Utility Tunnel and Underground Cable Gallery Monitoring System
Monitor temperature conditions along underground power cables and protect entrances, shafts and restricted corridors with distributed fiber optic sensing, location-aware alarms and control-room integration.
Challenges
Underground incidents can disrupt power and communication services, damage critical infrastructure, and put maintenance crews at risk.
Manholes and Shafts Are Vulnerable to Break-Ins
Copper Cable Theft Can Disrupt Power Supply
Cable Hotspots Can Develop Between Inspections
Locating Alarms Across Tunnel Branches Takes Time
Our Solution
Gato uses F7 distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to detect suspicious vibrations along selected tunnel sections and access routes, while E3 distributed temperature sensing (DTS) continuously monitors temperature along designated power cable routes. F7’s AI models help filter environmental interference, and location-based alarms help operators identify which tunnel section needs inspection.
Detect Activity in Protected Tunnel Sections
Spot Cable Overheating Along Monitored Routes
Locate Alarms for Faster Underground Checks
Product Technologies
F7 DAS — Intrusion and Vibration Event Detection
Monitors suspicious vibrations along selected tunnel sections and protected access routes where sensing fiber can be installed. Location-based alarms help operators identify the affected area.
Intrusion-related vibration monitoring and event location.
E3 DTS — Continuous Cable Temperature Monitoring
Continuously measures temperature along designated power cable routes. Configurable temperature thresholds and rate-of-rise alarms help identify localized overheating, while hotspot location data supports targeted inspection.
Temperature monitoring along designated power cable routes.
Applications
Underground Power Cable Tunnels
Power cable tunnels contain long cable runs, joints and high-load sections where overheating may develop between inspections. E3 continuously measures temperature along installed sensing fiber and identifies abnormal temperature changes. F7 can provide additional intrusion monitoring at selected tunnel sections where suitable fiber installation is possible.
Integrated Utility Tunnels and Pipe Galleries
Integrated utility tunnels carry power cables, communication lines and other services through shared underground corridors. E3 can monitor temperature in designated power cable sections, while F7 monitors suspicious vibration activity along selected restricted routes. Alarm locations help operators identify which branch or section needs attention.
Manholes, Inspection Shafts and Access Routes
Manholes and inspection shafts can provide unauthorized access to underground cable corridors. F7 can monitor vibration activity along selected protected access routes where sensing fiber is suitably installed. Mapping alarm locations to shaft numbers and access points helps security and maintenance teams investigate the affected area.
Case Studies
E3 DTS Evaluation for a French Tunnel Engineering Provider
Project Requirements
The tunnel engineering provider required continuous temperature data along selected tunnel sections, remote alarm reporting and location information to supplement periodic inspection and the existing safety-management process.
Solution
- E3 DTS evaluation for continuous temperature measurement along selected sensing-cable routes
- Available alarm functions: fixed-temperature, differential-temperature and rate-of-rise rules
- Alarm-position mapping to identifiable tunnel sections
- Real-time and historical temperature curves for analysis
- Interface requirements to confirm for connection with the customer’s monitoring workflow
Collaboration Value
- The evaluation supports assessment of continuous remote temperature monitoring as a supplement to periodic inspection. Use within a required fire-alarm system should be confirmed against the selected model, system design and project acceptance requirements.
Project Value
- The cooperation focuses on sensing-cable layout, alarm configuration, data presentation and platform-interface requirements for future tunnel and cable-gallery monitoring projects.
Why Choose Us
Tunnel Temperature Monitoring Evaluation Experience
Gato has participated in an E3 DTS evaluation with a French tunnel engineering provider, covering distributed temperature monitoring, alarm-location information and monitoring-system requirements for underground infrastructure.
In-House Development and Manufacturing
Established in 2004, Gato develops its sensing hardware and software in-house and operates its own manufacturing facility. Customers can arrange factory visits and audits to evaluate its production capabilities.
Ongoing Remote Technical Support
Gato provides remote troubleshooting and technical assistance for supported systems after handover, including software upgrade support where available. This helps tunnel operators maintain monitoring equipment installed across underground facilities.
How We Deliver
Tunnel and Asset Review
Review tunnel length, branches, cable routes, operating temperatures, access points, ventilation, equipment rooms, existing fire systems and control-room architecture.
Monitoring and Alarm Design
Define E3 channels and ranges, sensing-cable routes, alarm strategies, F7 monitoring sections, software zones, network architecture, interfaces and available compliance documents.
Commissioning and Handover Support
Support sensing-cable verification, baseline collection, temperature-alarm testing, intrusion-event testing where applicable, zone mapping, interface validation, operator training and acceptance documentation.
Request a Utility Tunnel Monitoring Design Review
Share the tunnel length, branch layout, power-cable routes, operating temperatures, access points and existing SCADA, VMS or fire-alarm systems. Tell us whether you need intrusion detection, temperature monitoring or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should a temperature-sensing cable be positioned near power cables?
The route should reflect where heat is expected to transfer and which assets require monitoring. Cable construction, joints, terminations, supports, ventilation, barriers, and allowable installation methods can all affect the sensing position. There is no single placement rule for every underground cable gallery. The proposed route should be reviewed against the asset layout and validated during commissioning.
Can one fiber optic sensing cable monitor both temperature and intrusion events?
It should not be assumed. Distributed temperature sensing and vibration-based intrusion monitoring use different measurement principles and may require different fibers, cable constructions, installation positions, and host equipment. A utility tunnel monitoring system can include both functions, but the design should clearly identify which sensing route serves each purpose and whether any cable contains separate fibers assigned to different systems.
Do splices and branch points affect an underground fiber optic monitoring route?
They can. Each connection or branch may introduce optical loss, complicate route identification, or create an additional maintenance point. The design should document splice locations, branch ownership, and the relationship between measured distance and physical tunnel sections. After a splice is added or repaired, the affected route should be tested and its location mapping reconfirmed before normal monitoring resumes.