Distributed temperature measurement using DTS offers several advantages over conventional point sensors because of the differences in sensing technology.

Laser pulses are launched into a fiber optic sensing cable. Temperature-sensitive Raman scattering is extracted from the light backscattered by the silica structure and processed using optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) to determine temperature.

This approach is particularly useful when many facilities must be monitored across a wide area, or when sensors must be installed in harsh environments where conventional installation is difficult.

DTS features include a simple system structure, low implementation costs, distributed temperature measurement at one-meter intervals, simultaneous measurement at thousands or tens of thousands of points, immunity to induced electromagnetic interference, sensors requiring no electrical power for use in explosion-hazard areas, and immunity of the sensing cable to lightning effects.

Comparison: DTS and point sensors.