【综述】地面塌陷分布式光纤监测技术研究

作者：任绪言1，朱鸿鹄1,2，高宇新1，谭道远1,2

完成单位：1.南京大学 地球科学与工程学院，2.江苏省大地感知与控灾工程研究中心

导读

地面塌陷作为一种极具隐蔽性和难预测性的地质灾害，给建筑、交通等基础设施以及人员安全带来了严重威胁。分布式光纤传感技术（DFOS）凭借其独特的优势，正在成为地面塌陷监测领域的重要手段。本文深入探讨了DFOS技术的基本原理，详细对比了其相较于传统监测技术的显著优势，如抗电磁干扰、耐腐蚀、高灵敏度以及能够实现长距离连续监测等。通过回顾地面塌陷光纤监测技术的研发历程、基于实测数据的塌陷灾变机理研究以及该技术在实际工程中的应用情况，全面展示了DFOS在地面塌陷监测中的适用性和创新价值。同时，文章也客观分析了当前DFOS技术在地面塌陷监测应用中面临的瓶颈问题，如传感器适应性不足、解调稳定性和可靠性有限、智能化分析能力欠缺等，并进一步指出了未来的研究热点方向，包括新型传感器研发、解调技术改进、数据智能化处理以及多技术融合等。总之，本文为读者呈现了DFOS技术在地面塌陷监测领域的全景图，既展示了其广阔的应用前景，也明确了未来需要攻克的技术难关。

研究背景

地面塌陷是一种常见的地质灾害，通常由自然因素或人类活动引发。随着城市化进程的加速，人为活动导致的地面塌陷灾害事故日益增多。这种灾害不仅威胁建筑、地铁隧道和公路等基础设施的安全，还可能导致大量人员伤亡。地面塌陷的形成过程具有隐蔽性和难以预测性，可能表现为缓慢变形或迅速发展为大范围快速塌陷，因此需要高精度的实时监测来降低其对人类生产生活的影响。传统监测技术如遥感、地理信息系统、地球物理方法等在测量范围和精度等方面存在局限性。例如，遥感技术虽然覆盖区域广，但数据采集频率受限且无法获取地表以下信息；地理信息系统擅长数据管理与分析，但对实时监测与动态变化捕捉能力不足；地球物理方法在探测地下空洞等方面有一定优势，但受现场条件限制大，且成本较高。这些技术难以满足地面塌陷精细化监测的需求，尤其是在长距离、大范围和长周期监测方面存在明显不足。

图1 光纤中的散射光

分布式光纤传感技术（DFOS）的发展为地面塌陷监测提供了新的解决方案。如图1所示，该技术通过在时域或频域内利用瑞利散射、拉曼散射或布里渊散射原理，能够测量温度、应力、应变和其他声学特性等参数。DFOS技术具有抗电磁干扰、耐腐蚀、灵敏度高且可实现长距离连续监测等显著优势，适用于长距离、大范围和长周期的地质体监测。近年来，DFOS技术在结构健康监测、地质灾害预警与防治以及环境监测等领域得到了广泛应用，成为各类地质工程分布式监测的重要手段。

主要内容

近年来，随着城市化进程的不断加快，地面塌陷这一隐蔽而破坏性强的地质灾害逐渐引起各界关注。作为一项前沿技术，分布式光纤传感（DFOS）凭借其全程连续、高精度、实时监测和抗干扰等显著优势，正在推动地面塌陷监测技术的深度革新。

