Fast and Accurate Mapping Method for OPGW Tower Based on M-OTDR

This paper describes how distributed optical fiber sensing (DOFS) technology, combined with dark optical fibers within the current optical fiber composite overhead ground wire (OPGW), enables online monitoring and early warning of abnormalities in high-voltage overhead transmission lines. Achieving this goal requires an accurate mapping of the optical cable length to the actual GPS coordinates of the tower. The current tower positioning techniques have drawbacks like low identification rates, high positioning variation, and long calibration times. They are also restricted by particular weather conditions. This study presented a multi-parametric optical time domain reflectance sensing (M-OTDR) system that synchronizes the monitoring of temperature, strain, vibration, and other physical parameters along the fiber optic cable in order to address these problems. Additionally, the study proposed four reference positioning functions. An in-field test was carried out on a 220kV high-voltage transmission line in Fujian Province, PRC. The results showed that the proposed method could guarantee speedy and accurate placement of high-voltage overhead transmission line towers.