Quantum-Secured Fiber Bragg Grating Sensing over Shared Optical Fiber Networks for Smart Infrastructure

About the Project

Smart infrastructure systems such as intelligent transportation networks, railway monitoring systems, energy grids, and industrial automation platforms increasingly rely on optical fiber technologies for real-time sensing and communication. Among these technologies, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensing has emerged as a highly effective solution for structural health monitoring due to its high sensitivity, multiplexing capability, compact size, and immunity to electromagnetic interference.

As critical infrastructure systems become increasingly interconnected, the security of sensing data transmission has become a major concern. Conventional encryption approaches may face future vulnerabilities with the advancement of quantum computing technologies. Quantum Cryptography, particularly Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), offers a fundamentally secure method for cryptographic key exchange based on quantum physics principles.

This PhD project aims to investigate the integration of FBG sensing systems with QKD technologies over shared optical fiber networks to enable both secure communication and reliable infrastructure monitoring.

The research will focus on the coexistence of classical FBG sensing signals and quantum communication channels within the same fiber infrastructure. Key technical challenges include Raman scattering noise, channel crosstalk, optical interference, wavelength allocation, and signal attenuation, all of which may affect sensing accuracy and quantum key distribution performance. The project will therefore study suitable multiplexing architectures, noise mitigation approaches, and network optimization strategies to improve system reliability and efficiency.

The proposed work includes theoretical modeling, simulation, and laboratory-scale experimental validation of integrated sensing and QKD systems. Optimization techniques such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), adaptive channel allocation, and intelligent network management may also be explored to enhance coexistence performance under practical operating conditions.

The expected outcomes of the project include: a quantum-secured FBG sensing network architecture, improved understanding of FBG–QKD coexistence mechanisms, optimized integration and multiplexing strategies, and practical design guidelines for secure smart infrastructure monitoring systems.

Potential application areas include railway structural health monitoring, bridge and tunnel safety systems, smart energy infrastructure, industrial IoT networks, and smart city monitoring platforms.

This project aligns with emerging global priorities in quantum technologies, cybersecurity, photonic sensing, and resilient smart infrastructure development.

Supervisory Team

Main Supervisor: Associate Professor Ir Dr Shee Yu Gang, Monash University

Associate Supervisors: Associate Professor Ir Joanne Lim Mun Yee, Prof Dato' Dr Ir Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan, Monash University

External Supervisor: Professor Dr Gong-Ru Lin, National Taiwan University