The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has entered into an agreement with Sensonic Inc. to advance a pilot program that would automatically detect intrusions on rail right-of-way. CTA’s Innovation Studio will test Sensonic’s Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, a fiber optic vibration sensing device that monitors for large objects on the tracks.
Sensonic’s Distributed Acoustic Sensing monitors light scattering changes in optical fiber when there is acoustic vibration, such as when a train is crossing a section of track. An on-site device will be connected to CTA’s existing fiber optic cable for real-time monitoring and “will be able to distinguish between normal movement of trains and other types of vibrations on the tracks,” CTA said. “In the case of a person or object entering the tracks, a real-time alert can be triggered based on the vibration pattern and will notify the appropriate CTA staff to enable intervention.”
CTA will work with Sensonic “to identify an appropriate location for the pilot during a feasibility phase to gauge the effectiveness of the solution for different types of track including elevated, grade-level, and in the subway.” One sensing device can cover up to a 50-mile range. The pilot program’s duration will be 12 months, during which CTA noted it “will be able to determine if fiber optic vibration sensing can reliably identify when people or large objects enter the right-of-way and trigger a real-time alert to enable swift intervention. A proven solution to detect and respond to right-of-way intrusion in real-time would prevent service delays and help ensure a safe trip for everyone.”
CTA will fund the pilot with a $110,700 stipend broken into two phases, with the first milestone covering the evaluation and in-depth feasibility testing and purchase and installation of testing equipment, and “paid after CTA receives and accepts a feasibility report.” The second milestone will include the hardware costs for pilot installation at one location as well as a license for a real-time alert monitoring software.
CTA will later in the year provide updates on the pilot’s status and those of other previously approved Innovation Studio pilots. These include updates on pilots with GDS and Papercast that are testing solar and battery powered digital signs displaying real-time arrival information at CTA bus stops, as well a pilot with STV using a camera detection system and AI to identify intrusions on the rail right-of-way.
“Sensonic is proud to bring cutting-edge fiber optic sensing technology to the CTA that enhances rail safety and security in Chicago,” said Ashish Upadhyay, CEO of Sensonic. “By combining Distributed Acoustic Sensing and AI, we’re enabling real-time detection of trackside intrusions and fallen objects along the corridor. This actionable intelligence is key to building safer, smarter, and more resilient transit systems.”
Sensonic is an international firm that specializes in fiber optic sensing in transportation contexts. The company has worked with rail transportation agencies in Austria, Brazil, Czechia, India, Portugal, and Spain to monitor right-of-way intrusions from “people, large objects and large animals”:
