Fiber optic sensing (FOS) technologies are increasingly being relied upon to monitor critical infrastructure, but not all systems are qualified to perform under real-world conditions. As industry adoption grows, the need for a clear, standardized framework to evaluate these technologies is essential. At the center of this effort is the distinction between verification and validation—two fundamentally different approaches to performance testing that have profound implications for reliability, accuracy, and credibility.
Defining the Terms: Verification and Validation
Verification refers to performance tests conducted in coordination with the vendor, typically with advance knowledge of when and where events will occur. These tests may demonstrate that a system can detect a signal under ideal conditions, but they do not simulate the unpredictability of real-world deployments. Furthermore, showing that a system can capture an event signature is only a small part of the battle; it is far more crucial for the system to capture the signature with enough fidelity (aka sensitivity or resolution) to enable its accurate and repeatable characterization without human intervention (aka post-processing). Verification testing allows vendors to match signatures captured by their system with known test conditions, effectively guaranteeing true positives while precluding system mischaracterization (false alarms).
Validation, on the other hand, is the industry gold standard. It is defined by three non-negotiable criteria:
- True Blind Testing: The system has no prior knowledge of event timing or location.
- Third-Party Management: The test is designed and executed by an independent organization.
- Defined Success Metrics: Results are judged against clear thresholds, such as detection accuracy, false positive rates, and spatial resolution.
Why Validation Matters for DFOS Qualification
Distributed fiber optic sensing systems are deployed in high-consequence environments, such as pipelines, offshore platforms, and fracking pads, just to name a few. These are the environments where poor fidelity or false alarms can lead to missed events, operational disruptions, or worse.
Many vendors rely on verification alone to claim performance capability. These tests are often conducted in controlled settings and can obscure the limitations of first-generation DAS/DTS technologies that struggle with low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and unreliable detection at distance.
For example, a poorly designed leak detection test may have a non-leak precursor event that a low-fidelity system can capture to effectively prime the system for event detection. One intuitive example is the opening of an upstream valve to initiate flow during a leak test; the valve opening signature may be readily detectable by a first-generation system despite having characteristics that differ substantially from the leak itself. This type of signal misclassification inflates perceived detection accuracy but clearly undermines data integrity and real world performance.
Hifi’s Commitment to the Validation Standard
At Hifi, validation (not verification) is foundational to how we design, deploy, and qualify our High Fidelity Distributed Sensing (HDS™) technology. Our validation process includes:
- Independent Testing: Our system has undergone rigorous third-party blind testing with typical 100% detection success over the full range of operating conditions while also registering zero false positives.
- Simulation of Real-World Scenarios: Validation tests include random event timing, varied leak pressures, and environmental noise to reflect actual pipeline conditions.
- High-Fidelity Architecture: Our FBG-based sensing fiber is engineered specifically to overcome the fidelity and noise limitations inherent to telecom fiber based DAS systems leveraging Rayleigh backscatter.
This validation-first approach is what enables Hifi’s platform to support not only leak detection but also pre-leak condition monitoring, intrusion detection, and geotechnical anomaly tracking—all with the reliability required for high-stakes infrastructure.
A Framework for Industry Standardization
The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) and leading infrastructure operators are increasingly moving toward formal validation frameworks. Hifi supports this shift and has long advocated for industry-wide adoption of blind, metrics-driven testing as the only way to meaningfully compare technologies.
Make the Switch to Validated Technologies Today
High-stakes infrastructure requires high-integrity sensing. Learn how Hifi’s validated HDS platform is redefining performance standards in distributed fiber optic sensing.
Contact us to speak with a technical specialist today.