Members of the IrelandQCI project, gathered at the Dublin City Council: Image Paul Sharp / Sharpix
Asiera supports SmartScape; Launched to turn Dublin’s fibre network into a city-scale sensing platform
A new research collaboration is exploring how Dublin’s existing fibre-optic infrastructure can be transformed into a powerful sensing network capable of monitoring urban activity in real time. The SmartScape project brings together researchers from the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks and iCRAG Centre for Applied Geosciences, supported by Asiera (formerly HEAnet and EduCampus) and Dublin City Council.
SmartScape uses a technology called Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), which allows fibre-optic cables, normally used to carry internet data to act as sensors. By analysing tiny vibrations detected along the fibre, researchers can identify patterns such as traffic movement, environmental noise, or changes affecting underground infrastructure. This approach enables large-scale monitoring without installing additional physical sensors, making it a cost-effective and scalable solution for smart city research.
Asiera plays a key role by providing access to fibre infrastructure and technical expertise, enabling researchers to test how operational telecommunications networks can serve as both communications platforms and sensing tools. This demonstrates how existing national research and education networks can support innovative, real-world applications beyond connectivity alone.
The year-long pilot project will explore use cases including traffic monitoring, environmental noise mapping, infrastructure assessment, and data-driven urban planning. By combining CONNECT’s expertise in advanced networks with iCRAG’s strengths in geoscience and environmental sensing, SmartScape aims to create new insights that support more sustainable and liveable cities.
The collaboration also establishes a foundation for future national and European initiatives focused on “network-as-a-sensor” technologies, positioning Dublin as a testbed for next-generation urban sensing innovation.