FOTAS FAQs

FOTAS is SAMM Teknoloji’s fiber optic sensing platform and brand family. It transforms standard fiber optic cables into continuous distributed sensors that provide real-time, long-range monitoring supported by advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. The portfolio has two sensing branches: FOTAS DAS, the Distributed Acoustic Sensing branch for vibration and acoustic event detection, and FOTAS DTS for temperature sensing. FOTAS DTS is offered through FOTAS APEX for fire detection and FOTAS INTEGRITY for condition monitoring.

The open form of FOTAS is “fiber optik tabanlı dağıtık akustik sensör” or “fiber optics based distributed acoustic sensor” in English. While the name originates from the DAS technology, today FOTAS represents SAMM’s complete fiber optic sensing family, including both acoustic sensing through DAS and temperature sensing through DTS.

FOTAS is developed by SAMM Technology engineers and software developers, so it is a local product.

Fiber means a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed; but here these threads are formed by very thin glass so that the light can travel in it. These glass threads are so thin that they can be wrapped together to form multi-channel cables.

Optical fiber is a type of cable that is made up of thin strands of glass or plastic that are used to transmit information over long distances using light. The fiber optic cable consists of a core, which is where the light travels through, and a cladding, which is a layer of material that surrounds the core and helps to keep the light in the core. The cable may also have a protective outer layer called a jacket.

Optics is the branch of physics that investigates the light itself. It searches the answers to the questions like “How does the light behave in different mediums?” or “What can we use the light for?”.

Optical fibers are used to transmit information in the form of light signals over long distances with very little loss of signal strength, making them a preferred choice for telecommunications networks, internet connections, and cable television. They are also used in medical equipment, military communication, and scientific research. Compared to traditional copper cables, fiber optic cables can transmit much more data over longer distances and are more resistant to interference from electromagnetic fields.

Fiber optic is the cable in which the light travels. These cables are made of very thin glass and unlike the traditional cables which carry electricity; they carry light itself. It seems like there isn’t much difference between them but the working principles are different. In the traditional cable, the carrier is electron whereas in fiber optic cable, the carrier is photon. Because the carrier is photon; data transfer is at the speed of light.

Acoustic sensing is a technology that detects and measures physical properties and events by using sound waves. Its fundamental principle is based on the propagation of sound through different mediums—such as solids, liquids, and gases—and its ability to reflect changes within these environments. This technology provides valuable information across a wide range of fields, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, security, sonar, and the detection of structural defects in materials.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing detects vibration and acoustic disturbances along a fiber optic cable, helping determine what is happening, where it is happening, and when it occurs. It analyzes changes in Rayleigh backscatter. Distributed Temperature Sensing measures temperature continuously along the fiber and identifies where temperature changes occur by analyzing Raman backscatter. DAS is therefore used for acoustic and vibration events, while DTS is used for heat, fire, hot spots, and thermal condition monitoring.

Distributed Temperature Sensing turns an optical fiber into a continuous linear temperature sensor. A DTS controller sends laser pulses into the fiber and analyzes Raman backscatter. The ratio between the anti-Stokes and Stokes components is used to calculate temperature, while the return time of the light identifies the location. This creates thousands of temperature measurement points along a single fiber route.

The selection should be based on the risk or condition that needs to be monitored. For intrusion, digging, vibration, or other acoustic events, FOTAS DAS is the appropriate branch. For heat and fire risks, FOTAS DTS should be used: FOTAS APEX is designed for fire detection and linear heat detection, while FOTAS INTEGRITY is designed for asset condition monitoring, thermal trend analysis, and predictive maintenance. Where both security and operational risks exist, DAS and DTS can be combined. Contact FOTAS for an application assessment.

Yes. DTS and DAS can be deployed on the same fiber route to support multiple monitoring functions through a shared sensing infrastructure. For example, a pipeline project can combine DTS leak detection with DAS intrusion detection, while a data centre can combine DTS thermal and fire monitoring with DAS security monitoring. This approach supports unified monitoring, reduces infrastructure complexity, and provides broader risk coverage.