Controlled field experiments demonstrated that the former approach had a median bias of −0.6°C (interquartile range: 1.5ºC), while the latter approach had unexplained negative proportional bias with increasing true temperature of the target object. After accounting for bias, the former approach yielded an average intranasal temperature of 26.9 ± 1.7°C for 21 unique NARWs. The anatomy of the mysticete upper respiratory tract and physiological heat conservation strategies may explain why estimates were low compared to internal temperatures measured from baleen whales using other techniques (30–39ºC). Variability within whales was less than ± 2°C, supporting the use of these methods to monitor the health of individuals over time. However, variability among whales was greater (up to 7ºC). Improvements in our understanding of whale physiology and respiratory mechanics and advancements in RPAS-based IRT calibrations could make this technology more reliable for assessing individual body temperatures and monitoring populations in the future.

Exploring the potential of triticale lines for bioethanol production

Aim: Triticale is a well adaptable crop, tolerant of disease and abiotic stresses, and able to grow with good yields even in poor soil, thus representing a good choice to develop a new industrial agri-chain in Italy in a sustainability contest, to cope with its soil problems due to incoming desertification. Methods: Two triticale elite lines were grown in marginal lands in controlled field experiments. The lines were harvested at two different development stages, namely green mass and seeds, and suitable standard protocols were applied to test their potential to produce bioethanol in line with the emerging bioenergy processes. Results: The protocols applied were able to obtain bioethanol with a good yield from both feedstocks. In particular, very efficient fermentation kinetics was observed using seed feedstock, with a sharp curve between 15 h and 24 h, reaching 84% of the total alcohol obtained (final time 72 h). Conclusions: Therefore, the results of this research point to new sustainable potential for industrial applications of triticale crops in Italy. Furthermore, the high activity of the endogenous amylolytic enzymes, mainly α-amylase, and the high starch content suggest the potential use of triticale in other industrial applications, like the brewing industry.

Crop Water Stress Index and Yield Relationships for Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Crops Grown Under Different Drip and Flood Irrigated Treatments

ABSTRACTThe Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) is a widely used method for quantifying crop water status and predicting yield. However, its evaluation across different irrigation methods and its stage‐specific response to crop yield is rarely evaluated. In this study, controlled field experiments were conducted on winter wheat using drip irrigation (DI) and flood irrigation (FI) during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons in western Uttar Pradesh, India. The irrigation treatments included 50% MAD (maximum allowable depletion) (DI), 55% MAD (DI), 60% MAD (DI), 50% MAD (FI), local farmer's field replication (FI), rain‐fed, and well‐watered treatment (DI). The derived mean CWSI values for the irrigation treatments ranged from 0.03 to 0.66 in season 1 and 0.06 to 0.57 in season 2 across treatments. The seasonal mean CWSI for 50% MAD (DI) was 0.12 (season 1) and 0.11 (season 2), while 50% MAD (FI) yielded higher mean CWSI values of 0.29 (season 1) and 0.22 (season 2). The 50% MAD (DI) treatment produced the highest grain yield and water use efficiency in both seasons. A comprehensive analysis of stage‐specific CWSI values and grain yields revealed that grain yield was more sensitive to post‐heading CWSI as compared to pre‐heading CWSI values. Among the growth stages, CWSI values during the flowering stage were the most critical for predicting wheat yield. The study recommends that the CWSI values in the flowering and post‐heading stages are more relevant in predicting wheat yield accurately as compared to the pre‐heading and seasonal mean CWSI.

