FiberSense

FiberSense operates as a technology firm specializing in fiber-optic sensing, which it offers as a service to transform infrastructure management and maintenance. The company was established in 2015 by Dr. Mark Englund, an Australian engineer and serial entrepreneur with a background in optical fiber sensors and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Sydney. His work in advanced SONAR studies for the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation and his experience co-founding and leading Redfern Optical Components until its acquisition by TE Subcom heavily influenced the creation of FiberSense.

The core of FiberSense's business is its proprietary Vibration Detection and Ranging (VIDAR) technology platform. This system turns new or existing fiber-optic cables into a widespread network of sensors capable of detecting and analyzing vibrations in real-time. By employing machine learning and artificial intelligence, the platform, called SuperSoniQ, can digitize, classify, and visualize movements and events over large areas, making it accessible as a cloud service. This allows the company to serve a diverse client base, including telecommunications providers, data center operators, government entities, and utility companies in the power and water sectors. Revenue is generated through a 'Sensing-as-a-Service' monthly subscription model, providing clients with 24/7 monitoring and actionable intelligence through a client portal.

The company's product suite includes DigitalAsset™, DigitalAsset Marine™, DigitalLeak™, and DigitalCity™. DigitalAsset™ focuses on preventing damage to critical underground infrastructure by detecting early signs of excavation, which has been shown to reduce damage incidents by over 50% year-on-year. DigitalAsset Marine™ extends this protection to subsea cables, monitoring for threats like anchor drag, fishing net entanglement, and cable exposure on the ocean floor. Other applications include detecting water or gas leaks for utility companies and providing real-time traffic and vehicle movement data for smart city initiatives. The technology serves as a comprehensive monitoring solution, capable of detecting seismic activity and enhancing public safety.

Keywords: fiber optic sensing, infrastructure monitoring, Sensing-as-a-Service, Vibration Detection and Ranging (VIDAR), critical infrastructure protection, subsea cable monitoring, real-time event detection, asset protection, smart city data, acoustic sensing, leak detection, damage prevention, network resilience, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), infrastructure security, situational awareness, utility monitoring, AI-powered sensing, real-time digital twin, public safety technology