Fiber Optic Sensors: Global Markets

INTRODUCTION

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This BCC study analyzes the status of global markets for fiber optic sensors.  Fiber optic sensors (FOS) began as a by-product of telecommunications.  The first sensors were designed to measure the performance and status of optical fiber networks.  Optical networks transmit voice and data across the U.S. and around the world.  The networks require constant monitoring to ensure signal transmission along the fibers in the network.

Faults or flaws along the length of the fiber affect the characteristic of the transmitted signal in measurable ways.  Differences in temperature, strain, and pressure can be measured over long distances.  The ability to multiplex a large number of wavelengths along a single fiber offers a means to gather a large amount of data from a single fiber.

With the ability to operate in harsh environments and imperviousness to electromagnetic interference, FOS can be applied in conditions in which electronic sensors fail.  The cost of FOS technology remains higher than electronic sensors, thus FOS have penetrated only where the unique advantages of FOS justify the higher expense, or in which they are the only option for a harsh environment..

This report considers market conditions and opportunities in regional areas around the globe.  The report also considers potential new applications that will emerge in the next 5 years.  Recovery from the recession of 2008 and 2009 affected industry growth in the near term, but future growth opportunities are strong.

Optical fiber sensors measure temperature, pressure, humidity, acceleration, and strain, and can operate in harsh conditions.  This report considers the different types of sensor, what they can measure, and where they are used.  This report does not consider sensors for the telecommunications market.

Optical fiber sensors are used in energy, medicine, defense, industrial, security, structural, and commercial aerospace applications.  Fiber optic sensors found a lucrative niche in the oil and gas market, as they opened an entire new revenue stream for service providers.  However, improvements in sensor robustness will be required for FOS to realize their potential in this market.

Although familiarity with fiber sensor technology has increased and sensor prices have decreased, fiber sensors still find the most application in areas where electronic sensors cannot compete.  In cases in which fiber optic sensors attempt to replace existing electronic technology that meets the defined need adequately and for lower cost, the electronic option still dominates.  Cost and unfamiliarity remain the primary barriers to fiber optic sensor growth into new applications.

This report provides a standard 5-year planning cycle and revenue estimates through 2017.  It defines product segments for optical coating technology categories, analyzes technology options, and determines current application markets as well as likely future opportunities.

Additionally, this report defines and graphically analyzes these fiber optic sensor markets from many perspectives, categorizes and profiles the companies involved, defines unique nomenclature, and details policy organizations, conferences, authors, and consortiums.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

The world has benefited immensely from the development of electronic technology and sensors.  But electronics have several inherent limitations in terms of ultimate speed of function and environmental limitations on performance.  Optical technologies offer the promise of faster speeds and the ability to operate under harsher conditions.  However, before an optical revolution can occur, supporting technologies such as sensors must be developed.

Fiber optic sensor technology represents a critical feedback technology that will be applied in optical devices and systems, existing and yet to be developed.  As sensing options increase, engineers and developers will be able to make all optical systems a future reality.  Sensors may not be the most buzz-worthy market, but they are essential.

SCOPE OF REPORT

This BCC business opportunity report covers, with a critical eye, the global fiber optic sensors marketplace.  It focuses particularly on the markets and opportunities for fiber optic sensors in telecommunications, oil and gas exploration and drilling, medical, and industrial markets.  The study considers future opportunities for new application markets.

This study is presented in easy-to-follow sections that overview this subject, define the technology, segment the market by product type and application, profile companies, and identify suppliers.  All dollar amounts are expressed in current 2011U.S. dollars.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

This report is a complete market information source for serious players in the fiber optical sensors marketplace.  Network system integrators will use this report to assess the status of the fiber optic sensor market in order to identify suppliers and systems integrators, and forecast the future markets.

Market managers will be able to assess the competition and identify customers and new suppliers for components.  Management consultants will determine whether companies divest or invest in fiber optic technology based in part on the market projections, competitive strengths, and development issues revealed in this report.

Equipment managers will develop or modify existing products to address the fiber optic technology manufacturing concerns discussed in this report.  Material suppliers will identify market opportunities and new customers based on the study’s projected growth in applications.

Venture capital managers will identify targets for investments, mergers, or acquisition based on companies identified and described in this report.  Strategic planners will identify other companies with critical strains to strategically partner with so they can share in the overall fiber optic technology growth as projected in this report.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this report.  Materials and data were obtained from telephone interviews with marketing and engineering personnel at the major companies profiled, as well as from the Internet, market patterns, and a literature search of current articles related to optical fiber sensors technology.

The analysis and conclusions presented in this study are the result of significant research into both producers and users of fiber optic sensor technology.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS

The author received a Ph.D. in material science and engineering from the University of Arizona in 1993, based on a dissertation on the fabrication and characteristics of sol gel optical waveguides.  She then worked for 2 years at Sandia National Labs on the development of thin film zeolite filters for gas separation applications.  Since 1996, she has covered the transportation market as both a contributing editor and editor of Advanced Transportation Technology News and authored numerous reports in advanced materials and transportation for BCC Research.