Coordination in Dynamic Teams: Investigating a Learning–Productivity Trade-Off

The rapid growth in the use of teams and multiple team membership has led more organizations to structure work around dynamic teams, characterized by short lifespans and fluid membership boundaries. This approach to organizing work makes it difficult for teams to work efficiently or to support the learning and growth of members. Given the importance of productivity and learning, we ask how these processes can be supported in dynamic teams. We do so in a randomized controlled field experiment conducted with 91 teams in a teaching hospital, a context in which physician trainees must learn while providing patient care in dynamic teams of care providers. We randomly assigned physician teams, or “core” teams, to launch their work with an intervention focused either on internal coordination among the core team members or on external coordination with a changing cast of external contributors such as nurses and specialists. We measured resulting levels of internal and external coordination over teams’ week-long lifespans and observed that external coordination was associated with improved team efficiency, whereas internal coordination was associated with improved individual learning. Post hoc exploratory analysis suggested that individual learning was highest when teams achieved high levels of both internal and external coordination, and it was positively correlated with improvement in the team’s patients’ average length of hospital stay. We discuss the implications of the demonstrated causal effects of team launches, along with our exploratory findings, for the management of dynamic teams and the opportunities to mitigate potential trade-offs between learning and productivity. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.16729 .

Efficacy and Economic Viability of Organic Control Methods for Spotted-wing Drosophila in Day-neutral Strawberry Production in the Upper Midwest

Day-neutral strawberry (DNS) production is increasing in the Upper Midwest because of its extended harvest season and greater yield over June-bearing cultivars. However, the longer season increases fruit exposure to the invasive spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii; SWD), which threatens the production of small fruits and berries, particularly in organic systems. Numerous pest management tactics have been developed for SWD in recent years; however, relatively few studies have investigated the impact of SWD on DNS. Organic DNS growers need information regarding which management strategy is most effective when compared directly. To address this knowledge gap, we established a 2-year controlled field experiment with organic DNS. We applied treatments that correspond with techniques that local growers reported using or that have shown promise for organic raspberries, including increased harvest frequency, botanical-based repellents, and weekly rotations of organic insecticides, which we compared with an untreated control. We hypothesized that noninsecticidal SWD management strategies would result in fewer SWD eggs per berry and a lower proportion of infested berries compared with those associated with an untreated control. We also hypothesized that noninsecticidal management strategies would be as effective and cost less than organic insecticide applications. We collected data regarding labor hours, direct costs, strawberry yield, and SWD infestation in experimental plots on certified organic land in Minnesota in 2022 and 2023. An average of 33% of strawberries contained SWD eggs. The experimental treatments showed inconsistent effectiveness for reducing infestation compared with that of the untreated control plots and had no effect on marketable plant yield over the 2-year period. Thus, the added labor expense of these pest control treatments yielded net returns that were 17% to 21% below the control. Labor-saving alternatives like exclusion netting or postharvest cold treatments, which reduce fruit pest exposure and egg viability without harming nontarget insects, may offer more cost-effective solutions for managing SWD in organic DNS.

Are mobile neurofeedback games a feasible way to improve self-regulation of attention for young marginalized children?

Interactive technology-mediated behavioral interventions are increasingly being studied with children at risk for attentional challenges. Few technology-mediated interventions have been designed for, or studied in the field with, marginalized children, who are at an elevated risk for attentional challenges. We adapted three existing neurofeedback games to create a proof-of-concept intervention to address this research gap. To investigate preliminary feasibility and efficacy we conducted a controlled field experiment with 28 children (aged 5 to 8, 22 male) from a disadvantaged community. Findings showed that with support all children were able to complete the intervention, and most were able to transfer newly attained attention regulation skills into everyday situations and maintain those skills over time. Our work serves as a proof-of-concept for this type of technology-mediated mental health intervention research, provides an exemplar of digital health research with hard-to-reach populations, and provides preliminary evidence that this research space warrants future attention.

Better energy cost information changes household property investment decisions: Evidence from a nationwide experiment

With buildings accounting for roughly 40 % of energy consumption in the US and Europe, energy efficiency upgrades will be central in meeting climate targets. Using a nationwide controlled field experiment, we find that the inclusion of property-specific energy cost labels within property advertisements increases energy efficiency premiums. We also show that more energy efficient properties sell faster and, for the first time, that energy cost labels shortened time-to-sell. While a major departure from existing property labelling policy, these results suggest that framing property energy efficiency according to their cost implications, rather than in energy units, increases the demand for energy efficiency.

