Researchers at the Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT) in Jena, Germany, are currently developing a fiber optical sensor system to recognize road damages in time to prevent land slides. With the help of the method developed in Jena, it is possible to determine whether and, if so, where within the foundation of the road shifts occur. Even minimal movements in the ground can be detected. In a research project this technology will, for the first time, be tested under real world conditions.