Table Of Contents

Chapter- 1: INTRODUCTION - Complimentary
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
SCOPE OF REPORT
INTENDED AUDIENCE
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC REPORTS
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
DISCLAIMER

Chapter- 2: SUMMARY
Table : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS BY TYPE, THROUGH 2017
Figure : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS BY TYPE, 2010-2017

Chapter- 3: OVERVIEW
DEFINITION OF THE INDUSTRY
IMPORTANCE OF THE INDUSTRY
CONCEPTS IN THE INDUSTRY
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
TECHNOLOGY LIFE CYCLE
HISTORY
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
FORESEEABLE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

Chapter- 4: TECHNOLOGY
TYPES OF SENSORS
ADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS
DISADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS
PATENT ANALYSIS

Chapter- 5: MARKET BY SENSOR TYPE
FORECAST OF ASSUMPTIONS
EXTRINSIC
INTRINSIC
MARKET BY SENSOR DESIGN
Table 14 : GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY DESIGN, THROUGH 2017
Figure 8 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR BRILLOUIN BASED SENSORS, 2010-2017

Chapter- 6: MARKETS BY APPLICATION    
ENERGY
DEFENSE
MEDICAL
STRUCTURAL
SECURITY
INDUSTRIAL
TRANSPORTATION
Table 35 : GLOBAL COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION MARKET VALUE BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017
Figure 26 : GLOBAL COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION MARKET VALUE, 2010-2017

Chapter- 7: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
DRIVING FORCES
IMPORTANT SHIFTS
COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES
MARKET SEGMENTATION

Chapter- 8: INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS
GLOBAL MARKET BY REGION
FOG MARKET BY REGION
FBG MARKET BY REGION
POINT SENSORS BY REGION
Table 46 : APPARENT CONSUMPTION OF POINT SENSORS BY REGION, THROUGH 2017

Chapter- 9: COMPANY PROFILES
ACORN ENERGY
AITHER ENGINEERING
AVANTES BV
AVENSYS
BAKER HUGHES
CONTRINEX SA
DAVIDSON INSTRUMENTS
MAQUET CARDIOVASCULAR LLC
DICON FIBEROPTICS
ENDOSENSE SA
FIBERPRO GROUP
FIBERSENSING
FORTEBIO
FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, INC. (FOX-TEK)
HALLIBURTON
HALMA GROUP
HITACHI CABLE, LTD
HONEYWELL SENSING AND CONTROL
INTELLIGENT FIBER OPTICS SYSTEMS (IFOS)
KEYENCE
KVH TECHNOLOGIES
LIOS TECHNOLOGY
LUMASENSE
LUNA INNOVATIONS
LXDATA
MICRON OPTICS
NEOPTIX
NORTHROP GRUMMAN NAVIGATION SYSTEMS DIVISION
ALSTOM GRID CURRENT TRANSFORMER
O/E LAND
OMRON
OPSENS
OPTELLIOS
OPTI MEDICAL
OZ OPTICS
PRIME PHOTONICS
ROCTEST GROUP
SABEUS SENSOR SYSTEMS
SAMBA SENSOR SYSTEMS
SCHLUMBERGER
SENSORNET LTD
SENSOTEC GMBH
SHANGHAI LANBAO SENSOR CO, LTD
SILICANN TECHNOLOGIES
SMARTER SECURITY SYSTEM
WEATHERFORD INTERNATIONAL LTD
WENZHOU STORD ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC
ZIEBEL AS

