Passive Fibre-Optic and Acoustic Sensor Network for Critical Infrastructure and Border Resilience

Łukasiewicz – Warsaw Institute of Technology (Łukasiewicz–WIT) is looking for research partners from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to jointly prepare a POLNORIS proposal focused on the development and validation of a passive, distributed fibre-optic and acoustic sensing system for critical infrastructure protection, border resilience and large-area monitoring. The proposed system combines distributed fibre-optic sensing, passive acoustic sensors, AI-based signal processing and intelligent sensor-network management. Its objective is to detect, classify and localise UAVs, vehicles, human activity and other relevant acoustic or vibration events in complex environments, including forests, industrial areas and infrastructure corridors. A key advantage of the concept is its passive character, low electromagnetic signature, long-distance fibre-optic signal transmission and the possibility of creating scalable sensor networks adapted to different operational environments. The project is intended as a dual-use research and innovation activity with strong civilian applications in infrastructure resilience, border monitoring, safety and situational awareness. Łukasiewicz–WIT can act as Project Promoter and provide system architecture, fibre-optic and acoustic sensor integration, prototype development, laboratory testing, field validation and demonstration. We are particularly interested in partners with expertise in distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), fibre-optic sensing, acoustic signal processing, artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, machine learning, autonomous systems, signal classification or critical infrastructure resilience. Potential partner tasks may include development of DAS signal-processing methods, event detection and classification algorithms, sensor fusion, localisation methods, reduction of false alarms, data interpretation and validation of selected technologies in field conditions. We are open to adapting the final work-package structure to the expertise of the selected partner. The target is to build an international R&D consortium capable of delivering a validated demonstrator and a scalable technology concept suitable for further implementation in critical infrastructure and border-security applications.