地面塌陷光纤监测技术研发

在地面塌陷光纤监测技术研发方面，DFOS系统的构建不仅涉及高灵敏度传感器的选择，还对光缆与土体之间的力学耦合关系提出了新的要求。首先，传感光缆作为监测系统的“神经中枢”，其选用直接关系到数据采集的稳定性和精度。科研团队通过对单模和多模光纤的优劣比较，结合实际岩土环境条件，探索出适合长距离、连续监测的传感光缆。如图2所示，在拉拔试验中，界面一般经历由黏结摩擦到局部破坏、再到全面脱黏的渐进性破坏过程，通过在光缆表面添加锚固结构，可以增强缆-土变形协调性并更好地捕捉土体局部应变集中区域。该模型不仅为光缆锚固和界面增强提供了理论依据，而且通过实验验证，证实了增大围压、优化锚固点设计等手段可以显著提高光缆与土体之间的耦合性能。此外，在光纤应变数据向位移转化的建模过程中，通过结合积分运算和人工神经网络等先进算法，研发出多种应变—位移转换模型，极大地提升了地面沉降预测的精度和实时响应能力。这些技术突破为DFOS系统在复杂地质环境下的可靠部署奠定了坚实的基础，也为日后灾害预警和风险评估提供了有效的数据支撑。

图2 锚固光缆与土体相互作用示意图

基于实测的塌陷灾变机理研究

在塌陷灾变机理研究中，DFOS技术展现出其独特的优势。通过在实验室和现场的多种模拟试验，研究人员利用DFOS系统捕捉到地面塌陷过程中的微小应变变化，实现了从空洞初期形成、扩展到地表失稳全过程的动态监测。例如，通过采用BOFDA、OFDR等光纤信号解调技术，不仅实现了应变信号的精确采集，还揭示了塌陷过程中的“马鞍型”横向应变分布和“台阶状”竖向应变分布特征。实验结果表明，在地下空洞逐步扩展过程中，上覆土体会形成局部土拱结构以暂时抵抗塌陷风险，而这一过程中应变信号的集中区域和变化速率为灾害预警提供了关键参考。结合粒子图像测速（PIV）技术和小波分解算法，研究人员进一步优化了现场数据处理流程，有效提取了关键应变参数，实现了从数据采集到机理解析的无缝衔接。

地面塌陷光纤监测的工程应用研究

在工程应用层面，DFOS技术已经在多个复杂环境下成功落地，展现出极高的实用价值。以岩溶、管道泄漏以及煤矿采空区沉陷等实际案例为例，工程界通过布设DFOS系统，实现了对大范围、多层次地面沉降的实时、连续监测。通过与GIS平台的深度融合，该监测系统不仅能够实时采集海量应变数据，还能进行数据智能化分析与可视化展示，从而准确圈定塌陷区域，提升了灾害预警的时效性和准确性。实际应用中，通过BOTDR、ϕ-OTDR、FBG等多种光纤传感技术的综合应用，研究者不仅成功捕捉到了地表微小沉降信号，而且利用监测数据重构了土体变形模型，为后续工程安全评估和风险控制提供了有力的技术支持。尤其在管道泄漏引发的局部沉降监测中，通过主动分布式温度传感技术（ADTS）等新型手段，系统能够准确定位泄漏点及其扩展范围，实现对隐蔽性较强的地下结构的有效监控。与此同时，煤矿采空区沉陷的全断面监测也借助DFOS技术的高灵敏度和空间分布式优势，实现了从覆岩变形到地表沉降全过程的精准捕捉。如图3所示，当地下形成采空区时，上覆岩层的弯曲变形会在光纤中引起不同的拉应变或压应变区。通过对这一分布式应变数据进行分析，可以较为准确地推算地表沉降量及裂隙发展趋势。

图3 岩层变形光纤监测模型

结论

分布式光纤传感技术（DFOS）在地面塌陷监测中的应用已展现出诸多优势，但未来仍有广阔的发展前景和提升空间。首先，随着新型传感器技术的不断涌现，针对不同地质环境和监测需求的光纤传感器将进一步优化，提升数据采集的精度与稳定性。其次，针对光缆与土体耦合性问题的研究仍需深化，通过多物理场耦合模型和现场试验，探索更高效的界面加固和锚固技术，为实际工程提供更加可靠的监测依据。与此同时，结合人工智能和大数据技术，对海量应变数据进行智能化处理和实时预警，将极大提高灾害风险评估的准确度。此外，多种监测技术的融合应用（如DFOS与GNSS、InSAR等技术的联合监测）也将成为未来研究的重要方向，从而实现对地面塌陷全过程的综合、多尺度监控。

