Fiber Optic Dynamic Strain Sensors for Seismic Monitoring

This project is focused on the development of a new technology for seismic sensors that are very small, highly sensitive, and immune to electromagnetic interference, along with a sophisticated computer based real time data acquisition, processing andanalysis system. The detection system is based on optical fiber Bragg grating sensors for dynamic strain and acoustic emissions. In Phase II of this project a 8-channel wavelength division multiplexed 8 sensors will be developed, which comprise a sensornetwork covering a wide spatial area and providing directional information. The sensitivity will be high enough so that the sensors will be able to monitor seismic activities induced by troop and/or vehicle movement in the vicinity of the sensors.Thesensors developed under this program will be ideal for troop/vehicle movement monitoring and information gathering in the battle field. These can all be accomplished remotely and autonomously with the fiber optic sensors proposed here. Commercialapplications are equally promising, since the sensors can be used for highway and bridge monitoring, down-hole sensing and monitoring for oil/gas explorations.