Impacts of climate change on spatial wheat yield and nutritional values using hybrid machine learning

Abstract Wheat’s nutritional value is critical for human nutrition and food security. However, more attention is needed, particularly regarding the content and concentration of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), especially in the context of climate change (CC) impacts. To address this, various controlled field experiments were conducted, involving the cultivation of three wheat cultivars over three growing seasons at multiple locations with different soil and climate conditions under varying Fe and Zn treatments. The yield and yield attributes, including nutritional values such as nitrogen (N), Fe and Zn, from these experiments were integrated with national yield statistics from other locations to train and test different machine learning (ML) algorithms. Automated ML leveraging a large number of models, outperformed traditional ML models, enabling the training and testing of numerous models, and achieving robust predictions of grain yield (GY) (R 2 > 0.78), N (R 2 > 0.75), Fe (R 2 > 0.71) and Zn (R 2 > 0.71) through a stacked ensemble of all models. The ensemble model predicted GY, N, Fe, and Zn at spatial explicit in the mid-century (2020–2050) using three Global Circulation Models (GCMs): GFDL-ESM4, HadGEM3-GC31-MM, and MRI-ESM2-0 under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) specifically SSP2-45 and SSP5-85, from the downscaled NEX-GDDP-CMIP6. Averaged across different GCMs and SSPs, CC is projected to increase wheat yield by 4.5%, and protein concentration by 0.8% with high variability. However, it is expected to decrease Fe concentration by 5.5%, and Zn concentration by 4.5% in the mid-century (2020–2050) relative to the historical period (1980–2010). Positive impacts of CC on wheat yield encountered by negative impacts on nutritional concentrations, further exacerbating challenges related to food security and nutrition.

Job Search Interventions for Long-Term Unemployed Job Seekers: Comparing Approaches to Effective Support

Drawing from the psychology of working and social resilience frameworks, this study introduces a novel intervention program to address the complex needs of long-term unemployed individuals. We examine the effectiveness of this novel intervention with a randomized, controlled field experiment where we test two versions of this program: one-on-one coaching and group coaching. Our findings show that long-term unemployed job seekers who received either form of coaching had higher reemployment rates and lower levels of self-blame than a control group that did not receive any support. Our in-depth interviews with group and one-on-one support receivers reveal that each type of support helped the long-term unemployed in distinct ways. Our findings suggest that a combination of group and one-on-one coaching to assist long-term unemployed individuals would help diminish the self-blame associated with unemployment and foster reemployment.

Amplification of avian influenza virus circulation along poultry marketing chains in Bangladesh: A controlled field experiment

The prevalence of avian influenza viruses is commonly found to increase dramatically as birds are transported from farms to live bird markets. Viral transmission dynamics along marketing chains are, however, poorly understood. To address this gap, we implemented a controlled field experiment altering chicken supply to a live bird market in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Broilers and backyard chickens traded along altered (intervention) and conventional (control) marketing chains were tested for avian influenza viruses at different time points. Upon arrival at the live bird market, the odds of detecting avian influenza viruses did not differ between control and intervention groups. However, 12 h later, intervention group odds were lower, particularly for broilers, indicating that viral shedding in live bird markets resulted partly from infections occurring during transport and trade. Curtailing avian influenza virus prevalence in live bird markets requires mitigating risk in marketing chain nodes preceding chickens’ delivery at live bird markets.

