FOSA to educate and raise awareness of fiber-optic sensing benefits
The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA; http://www.fiberopticsensing.org), the U.S.A.'s first trade association dedicated to fiber-optic sensing, has officially launched with a focus on educating industry, government, and the public on the benefits of this cutting-edge fiber-optic technology. The organization was formed with the mission to provide greater awareness of the benefits of fiber-optic sensing technology and its applications in today’s marketplace. As part of its awareness campaign, FOSA has launched a new web presence at http://www.fiberopticsensing.org that features articles, information, and educational content about this technology and its impact.
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Fiber-optic sensing is an emerging technology that uses deviations of light in fiber-optic cables to remotely measure acoustics, temperature, and strain. Through fiber-optic sensing, an individual can detect pipeline leaks, vehicle traffic, foot traffic, digging, tunneling, seismic activity, unsafe temperatures, crumbling infrastructure, and other conditions from miles away.
Fiber-optic sensing is used today to monitor thousands of miles of power lines, pipelines, international borders, critical infrastructure and facilities all across the globe. The technology has applications in transportation, security, oil and gas, energy, military, and medical industries. According to a market research report by BCC Research, the global fiber-optic sensors market should reach $3.2 billion by 2021, reflecting a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9% beginning in 2016. The same market research report projected a five-year CAGR of 14% in the medical industry and 10.4% in the energy sector.
"Fiber optic sensing has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of many millions of Americans, enhance business operations, and create jobs. Businesses, institutions, and government agencies already deploy these applications to make our roads safer, protect our environment and strengthen our security. However, to further these improvements and impact, industry, consumers, and government need to better understand the value of and get greater access to information on this advanced technology. This is why we are creating FOSA," said Thomas Cohen, FOSA's executive director. "This new organization will educate key players in all sectors and promote awareness of fiber sensing technology to help accelerate the use of this critical technology."
FOSA's initial membership includes AFL, Corning Incorporated, Ditch Witch, Dura-Line Corporation, Fotech Solutions, Frauscher Sensor Technology USA, Integrated Roadways, OFS, Omnisens, OptaSense, OZ Optics, and Prysmian. The new organization is an affiliate of the Fiber Broadband Association, which seeks to accelerate the deployment of fiber-optic networks supporting broadband, telecommunications, video, and other advanced services.
FOSA will hold its inaugural meeting with its members in Washington, D.C in May 2017.
SOURCE: Fiber Optic Sensing Association: https://www.fiberopticsensing.org/blog/industry-leaders-launch-fiber-optic-sensing-association
Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)
Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.