Reliability, availability, and maintainability considerations for fiber optical sensor applications

The paper gives an overview of reliability, availability, and maintainability of fiber optical sensors, three key factors on which standards and validation should be based and which are required for successful industrialization. The examples given are based on two long term applications with fiber optical Bragg gratings - the surveillance of two bridges (civil engineering). However, similar reflections are required for any type of application and any optical fiber sensors. Recommendations are given to improve the confidence and acceptance of possible users in fiber optical sensing systems. It is shown that with proper installation lifetimes of 50 years are possible.