Effects of Sound Interventions on the Mental Stress Response in Adults: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Sound therapy methods have seen a surge in popularity, with a predominant focus on music among all types of sound stimulation. There is substantial evidence documenting the integrative impact of music therapy on psycho-emotional and physiological outcomes, rendering it beneficial for addressing stress-related conditions such as pain syndromes, depression, and anxiety. Despite these advancements, the therapeutic aspects of sound, as well as the mechanisms underlying its efficacy, remain incompletely understood. Existing research on music as a holistic cultural phenomenon often overlooks crucial aspects of sound therapy mechanisms, particularly those related to speech acoustics or the so-called "music of speech." This study aims to provide an overview of empirical research on sound interventions to elucidate the mechanism underlying their positive effects. Specifically, we will focus on identifying therapeutic factors and mechanisms of change associated with sound interventions. Our analysis will compare the most prevalent types of sound interventions reported in clinical studies and experiments. Moreover, we will explore the therapeutic effects of sound beyond music, encompassing natural human speech and intermediate forms such as traditional poetry performances. This review adheres to the methodological guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute and follows the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist for reporting review studies, which is adapted from the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Our search strategy encompasses PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO or EBSCOhost, covering literature from 1990 to the present. Among the different study types, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, laboratory experiments, and field experiments were included. Data collection began in October 2022. We found a total of 2027 items. Our initial search uncovered an asymmetry in the distribution of studies, with a larger number focused on music therapy compared with those exploring prosody in spoken interventions such as guided meditation or hypnosis. We extracted and selected papers using Rayyan software (Rayyan) and identified 41 eligible papers after title and abstract screening. The completion of the scoping review is anticipated by October 2024, with key steps comprising the analysis of findings by May 2024, drafting and revising the study by July 2024, and submitting the paper for publication in October 2024. In the next step, we will conduct a quality evaluation of the papers and then chart and group the therapeutic factors extracted from them. This process aims to unveil conceptual gaps in existing studies. Gray literature sources, such as Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, nonindexed conferences, and reference list searches of retrieved studies, will be added to our search strategy to increase the number of relevant papers that we cover. DERR1-10.2196/54030.

Faster-growing parasites threaten host populations via patch-level population dynamics and higher virulence; a case study in Varroa mites (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) and honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Honey bee parasites remain a critical challenge to management and conservation. Because managed honey bees are maintained in colonies kept in apiaries across landscapes, the study of honey bee parasites allows the investigation of spatial principles in parasite ecology and evolution. We used a controlled field experiment to study the relationship between population growth rate and virulence (colony survival) of the parasite Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman). We used a nested design of 10 patches (apiaries) of 14 colonies to examine the spatial scale at which Varroa population growth matters for colony survival. We tracked Varroa population size and colony survival across a full year and found that Varroa populations that grow faster in their host colonies during the spring and summer led to larger Varroa populations across the whole apiary (patch) and higher rates of neighboring colony loss. Crucially, this increased colony loss risk manifested at the patch scale, with mortality risk being related to spatial adjacency to colonies with fast-growing Varroa strains rather than with Varroa growth rate in the colony itself. Thus, within-colony population growth predicts whole-apiary virulence, demonstrating the need to consider multiple scales when investigating parasite growth-virulence relationships.

Action-oriented entrepreneurial training and career resilience: a serial mediation model

PurposeThe combination of action and process has remained the attention of the psychology of entrepreneurship research. Moreover, special attention has also been paid to the whens and hows of entrepreneurial psychological training. Keeping this in view the current study has tested the impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) training on small business entrepreneurial career resilience. Using action regulation theory (ART), a serial mediation model of IEO behaviour and entrepreneurial career adaptability is hypothesised.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a longitudinal randomised controlled field experiment in which the data were collected at four points. A total of 546 small business owners from Lahore, Pakistan, participated in this research (training group = 265, control group = 281). The data were analysed using ANCOVAs and PROCESS Model 6.FindingsThe research has found that IEO training impacts the entrepreneurial career resilience of small business owners through the development of IEO behaviour and career adaptability.Originality/valueThis experimental inquiry is a novel attempt to extend the career-related outcomes of IEO training (career resilience) based on ART through the mediating role of IEO behaviour and career adaptability. In addition, it has tested the IEO training in the developing country of Pakistan, which is a relevant context for enhancing its socio-economic growth.

High Trunk Truncation as a Potential Sustainable Management Option for Asian Longhorned Beetle on Salix babylonica.

