Evaluating Various Monitoring Techniques for OPGW Cable Health

Optical ground wire (OPGW) cables are increasingly being used in overhead transmission lines to provide essential telecommunication capabilities while also acting as the ground wire. As critical network components, monitoring the health and performance of OPGW cables is important for preventing faults and ensuring the proper function of transmission system. This paper evaluates various techniques that can be utilized to monitor the condition of OPGW cables in overhead transmission networks. Specifically, the monitoring techniques analyzed include distributed temperature sensing, distributed acoustic sensing, and embedded optical fiber sensors, vibrational monitoring, and infrared thermography. The operating principles, measurement capabilities, advantages and limitations of each method are discussed. Through this brief review, the aim is to provide guidance on selecting suitable OPGW cable monitoring approaches based on the application requirements and network conditions.