List of Tables

Summary Table : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS BY TYPE, THROUGH 2017
Table 1 : TYPES OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS APPLIED
Table 2 : BRIEF HISTORY OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS
Table 3 : TYPES OF SENSORS COVERED IN THIS REPORT
Table 4 : CHARACTERISTICS OF FOS
Table 5 : DISADVANTAGES OF FOS
Table 6 : PATENTS BY COMPANY, THROUGH JULY 2011
Table 7 : PATENTS BY SENSOR TYPE, 2008-JULY 2011
Table 8 : PATENT APPLICATIONS BY SENSOR TYPE, 2008-JULY 2011
Table 9 : GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY SENSOR TYPE, THROUGH 2017
Table 10 : GLOBAL SIZE OF EXTRINSIC FOS MARKET, THROUGH 2017
Table 11 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR EXTRINSIC FOS, BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 12 : GLOBAL SIZE OF INTRINSIC FOS MARKET, THROUGH 2017
Table 13 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR INTRINSIC FOS, BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 14 : GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY DESIGN, THROUGH 2017
Table 15 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR POINT FOS, BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017
Table 16 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR DISTRIBUTED FOS, BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017
Table 17 : GLOBAL VALUE OF FIBER OPTIC SENSOR MARKET BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2017
Table 18 : GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR ENERGY, THROUGH 2017
Table 19 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR OIL AND GAS BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 20 : NUMBER OF WELLS WORLDWIDE THROUGH 2017
Table 21 : GLOBAL VALUE MODEL FOR FOS IN THE DOWN-HOLE SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 22 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR SEISMIC FOS, THROUGH 2017
Table 23 : VALUE MODEL FOR WIND ENERGY FOS, THROUGH 2017
Table 24 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR DEFENSE MARKETS BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 25 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR AIRCRAFT MARKETS BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 26 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR MUNITIONS MARKET THROUGH, 2017
Table 27 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR OTHER MILITARY MARKETS, THROUGH 2017
Table 28 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR MEDICAL MARKET BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 29 : BLOOD ANALYZER MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 30 : GLOBAL CARDIAC CATHETERIZATIONS BY REGION, THROUGH 2017
Table 31 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR CATHETER FOS MARKET, THROUGH 2017
Table 32 : STRUCTURAL SENSOR MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 33 : SECURITY MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 34 : INDUSTRIAL MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 35 : GLOBAL COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION MARKET VALUE BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017
Table 36 : AIR TRANSPORT MARKET VALUE BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017
Table 37 : FIXED WING AIRCRAFT MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 38 : HELICOPTER MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 39 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR THE SATELLITE MARKET, THROUGH 2017
Table 40 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR THE MARINE MARKET BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017
Table 41 : COMMERCIAL SHIPPING MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 42 : RECREATIONAL BOATING MARKET MODEL, THROUGH 2017
Table 43 : APPARENT FOS CONSUMPTION BY REGION, THROUGH 2017
Table 44 : APPARENT FOG CONSUMPTION BY REGION, THROUGH 2017
Table 45 : APPARENT CONSUMPTION OF FBG BY REGION, THROUGH 2017
Table 46 : APPARENT CONSUMPTION OF POINT SENSORS BY REGION, THROUGH 2017
Table 47 : SUPPLIERS BY REGION

List of Figures

Summary Figure : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS BY TYPE, 2010-2017
Figure 1 : GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY SENSOR TYPE, 2010-2107
Figure 2 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR COATED FIBER SENSORS, 2010-2017
Figure 3 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR FABRY-PEROT SENSORS, 2010-2017
Figure 4 : GLOBAL MARKET VALUE FOR OTHER SENSORS, THROUGH 2017
Figure 5 : GLOBAL VALUE OF FOG SENSORS, 2010-2017
Figure 6 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FBG SENSORS, 2010-2017
Figure 7 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR BRILLOUIN BASED SENSORS, 2010-2017
Figure 8 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR BRILLOUIN BASED SENSORS, 2010-2017
Figure 9 : MARKET SHARE OF GLOBAL VALUE BY APPLICATION, 2011 AND 2017
Figure 10 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FOS IN THE DOWN-HOLE SEGMENT, 2010-2017
Figure 11 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR SEISMIC FOS, 2010-2017
Figure 12 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FOS IN WIND ENERGY, 2010-2017
Figure 13 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR DEFENSE MARKETS, 2010-2017
Figure 14 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR AIRCRAFT MARKETS, 2010-2017
Figure 15 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR MUNITIONS MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 16 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR OTHER MILITARY MARKETS, 2010-2017
Figure 17 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FOS IN HYDROPHONES, 2010 2017
Figure 18 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR DEFENSE PERIMETER SECURITY MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 19 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 20 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR MEDICAL MARKET, THROUGH 2017
Figure 21 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR FOS BLOOD ANALYZERS, 2010-2017
Figure 22 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR MEDICAL MARKET, THROUGH 2017
Figure 23 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR STRUCTURAL SENSOR MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 24 : SECURITY MARKET MODEL, 2010-2017
Figure 25 : SECURITY MARKET MODEL, 2010-2017
Figure 26 : GLOBAL COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION MARKET VALUE, 2010-2017
Figure 27 : GLOBAL VALUE FIXED WING AIRCRAFT MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 28 : GLOBAL VALUE OF THE HELICOPTER MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 29 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR THE SATELLITE MARKET, 2010-2017
Figure 30 : GLOBAL VALUE FOR COMMERCIAL MARINE TRANSPORTATION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2010-2017
Figure 31 : COMMERCIAL BOATING GLOBAL VALUE, 2010-2017
Figure 32 : RECREATIONAL BOATING GLOBAL VALUE, 2010-2017
Figure 33 : APPARENT FOS CONSUMPTION IN THE AMERICAS, 2010-2017
Figure 34 : APPARENT FOS CONSUMPTION IN THE EMEA REGION, 2010-2017
Figure 35 : APPARENT FOS CONSUMPTION IN ASIA, 2010-2017