Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market Size Analysis by Scattering Process (Rayleigh Scattering Effect, Raman Scattering Effect, Interferometric Distributed Optical-Fiber Sensor, Distributed Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor, Brillouin Scattering Effect), Operating Principle (Optical Time Domain Reflectometry, Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry, Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry), Fiber Type (Multi-Mode, Single Mode), Vertical (Oil & Gas, Energy and Utility, Military, Civil Engineering), Application (Temperature Sensing, Acoustic Sensing, Strain Sensing, Pressure Sensing) - Global Industry Revenue Estimation to 2030

Market Overview

The global distributed fiber optic sensor market size was valued at $1,096 million in 2021, and this number is expected to increase to $2,285 million by 2030, advancing at a CAGR of 8.50% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the surging demand for optic sensing, which is widely used in a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, civil, and energy; and the increasing offshore drilling activities coupled with high investment done to explore new reserves for oil and gas.

Furthermore, the burgeoning usage of distributed sensors in applications such as structural health monitoring, pipeline monitoring, border monitoring, and control, is also contributing to the overall market expansion.

Rayleigh Scattering Effect Category To Show Highest Growth

The Rayleigh scattering effect category will register the fastest growth during 2021–2030. This growth can be because it comes under the linear scattering process that offers more accurate and precise results as compared to a non-linear scattering process, increased R&D investments by industry players to enhance the process, and it offers similar sensitivity to variables like temperature and strain. Also, this scattering is utilized to detect and track the propagating impact of factors.

Additionally, such effect-based technologies offer distinct operational properties, and distributed sensing employing Rayleigh scattering of light enables the transformation of an optic fiber cable into an array of several virtual strains and temperatures that can span large distances, which, in turn, fuel the market share in this category.

Furthermore, the Raman scattering effect category held a significant revenue share in 2021 and is further expected to maintain its position during the projected period. This is due to its usage to scrutinize a wide range of materials, including gases, liquids, and solids; and its application in high-stakes circumstances including the security of huge structures, coolant leak detection, and fire detection with applications in cutting-edge data processing techniques. Additionally, such effect-based sensors have wide industrial applications ranging from energy to oil & gas, transportation, and structural health monitoring.

Mounting Demand for Infrastructure and Civil Engineering Vertical Fuels Market Growth

The usage of distributed fiber optic sensors in the infrastructure and civil engineering vertical has been unceasingly growing mainly for structural health monitoring. To gain a better understanding of the structural condition and manage the infrastructure in an economically efficient manner, distributed sensors are becoming more and more prevalent in this industry. The key areas where structural health monitoring in the civil engineering sector is expanding include geotechnical structures, pipelines, bridges, and dams. The capacity to simultaneously monitor strain, temperature, or pressure over a large number of sites is the main benefit of next-generation sensors. The main drivers for this expanded use of distributed sensing in the civil engineering sector are their flexibility to be deployed in any type of demanding environment and the ability to track structural issues in real time.

Temperature Sensing Is Prime Revenue Contributor

The temperature sensing category accounted for the largest revenue share, of around 43%, in 2021 and is further expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This is ascribed to factors such as the surging demand for workplace safety, the dependability of DTS sensors/systems for sensing and monitoring applications in extreme environments, and the mounting applications of temperature sensors in the oil & gas, industrial, infrastructural, civil engineering, energy, and utility industries.

Additionally, the acoustic sensing category will witness significant growth in the coming years. This can be ascribed to the increasing focus on enhancing border surveillance, enlightening oil & gas operations by providing key data, along with growing focus on reducing loss. Moreover, the wireless and passive nature of acoustic sensors is the key reason behind their wide adoption.

