News

“We’re excited to welcome globally recognized scientists, leading technology developers in fiber optic sensing, and our valued FOSA members to the historic city of Graz, Austria,” said FOSA member and meeting host Dr. Werner Lienhart.  The event, themed “Fiber Optic Sensing Development, Commerce and the Greater Good” brings technology and industry leaders together for a visionary exchange including technology presentations, networking plus fiber optic sensing-focused laboratory and field tours in and around Graz, Austria, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) announced the winners of its annual Champion of Innovation Award. FOSA selected Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) based on their extraordinary leadership in the 118th Congress toward enhancing the safety and security of the U.S. rail system. Distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS), FOSA’s technology focus, is ideally suited to applications in rail where fiber optic cables running parallel to tracks improve safety through detection of pedestrians, monitoring of freight and passenger traffic, and immediate detection and locational pinpointing of both track and rolling stock defects.

Advancing the development of effective leak detection systems is critical to improving pipeline safety and preventing methane releases and other hazardous materials releases. Toward this objective, FOSA strongly supports a PHMSA pipeline safety and test facility

FOSA selected Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) based on his leadership in the 117th Congress toward securing our borders and enhancing the safety and security of U.S. critical infrastructure with advanced technology.

FOSA Public Policy Committee engaged with House and Senate Committee staff and advocated for congressional oversight

Companies that make fiber sensing equipment are eager to lengthen their opportunity list as smart city and government-funded broadband network programs gain momentum

FOSA wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to encourage his Department to move forward with a pipeline safety rulemaking, to promote the adoption of technology enhancements.

Fiber Optic Sensing based pipeline leak detection and location software is possibly the most important technological development in pipeline leak detection in recent years

Fiber Optic Sensing based pipeline leak detection and location software is possibly the most important technological development in pipeline leak detection in recent years. Inclusion of DFOS in the latest revisions of the API RPs is a testimony to the technology’s contribution to leak detection

FOSA praised new regulations going into effect from the Federal Highway Administration implementing “Dig Once” policies. Opportunities to install fiber optic cable will be more broadly publicized when highway rights-of-way are opened through construction.

Distributed acoustic sensing is one way that fiber optic sensing systems are now being used to monitor infrastructure and detect unexpected activity in challenging environments….In addition to acoustic sensing, fiber optic sensors can also monitor temperature, strain, pressure, vibration

FOSA announces the election of five board members, as well as its officer slate for 2021. FOSA is committed to protecting infrastructure with advanced, innovative technologies, and is a go-to resource for learning about fiber optic sensing to improve safety and productivity