Optical fiber and seismic monitoring: INGV-FiberCop agreement

From the island of Vulcano to the Campi Flegrei

The first experiments conducted on the island of Vulcano have already provided significant data, detecting over 1,400 seismic events in just one month. In this context, the analysis of over 20 Terabytes of data, supported by high-performance computing systems and artificial intelligence, it allowed us to precisely map the state of the local hydrothermal system. Currently, attention has shifted to the Campi Flegrei area, where DAS signal acquisition is active along a cable of approximately 20 km that connects Bagnoli to Bacoli. The density of the measurement points, positioned every 5 meters, facilitates the identification of minor eventscrucial for the study of seismic swarms.

Synergy between research and infrastructure

The agreement provides that FiberCop will make available sections of “dark fibre” to strengthen permanent monitoring networks. Fabio Florindo, President of INGV, underlined the strategic importance of collaboration: “The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between our Institute and FiberCop represents an important opportunity to strengthen and make the observation techniques of geophysical phenomena increasingly effective – Ensuring a widespread, integrated and efficient monitoring system, particularly in areas with greater seismic and volcanic risk, is a priority for us”.

Digital infrastructure thus takes on a public utility function that transcends simple connectivity. Massimo Sarmi, President and CEO of FiberCop, declared: “The FiberCop network is a capillary system that enables digital connectivity […] and capable of taking on an even broader role by becoming an advanced platform for seismic and geophysical monitoring. The agreement with INGV represents a strategic step in the valorization of our infrastructure as a resource for the protection of the territoryThis methodology, integrating with traditional sensors, opens new perspectives for the management of emergencies and the prevention of environmental risk on a national scale.