Locate active underground fiber safely, accurately, and without disruption.

How It Works

VANGUARD RouteFinder™ leverages advanced Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology to accurately locate fiber optic cables quickly, safely, and without disruption. Designed to be completely unobtrusive, VANGUARD RouteFinder eliminates the need for digging and poses zero risk to the live cable being located. The system works with any single-mode fiber optic cable, making it a flexible solution for utilities, telecommunications providers, and infrastructure operators.

VANGUARD RouteFinder utilizes one unused fiber within the target cable as an acoustic sensor. By connecting an interrogator to an unused strand, the system transforms the cable itself into a continuous sensing element. Technicians identify an initial starting point near the known beginning of the route and then use a surface vibration device to probe along the cable path. The interrogator detects these vibrations and provides real-time signal strength feedback, guiding the technician to the precise cable alignment.

When optimal signal strength is achieved, GPS coordinates are captured through the mobile application, while the interrogator records the corresponding fiber distance (X-axis position). This data point is locked and stored before the technician proceeds along the route, repeating the process to build an accurate map of the cable’s path. Upon completion, VANGUARD RouteFinder delivers comprehensive reporting and detailed route maps for documentation and future reference.