The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) causes substantial economic and ecological losses, thus, an environmentally friendly management strategy is needed. Here, we propose high trunk truncation (HTT), the removal of the above 200 cm portion of trees, as a sustainable management strategy to control ALB. To examine the hypothesis, an initial step involved the assessment of various biological characteristics of ALB. Subsequently, a controlled field experiment was carried out utilizing HTT. Finally, HTT was applied in two additional ALB infestation regions. The results of the study of the biological characteristics of ALB showed that 76.31-78.88% of frass holes and 85.08-87.93% of emergence holes were located on branches above 200 cm. Adults preferred to feed on branches 2-3 cm in diameter, ALB eggs were predominantly laid on 5 cm branches, and both were primarily located above 200 cm. These results revealed a correlation between the number of ALBs and the tree crown height. The controlled field experiment showed that the number of ALBs was significantly decreased when the HTT strategy was implemented: approximately 90% of frass holes and 95% of adults were eradicated by HTT compared with the control. Different field surveys involving HTT have shown similar results. These findings provide valuable insights into a sustainable and efficient management strategy for reducing the number of ALBs.

Disturbance intensity shapes the soil micro-food web compositions and energy fluxes during seven-year land use changes

Soil micro-food webs play an important role in ecosystem functions through energy flow; they are strongly influenced by land use types. Previous studies have typically utilized the space-for-time substitution or single-time sampling method to reflect the land-use change effects by comparing differences among existing land-use types. These methods would increase random error. Research on how synchronized land-use change (starting at the same time and place) influences soil ecological processes and functions is urgently needed. Based on a controlled field experiment and seven years of observations, this study explored the effects of land-use change from natural shrubland to cropland (maize), forage land (tall-grass forage), and economic forest land (walnut plantation) on the community structure and energy dynamics of the soil micro-food webs. Cropland simplified the complexity of the soil food webs compared to the other three land-uses. Forage grassland maintained the highest biomasses of soil total microbes, fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In addition, economic forest land improved the flow uniformity of the micro-food web by increasing energy transfer from resources to bacterivores, fungivores, and herbivores while decreasing herbivore energy flow to omnivores-predators. Omnivore abundance and nematode diversity were important predictors of total energy flux and flow uniformity of the soil micro-food webs, respectively. In addition, omnivores maintained the complexity of soil micro-food webs by promoting interactions among trophic groups through top-down control. Soil organisms are sensitive to the response of agricultural management and planting time, and it may take several years or more to reach a dynamic equilibrium. Different types and levels of ecosystem disturbance (e.g., tillage and no-tillage, fertilizer rates, aboveground biomass removal intensity) may be the major drivers of soil community during land use change. Our findings highlight the importance of conservation agriculture in maintaining soil food web structure and energy flow for future sustainable land uses, and that promoting omnivore abundance is essential for food web complexity and stability.

Individual entrepreneurial orientation training: an experimental insight into small business owner career success

PurposeBased on action regulation theory (ART), this study aims to test the impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) training on small business owner career success (financial attainment, satisfaction and achievement). Moreover, this relationship was unpacked through a dual mediation model of IEO behaviour and career resilience.Design/methodology/approachA four-wave, longitudinal randomized controlled field experiment was conducted in which 527 small business owners participated from Lahore, Pakistan (training group = 256, control group = 271). The data analysis was done via ANCOVAs (group comparison) and PROCESS Model 6 (for serial mediation).FindingsThe results demonstrated that after getting IEO training, the small business owners had increased IEO behaviour, career resilience and career success as compared to their counterparts in the control group. In addition, the effect of IEO training on career success was attributed to the underlying role of IEO behaviour and career resilience development.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies that have demonstrated the impact of IEO training on the career-related outcomes based on the action regulation perspective.

Post‐release mortality of line‐caught snapper Chrysophrys auratus depends on hook site and capture depth

AbstractCatch‐and‐release angling is common in recreational fisheries, but post‐release mortality (PRM) may be high. We conducted a controlled field experiment to estimate mortality of released snapper Chrysophrys auratus. Recreational fishers caught 960 snapper from three depth strata (<15, 15–25, 26–40 m) that were either lip‐hooked, foul‐hooked or gut‐hooked. A bottom longline vessel caught 162 lip‐hooked fish in shallow water to serve as controls. Fish were held in 15‐m deep holding nets. All control fish and 80% of treatment fish survived, with anatomical hook site and capture depth significantly predicting mortality. Probability of mortality was lowest for lip‐hooked fish in shallow water (5 m = 0.00, 95% CI [0.00, 0.03]), but increased rapidly to 20 m (0.24, 95% CI [0.2, 0.3]). Mortality of foul‐hooked fish increased steadily with depth from 0.05 (95% CI [0.00, 0.78]) at 5 m to 0.65 (95% CI [0.13, 0.96]) at 40 m. Gut‐hooking resulted in high mortality at all depths but a low sample size resulted in high uncertainty of estimates. Our results indicate that snapper PRM can be reduced by fishing in shallow water and by mitigating gut‐hooking, possibly by using large circle hooks.

