Acoustics is the branch of physics and engineering that deals with the study of sound and its transmission, production, and effects on different mediums. It encompasses the generation, propagation, and reception of sound waves and their behavior in various environments. Acoustics explores topics such as the properties of sound waves, their interaction with different materials, the principles of sound production and reproduction, and the perception of sound by humans and other organisms. Applications of acoustics range from designing concert halls and soundproofing rooms to developing audio equipment, medical imaging technologies, and environmental monitoring systems.

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Long Term Monitoring and Analysis of Brood X Cicada Activity by Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing Technology

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Brood X is the largest of the 15 broods of periodical cicadas, and individuals from this brood emerged across the Eastern United States in spring 2021. Using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology, the activity of Brood X cicadas was monitored in their natural environment in Princeton, NJ. Critical information regarding their acoustic signatures and activity level is collected and analyzed using standard outdoor-grade telecommunication fiber cables. We believe these results have the potential to be a quantitative baseline for regional Brood X activity and pave the way for more detailed monitoring of insect populations to combat global insect decline. We also show that it is possible to transform readily available fiber optic networks into environmental sensors with no additional installation costs. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use case of a distributed fiber optic sensing system for entomological sciences and environmental studies.

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