Development of Fiber-optic Sensor Networks for Transportation Infrastructure Monitoring

Transportation assume no liability for the contents or use thereof. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the State of California or the Department of Transportation. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. ABSTRACT The problem to be addressed in this project pertains to the monitoring and management of transportation infrastructural health through the use of fiber-optic sensing technology. In the project, we have demonstrated that the fiber-optic sensing technology is capable of offering superior performance and extensive capability to structural heath monitoring applications. We have conducted comprehensive performance evaluation for point and distributed fiber optic sensors aiming at the application for the long-span transportation infrastructural monitoring. In the research effort, validation of point and distributed fiber optic sensors is achieved through laboratory and field tests. A structural health monitoring system using a quasi-distributed sensor network and distributed sensors will be designed based on the results of this field test. The research team plans to collaborate with Caltrans engineers to conduct a field deployment test within the Southern California transportation infrastructure. The field-test data will be reviewed and analysed to obtain important information to justify fiber-optic sensing technology for future system installation. The prototype deployed in the selected section of the transportation infrastructure will continue to collect structural information for technology and design validation. A system design utilizing a fiber-optic sensor network used in the monitoring and management of transportation infrastructures will be proposed as the end of the research effort.