A Novel Approach for Tower Localization Utilizing Distributed Acoustic Sensing and Spectral Analysis

In this paper, a method for positioning tensioned pole towers based on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology is proposed. The phase disturbance signals collected along the Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) are first unwrapped and then analyzed using fast Fourier transform (FFT) to extract frequency-domain features. To enhance the visibility of spectral patterns and improve the robustness of subsequent analysis, the spectrogram is further processed using contrast stretching and gamma correction. These enhancement techniques highlight subtle energy variations related to tower-induced vibrations while suppressing background noise. Statistical characterization is then performed by calculating the standard deviation (STD) of spectral amplitudes at each spatial position. Due to the fixed structure and reduced wind influence, the FFT energy of tension-resistant tower locations tends to concentrate in the low-frequency region with a lower STD value. In contrast, overhead cable sections show higher spectral dispersion and STD values due to wind excitation, icing, or load fluctuation. By mapping the STD profile along the fiber, the location of tensioned pole towers can be accurately identified. This method is fully passive, sensor-free, and capable of high-precision automated positioning, making it a promising solution for intelligent inspection and fault diagnosis in power transmission systems.