Event Detection for Distributed Acoustic Sensing: Combining Knowledge-Based, Classical Machine Learning, and Deep Learning Approaches

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is a promising new technology for pipeline monitoring and protection. However, a big challenge is distinguishing between relevant events, like intrusion by an excavator near the pipeline, and interference, like land machines. This paper investigates whether it is possible to achieve adequate detection accuracy with classic machine learning algorithms using simulations and real system implementation. Then, we compare classical machine learning with a deep learning approach and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. Although acceptable performance can be achieved with both approaches, preliminary results show that deep learning is the more promising approach, eliminating the need for laborious feature extraction and offering a six times lower event detection delay and twelve times lower execution time. However, we achieved the best results by combining deep learning with the knowledge-based and classical machine learning approaches. At the end of this manuscript, we propose general guidelines for efficient system design combining knowledge-based, classical machine learning, and deep learning approaches