Recent development of fiber optic sensors for perimeter security

Outdoors fiber optic disturbance sensors are, now used for perimeter security and were presented at Carnahan Conference in London in 1995 by I.R. Hawkes and Griffiths. The fibre optic interferometer sensor in a Sagnac loop configuration has also been known as a product of Mason and Manson Company since 1994. This paper describes the investigation results of the new generation of the fiber optic perimeter sensor in the Sagnac loop configuration. The paper shows construction of the fiber optic sensor and how it uses currently available technologies to ensure both excellent detection properties and intruder recognition. This sensor gives extremely low false alarm rate. The details of the new hardware components and the test results from an initial field installation are described. Comparison of the sensor performance with the above-mentioned monitoring sensors indicates the advantages of this new sensor technology.