任绪言, 朱鸿鹄, 高宇新, 等. 地面塌陷分布式光纤监测技术研究综述(特邀)[J]．红外与激光工程, 2025, 54(4): 20250120. DOI: 10.3788/IRLA20250120

全文链接：http://irla.cn/article/doi/10.3788/IRLA20250120

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Review of Research on Ground Subsidence Monitoring Based on Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing

Ren Xu-yan1, Zhu Hong-hu1,2*, Gao Yu-xin 1, Tan Dao-yuan1,2,

(1. School of earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

  1. Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Earth Sensing and Disaster Control, Nanjing 210023, China)

Abstract：

Significance  Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) technology plays a crucial role in ground collapse monitoring, enabling real-time detection of surface settlement, crack development, and underground structural deformation. It provides essential support for geological hazard early warning and safety assessment. Through a systematic elaboration of the fundamental principles of DFOS technology and its performance advantages over traditional monitoring techniques—such as anti-electromagnetic interference, corrosion resistance, high sensitivity, and long-distance continuous monitoring—combined with the development of ground collapse fiber-optic monitoring technologies, research on collapse disaster mechanisms based on measured data, and engineering application studies of ground collapse fiber-optic monitoring, the applicability and innovative value of this technology are demonstrated. Furthermore, this study analyzes the challenges of DFOS in ground collapse monitoring, including sensor adaptability issues, demodulation stability and reliability are limited, and insufficient intelligent data analysis capabilities. Finally, future research hotspots are identified. 

Progress  Significant progress has been made in ground collapse monitoring using distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS). Technically, DFOS, based on Rayleigh, Brillouin, and Raman scattering, enables high – precision measurement of temperature, stress, and strain, supporting long – distance, large – scale, and long – term geological monitoring (Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 6). Professor Zhu Honghu’s team at Nanjing University developed a three – stage mechanical model for interfacial stress transfer, revealing the progressive failure and strain evolution of the fiber – soil interface (Fig. 8). Various strain – to – displacement models, such as Chen’s BOTDR – based model and Gao’s ANN – modified model, have enhanced monitoring accuracy.

In application, DFOS is used in karst collapse, pipeline – induced collapse, mining – related collapse, and tunnel – related collapse, aiding disaster early – warning and safety assessment (Fig. 10, Fig. 13, Fig. 15). For instance, in karst collapse monitoring, DFOS captures strain signals during cave expansion, supporting risk warning. In pipeline – induced collapse monitoring, it monitors pipe deformation post – leakage to reflect collapse conditions. In mining – related collapse monitoring, DFOS captures dynamic characteristics of overlying strata deformation and surface subsidence. In tunnel – related collapse monitoring, its high precision and anti – interference capability make it a key tool.

Moreover, the integration of DFOS with other monitoring methods in multimodal perception systems improves data accuracy and monitoring range. Intelligent algorithms further optimize disaster identification and early – warning capabilities. 

Conclusions and Prospects  This paper reviews the latest advancements in Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) technology for ground subsidence monitoring, highlighting its ability to capture subtle surface and subsurface changes for high-precision, real-time monitoring and risk warning in scenarios such as karst collapse, pipeline leakage, and mining subsidence. By leveraging optical scattering principles, DFOS has shown significant advantages in long-distance, wide-area monitoring. However, challenges in environmental adaptability, data demodulation accuracy, and intelligent analysis still exist. For example, in harsh underground conditions, maintaining stable performance of fiber-optic sensors is difficult. Data demodulation is easily affected by environmental noise, leading to potential inaccuracies. Looking ahead, advancements in new fiber materials, multimodal monitoring integration, and intelligent algorithm applications are expected to enhance the efficiency and reliability of DFOS systems. The development of robust fiber materials can improve sensor durability in complex environments. Integrating multimodal monitoring methods, such as combining DFOS with InSAR and GNSS, will provide more comprehensive and accurate data. Furthermore, the application of intelligent algorithms based on machine learning and big data analytics can significantly boost data processing efficiency and the accuracy of risk warnings, thus offering more precise and effective support for geological disaster prevention.

Key words: distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS); ground collapse; deformation; early warning

Funding projects: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42225702, 4241101112)