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Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market Forecast to Reach $1.05 Billion in 2019

Apr 22 2015

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2015 Photonic Sensor Consortium Market Survey Report" report to their offering.

The distributed fiber optic sensor market stood at $585 million in 2013 and is projected to approach $1.05 billion in 2019. The sudden and unexpected drop in oil prices will negatively impact the market. However, the military market segment is showing signs of growing more rapidly. According to the updated and revised market survey report conducted by the Photonic Sensor Consortium, the long term picture is still optimistic, but a short term contraction is likely.

The Photonics Sensor Consortium in conjunction with Light Wave Venture was started in 2003 as an independent organization to assist in the market development and commercialization of photonic sensor technology. The primary focus has been on distributed fiber optic sensors. Over the last 12 years, the Consortium has tracked the market and provided overall projections and market analysis for active participants. This report is the first to be available to the general photonics industry.

Why is there such a strong interest in this technology? Fiber optic sensors represent a technology base that can be applied to a multitude of sensing applications.

There are several characteristic advantages of fiber optics that make their use especially attractive for sensors:

Nonelectrical
Explosion-proof
Small size and weight
Allow access into normally inaccessible areas and harsh environments
Immune to radio frequency interference (RFI) and electro-magnetic interference (EMI)
Solid-state reliability
High accuracy
Can facilitate distributed sensing

Most physical properties can be sensed optically with fibers. Light intensity, displacement (position), temperature, pressure, rotation, sound, strain, magnetic field, electric field, radiation, flow, liquid level, chemical analysis, and vibration are just some of the phenomena that can be sensed.

Fiber optic sensors have been used successfully for many years in military gyroscopes and hydrophones. However, their use in smart oil wells has been the key to enabling North America to be on a path to energy independence.

Key Topics Covered:

Reason for Update

Photonic Sensor Consortium Background

Survey Overview
- The focus is distributed fiber optic sensing systems
- Wide range of responses from companies with sales of less than $5 million to companies with sales well in excess of $30 million
- Projected sales growth in 2013
- Projected sales growth in 2013 - 2017
- Most companies use multiple technologies
- Most prominent barrier to growth
- Most companies address multiple market segments, but energy is the dominant market
- 78% offer sensing systems, while 50% offer installation services

Survey Response
- What was the size of your sensor business in 2013?
- What is the anticipated growth in 2014?
- What is your anticipated growth from 2013 to 2018?
- What market segments do you serve?
- What technologies do you use?
- What products or services do you offer?
- What is the biggest barrier to growth?

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market Update
- Sensor Forecast Methodology
- Sensor Forecast Coverage
- The forecast covers distributed fiber optic sensing systems including sensor elements, fiber optic cables, interrogators and software. It does not include installation. The markets covered are defined below:

- Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor MarketUpdate
- Distributed Fiber Optic Market Update(Comparing Relative Market Segment Growth)
- Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market by Technologies
- Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Forecast Comparisons

What Happened to the Market?
- Oil & Gas
- Wind Turbines
- Smart Grid
- Smart infrastructure
- Military
- Homeland Security
- Industrial

Summary and Conclusions

Several factors have impacted the distributed fiber optic sensor market growth.
- On the positive side
- On the negative side

Profiles of Select Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Companies

Acquisitions

Technology Overview
- Background
- Distributed Fiber Optic Systems

Companies Mentioned