Mountain View, CA--Fiber-optic sensors' dielectric nature and their integral advantages of distributed sensing, as well as their immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency interference (RFI), make them the first choice among sensor developers for high-voltage and harsh-environment applications. In fact, the oil and gas industry is dependent on fiber-optic sensors for drilling untapped and difficult-to-access oil reserves as well as subsea oilfield installation.
A new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, "World Fiber Optic Sensors Markets," finds that the market earned revenues of $656.4 million in 2010 and estimates this to reach $3.31 billion in 2017. FO sensing also plays a critical role in other applications such as security, structural health monitoring, civil, industrial, energy, and defense.
Distributed sensing key to many uses
The possibility of having distributed sensors along a single optical fiber that runs several kilometers makes them applicable in civil-engineering applications, notes Frost & Sullivan industry analyst V. Sankaranarayanan
To make the most of their advantages and ensure widespread and commercial adoption, fiber-optic sensor companies must lower their sensor systems' high initial costs. The cost of designing, planning, and installing a fiber-optic sensor system is prohibitive, especially in certain retrofit applications where existing lines need to be dug out to lay the fibers.
"Vendors need to reduce the cost of the system and commercially address the high-volume applications of fiber-optic sensors and applications where conventional ones are unfeasible," says Sankaranarayanan. "With increasing end-user awareness, cost reductions, and product and technology trends, fiber-optic sensors are expected to play a key role in shaping the future of the global sensors market."
See http://www.sensors.frost.com. To obtain a virtual brochure on this study, e-mail Sarah Saatzer at [email protected] with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, e-mail address, company website, city, state, and country.
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About the Author
John Wallace
Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)
John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.