Large-Scale Controlled Experiment Demonstrates Effectiveness of Methane Leak Detection and Repair Programs at Oil and Gas Facilities.

Most jurisdictions around the globe use leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs to find and fix methane leaks from oil and gas operations. In this work, we empirically evaluate the efficacy of LDAR programs using a large-scale, bottom-up, randomized controlled field experiment across ∼200 oil and gas sites in Red Deer, Canada. We find that tanks are the single largest source of emissions, contributing to nearly 60% of the total emissions. The average number of leaks at treatment sites that underwent repair reduced by ∼50% compared to the control sites. Although control sites did not see a reduction in the number of leaks, emissions reduced by approximately 36%, suggesting potential impact of routine maintenance activities to find and fix large leaks. By tracking tags on leaking equipment over time, we find a high degree of persistence; leaks that are repaired remain fixed in follow-up surveys, while non-repaired leaks remain emitting at a similar rate, suggesting that any increase in observed leak emissions following LDAR surveys are likely from new leaks. Our results show that a focus on equipment and sites that are prone to high emissions, such as tanks and oil sites, is key to cost-effective mitigation.

Protocol for a randomised controlled field experiment on the effect of different gamification designs of physical activity

Gamification is finding growing application in the field of physical activity, promising engaging and motivating experiences that foster behavioural change. However, existing empirical work has insufficiently scrutinised whether the reported positive outcomes emerge because of gamification and what type of gamification design leads to optimal results. This protocol for a parallel four-arm randomised controlled field experiment was purposely designed to investigate the effect of different gamification designs on motivation, perceived usefulness, and the intended behavioural change in physical activity (increase in step counts). Participants were randomly assigned to either: 1) a competitive gamified group; 2) a cooperative gamified group; 3) a hybrid (competitive-cooperative) gamified group; or 4) a control group. The design of the gamified interventions was guided by gamification design frameworks identified in literature. The data gathered includes: 1) a longitudinal panel dataset of step counts to investigate the causal effect of gamification on physical activity behaviour; and 2) self-reported data to examine the effect of gamification on the users’ intrinsic motivation and perceived usefulness of the experience. This protocol outlines the procedure and processes followed during this experiment to facilitate replicability for future studies.

Eavesdropping on wastewater pollution: Detecting discharge events from river outfalls via fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing

Wastewater discharge from outfall pipes can significantly impact river water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Effective outfall monitoring is critical for controlling pollution and protecting public health. This study demonstrates a novel distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) approach for detecting wastewater discharge events from outfall pipes located along rivers. Controlled field experiments were conducted in an industrial park river to systematically evaluate DAS performance. DAS detects vibrational signals imparted to suspended fiber-optic cables by turbulent wastewater flows, predominantly within 10–30 Hz, enabling continuous monitoring along entire river lengths. Vibrational power analysis locates outfalls with meter-level accuracy, while time–frequency techniques discern discharge timing and characteristics. Cable type and outfall–fiber separation influence on detection capability was assessed. Thermoplastic-jacketed tight buffer cables optimized detection through enhanced vibrational coupling. Vibrational energy decreased exponentially with separation, highlighting benefits of proximal deployment for sensitivity. However, detection range scales with discharge flow rate. Frequency centroid proved a robust feature with potential for automated discharge identification. Overall, DAS enables high spatiotemporal resolution monitoring to pinpoint concealed outfalls minimally invasively. This positions DAS as a promising tool supporting improved water governance through early pollution warnings and rapid source localization via outfall vibrational signatures emanating across river networks.