Natural environments

For applications that require high-precision measurements on scales ranging from centimetres to tens of kilometres, there simply are no alternatives that are as cost-effective, technically feasible, and easy to apply as fibre optic sensing.

Distributed acoustic (DAS) and temperature (DTS) systems offer high spatial and temporal profiling over large surfaces, long lengths and at locations where conventional point sensing is neither applicable nor cost effective.

Fibre optic sensing is also well suited for harsh environments and can support scientific work in the most inhospitable locations such as volcanic hot springs or glaciers, with minimal impact on sensitive environments.

Advances in Silixa’s phase-coherent iDAS technology in recent years have created new opportunities for a range of new geophysical and geotechnical applications.

The ability to collect high resolution acoustic data utilising dark fibres over very long ranges is invaluable. It enables continuous, remote seismic monitoring of the Earth’s near surface, even in highly populated areas, delivering better understanding of the subsurface. As well as offering more precise insight into the effects of climate change there is also the potential to help predict environmental catastrophes such as earthquakes, tsunamis or landslides.

In urban areas, continuous seismic monitoring can also be used to monitor hydrological systems, traffic flow, sediment transport in ports, and canal erosion.

With the highest accuracy and resolution performance on the market, Silixa distributed temperature sensing systems have become the instrument of choice for a number of environmental applications. These include soil moisture monitoring, atmospheric measurements, thermocline profile reproduction in lakes, seepage rate estimation in dams, groundwater-surface water interactions in streams, shallow thermocline environments, fractured rock characterisation and flow dynamics within boreholes.

Understanding climate change and its dramatic consequences is the first step towards environmental sustainability.
SILIXA’s solutions for natural environments provide a toolkit to help scientists solve some of the most pressing environmental issues, including the detrimental effects of human activity on the environment.

By assessing environmental conditions and delivering accurate insight into the processes at work, SILIXA solutions provide vital intelligence to help society act to combat climate change.

In addition, by focusing expertise and innovative technologies on gathering Earth science knowledge, Silixa experts also actively support policy development and its implementation.

Earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other natural phenomena have caused millions of deaths and massive damage – both to the natural environment and to infrastructure. Effective monitoring and warning systems will remain key in delivering vital information on these potentially devastating events.

Silixa’s distributed sensing-based solutions increase safety by delivering actionable insight into ongoing environmental processes and trends. In numerous applications our cutting-edge fibre optic solutions serve as early warning systems; minimising environmental damage and potential loss of life. They also protect infrastructure from catastrophic damage and costly repairs.

From detecting contaminated groundwater entering streams and rivers to monitoring the melting of glacial ice in the Antarctic, call on Silixa’s instrumentation and environmental geosciences expertise to reduce direct anthropogenic impacts on our environment and the natural world.