Estimating ship source levels using distributed acoustic sensing data and validation with hydrophone measurements

This study quantifies the relationship between distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and traditional hydrophone measurements of ship noise. Analyzing a cargo ship's transit recorded by a DAS array and a nearby hydrophone, a conversion factor of 177.7 ± 3.5 dB (30–50 Hz) was derived, relating DAS strain to hydrophone pressure. A comparison of this conversion factor with a few existing studies highlights the variability in reported values and methodologies, underscoring the need for more extensive analysis and dedicated research to fully characterize DAS calibration.