A fiber optic barrier integrity monitor

A description is presented of two designs for monitoring the integrity of a barrier surrounding a location. The concept was originally developed for verifying compliance to a treaty where the barrier was to surround a site containing treaty-limited items. The application of these designs is not limited to treaty verification and might be used to monitor the integrity of vault walls, building and igloo walls, truck and transport container walls, or net barriers partitioning a harbor. The barrier consists of a row of upright columns supporting three horizontal rails. An optical fiber is threaded through the rails and the continuity of the fiber is monitored via a light signal sent through it. The design is intended to detect any breach immediately so that the violator might be caught in the violation act. The equipment should also detect attempts to tamper with the system by inserting a bypass around a portion of the fiber.<>