IIT Madras Startup Folium Sensing Develops Fibre-Optic Technology to Monitor Railways, Pipelines and Border Security

Chennai-based deep-tech startup Folium Sensing Private Limited is developing indigenous fibre-optic sensing technology that can transform ordinary optical cables into intelligent monitoring systems for railways, pipelines, bridges, tunnels and critical infrastructure. The technology uses laser signals and advanced data analytics to detect vibrations, temperature changes and structural movements across long distances.

Founded in 2024 and operating from IIT Madras Research Park, Folium Sensing specialises in Distributed Fibre-Optic Sensing (DFOS). Its technology allows a single optical fibre to function as thousands of sensing points, providing continuous information about the condition of infrastructure without installing conventional electronic sensors at every monitoring location.

Folium Sensing Converts Ordinary Optical Fibres into Intelligent Sensors

Folium Sensing has developed distributed sensing systems that use optical fibres to monitor physical changes along infrastructure networks extending over several kilometres.

Unlike conventional monitoring systems that require individual sensors at selected locations, distributed fibre-optic sensing uses the entire length of a cable to collect information.

The technology works by transmitting laser pulses through an optical fibre. As light travels through the cable, a small portion scatters backwards because of interactions within the fibre.

Changes in vibration, temperature or physical strain affect the characteristics of the returning light. Specialised equipment analyses these changes to identify disturbances and determine their approximate locations.

According to Folium Sensing, its systems can use existing telecommunications-grade optical fibres, reducing the need to install separate sensing cables in suitable applications.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing Detects Vibrations Across 80 Kilometres

One of Folium Sensing’s principal technologies is Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), which converts an optical fibre into a continuous vibration-monitoring system.

The company’s official technical specifications describe monitoring ranges of approximately 40–80 kilometres, depending on operating conditions and system configuration.

Its DAS technology uses Rayleigh backscattering to detect vibrations caused by footsteps, vehicle movement, excavation, machinery and other physical disturbances near a fibre-optic cable.

Folium Sensing states that its technology can achieve spatial resolution of approximately 5–10 metres, enabling the system to identify the location of disturbances along monitored infrastructure.

The technology combines optical sensing equipment with software that analyses vibration patterns and identifies potentially important events.

This capability makes distributed acoustic sensing relevant to infrastructure operators responsible for monitoring extensive networks where continuous physical inspection is difficult.

Railway Tracks and Bridges Can Be Monitored Continuously

Railway infrastructure is an important potential application for Folium Sensing’s technology.

Optical fibres installed alongside railway tracks can help detect vibrations associated with train movement, track disturbances and other changes affecting railway infrastructure.

Folium Sensing reports conducting a railway pilot trial in which its technology identified train positions, rail breaks and abnormal conditions in real time.

Such monitoring systems can provide additional information to railway maintenance teams and support the early identification of unusual operating conditions.

The startup has also tested fibre-optic sensing for structural health monitoring. According to its official website, a bridge-monitoring deployment captured strain signatures produced by live loads on the structure.

These measurements can help engineers understand how infrastructure responds to traffic, mechanical forces and changing environmental conditions.

Pipeline Leak Detection and Underground Infrastructure Protection

Folium Sensing is developing monitoring solutions for oil and gas pipelines, industrial facilities and underground infrastructure.

Pipeline operators traditionally rely on combinations of pressure monitoring, flow measurements, inspection systems and other technologies to identify leaks or damage.

Distributed acoustic sensing offers an additional monitoring method by detecting vibrations associated with excavation, unauthorised interference and certain pipeline disturbances.

The company reports that its pipeline intrusion-monitoring deployment covered approximately 12 kilometres and achieved 95% detection accuracy for excavation and tapping events.

This performance figure comes from the company’s reported case study and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed detection rate for every pipeline or operating environment.

The technology can also support monitoring of buried communication cables, electrical infrastructure and industrial facilities where damage may result from excavation or other external activities.

Fibre-Optic Sensors Offer Applications in Border Security

Folium Sensing identifies defence installations, border monitoring and perimeter security among the potential applications of its technology.

Distributed acoustic sensing can detect ground vibrations caused by activities such as footsteps, vehicle movement and digging near monitored optical fibres.

Security systems can analyse these signals to identify unusual activity and provide alerts to personnel responsible for protecting sensitive locations.

Unlike conventional electronic sensors installed at individual points, fibre-optic sensing can monitor extensive sections of a security perimeter from a central location.

The technology also offers advantages in environments affected by electromagnetic interference because optical fibres transmit light rather than electrical signals.

These characteristics make fibre-optic sensing relevant to research and development involving border surveillance, defence installations and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Folium Sensing’s publicly available information identifies these as technology applications but does not establish that its systems have been formally inducted into India’s armed forces or border security organisations.

Artificial Intelligence Helps Identify Infrastructure Disturbances

Folium Sensing incorporates artificial intelligence and advanced signal-processing algorithms into its monitoring systems.

Distributed optical sensors can generate large volumes of information because they continuously measure conditions across numerous points along a cable.

Analysing this information manually would be difficult, particularly for installations extending over several kilometres.

The company’s software processes the incoming signals to identify patterns associated with different physical events. Its algorithms are designed to distinguish between routine environmental vibrations and disturbances requiring closer examination.

AI-assisted event classification can help reduce unnecessary alarms and provide infrastructure operators with information about the location and characteristics of detected events.

Folium Sensing also offers monitoring dashboards that display live sensing information, historical trends, event classifications and automated alerts.

IIT Madras Research Ecosystem Supports Indigenous Technology Development

Folium Sensing emerged from the research and innovation ecosystem associated with IIT Madras.

The IIT Madras Research Park identifies the startup as a company working on distributed fibre-optic sensing, photonics, industrial monitoring and critical infrastructure security.

Its team includes researchers and engineers with expertise in optical sensing, electronics, signal processing and technology commercialisation.

The company’s leadership includes Sanidhya Chaturvedi, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, and Venkatesh Varadhan, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer.

Its technology development draws on the scientific expertise available within the IIT Madras ecosystem, including research involving optical systems, photonics and distributed sensing.

Folium Sensing is developing complete monitoring solutions covering optical sensing equipment, signal-processing software and data analytics.

Indian Deep-Tech Innovation Strengthens Infrastructure Monitoring

India’s expanding railway networks, energy infrastructure, industrial facilities and communication systems require reliable technologies for monitoring safety and operational conditions.

Distributed fibre-optic sensing provides an alternative to conventional monitoring approaches by collecting information continuously across long distances.

Folium Sensing’s work demonstrates how optical communication infrastructure can support additional applications in industrial safety, structural monitoring and security.

Its reported pilot projects and technology development activities provide a foundation for evaluating the systems across a wider range of operating environments.

By combining indigenous photonics engineering, fibre-optic sensing and artificial intelligence, Folium Sensing is contributing to India’s growing capabilities in advanced infrastructure monitoring and critical technology development.

---

References

1. Folium Sensing Private Limited — Official Website. Distributed fibre-optic sensing technologies, products and applications.
   https://www.foliumsensing.com/
2. Folium Sensing — Distributed Acoustic Sensing Technology. Technical specifications, operating principles and monitoring capabilities.
   https://www.foliumsensing.com/products/DAS
3. Folium Sensing — Products and Monitoring Systems. Distributed Acoustic Sensing, Distributed Temperature Sensing and Distributed Strain Sensing.
   https://www.foliumsensing.com/products
4. Folium Sensing — About Us. Company background, leadership and IIT Madras research ecosystem.
   https://www.foliumsensing.com/about-us
5. IIT Madras Research Park — Folium Sensing Startup Profile. Official institutional information on the company’s incorporation, incubation and research areas.
   https://respark.iitm.ac.in/Folium-Sensing
6. Folium Sensing — Industry Applications. Railway monitoring, pipeline security, infrastructure protection and defence applications.
   https://www.foliumsensing.com/industry

---