Abstract: A system may include a fiber optic cable buried under a surface and a smart sensor module coupled to the fiber optic cable. A controller may be coupled to the smart sensor module. The smart sensor module includes a light source coupled to an end of the fiber optic cable and a detector coupled to the end of the fiber optic cable. The controller may manage a transmission of a pulse of light from the light source to launch the pulse of light into the fiber optic cable. The detector may receive a backscatter generated from the pulse of light scattered off fiber molecules of the fiber optic cable. The smart sensor module may determine a temperature of the fiber optic cable based on an intensity of the generated backscatter. The controller may send an alert when the determined temperature is outside a predetermined threshold range from a base temperature.