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Growing Reliability of DFOS Propels Market Expansion

Traditional sensors rely on various sensors measuring at pre-decided points; whereas, distributed sensors do not rely upon manufactured sensors but take advantage of optical fiber. Distributed fiber optic sensors enable surveilling solutions with benefits for the safety of society and critical assets, especially when surveilling in inhospitable environments or remote locations. These sensors substitute the integration of thousands of sensors with a single optical fiber system. Moreover, the optical fiber is light weighted, manageable, available at a low price, and unaffected by electromagnetic interference (EMI), which make it an economical and flexible sensor medium. The benefits associated with distributed optic fiber sensors are likely to spur the market growth.

Oil & Gas Industry Held Major Revenue Share

The oil & gas industry accounted for the highest revenue to the market in 2021 and is further expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period, advancing at a CAGR of 9.2%. This can be ascribed to the widespread usage of such sensors for upstream and downstream processes in the oil & gas industry; the rising need for permanent down well monitoring, natural gas extraction, reservoir surveillance, subsea monitoring, mentoring storage & transportation, refining process, and research; and the surging need for monitoring of well temperature and obtaining authentic pictures of physical parameters of wellbores.

Moreover, such sensors offer several advantages, including more accurate results even in remote locations as well as optimized operations and economic performance of assets, which result in the high market growth in this industry.

Additionally, the infrastructure and civil engineering category will register significant growth during 2021–2030. This can be ascribed to the increasing usage of DFOS to improve the accuracy and efficiency of inspection, the rising infrastructure across the globe, and a better understanding of structural conditions and economically efficient management of infrastructure.

Multi-Mode Fiber Contributes Majority of Revenue

The multi-mode fiber category accounted for a larger revenue share in 2021 and is further expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is due to its rising usage in the oil & gas industry, the mounting demand for high-speed connectivity, the growing internet penetration, and the rising mobile data traffic.

North America Leads the Market

North America accounted for the highest revenue share, of around 34.7%, in 2021 and is further expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This is attributed to the presence of a large number of industry players, well-established oil & natural gas industry, high adoption rate of advanced technology, and high R&D spending in the field of oil & gas, in the region.

• The U.S. contributed the majority of the revenue to the regional market in 2021 and is further expected to continue witnessing the same trend in the coming years. This is due to the higher adoption rate of distributed fiber optic cables, and the rising demand for DFOSs in different verticals including safety and security, energy & utilities, oil & gas, and infrastructure and civil engineering.

On the other hand, the APAC distributed fiber optic sensor market will register the fastest growth during the forecast period, advancing at a CAGR of around 9.5%. This can be ascribed to the increasing demand for distributed fiber optic sensing technology for various applications including temperature sensing, pressure sensing, and strain sensing from emerging economies such as China and India.

• China held the largest revenue share in the regional market in 2021, owing to the large manufacturing base, easy availability of resources, and cheap labor cost, in the country.

In addition, Europe held a significant revenue share in 2021 and is expected to maintain its position in the coming years, in the market. This is ascribed to the surging demand for efficient and optimized monitoring and security processes, across enterprises and manufacturing sectors, in the region.

Key Players in the Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market Are:

• Schlumberger Limited
• Halliburton Company
• Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Weatherford International plc
• QinetiQ Group
• Luna Innovations Incorporated
• OFS Fitel LLC
• Bandweaver
• Omnisens SA
• Brugg Kabel AG
• AP Sensing GmbH
• Ziebel AS

Market Size Breakdown by Segment

The study offers a comprehensive market segmentation analysis along with market estimation for the period 2017-2030.

Based on Scattering Process

• Rayleigh Scattering Effect
• Raman Scattering Effect
• Interferometric Distributed Optical-Fiber Sensor
• Distributed Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor
• Brillouin Scattering Effect

Based on Operating Principle

• Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR)
• Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR)
• Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR)

Based on Fiber Type

• Multi-mode
• Single Mode

Based on Vertical

• Oil & Gas
• Energy and Utility 
• Military
• Civil Engineering

Based on Application

• Temperature Sensing 
• Acoustic Sensing 
• Strain Sensing
• Pressure Sensing

Geographical Analysis

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Italy
  • Spain
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• Middle East and Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa