The SISMOVEGA project employs Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) as its core technology for detecting and analyzing seismic activity—a cutting-edge approach that is transforming how scientists observe and understand the Earth’s dynamic processes.
DAS systems use standard fiber-optic cables, which are either newly installed or repurposed from existing telecommunication infrastructure, and convert them into dense arrays of seismic sensors. A DAS interrogator unit sends short pulses of laser light through the fiber; as the light travels, a small fraction is backscattered by microscopic imperfections in the glass.
When the ground moves, the fiber stretches or compresses, changing the phase of the backscattered light. By continuously measuring these tiny phase changes at intervals of just a few meters, the system can detect vibrations along the entire length of the cable, effectively creating thousands of sensors from a single strand of fiber.
Within SISMOVEGA, Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology will be installed at the recently established Center for the Analysis and Monitoring of seismic processes with Optical fiber (CAMPO). From this center, fiber optic cables will be deployed throughout the Vega Baja del Segura region to record seismic waves, ground deformation, and ambient noise with exceptional spatial and temporal resolution. The resulting data will open new avenues for investigating the evolution of cortical stress and the fault interactions associated with both natural and human-induced seismic activity.
The DAS network will complement existing seismic instruments, creating a hybrid system that combines the broad spatial coverage of fiber-optic sensing with the precision and broadband performance of conventional seismometers. This integrated configuration enables advanced applications such as high-resolution passive subsurface imaging, monitoring of fluid-induced microseismicity, and tracking of environmental vibrations generated by sources such as traffic or ocean waves.
Beyond its scientific value, the deployment of the DAS system within SISMOVEGA serves as a technological testbed for developing and validating next-generation monitoring and forecasting tools. By leveraging local fiber infrastructure and open collaboration with the research community, the project aims to position the Vega Baja del Segura as a benchmark site for distributed sensing and seismic risk assessment, while contributing to broader goals of early detection, community awareness, and regional resilience.