Optical Fiber-Based Sensing, Measuring, and Implementation Methods for Slope Deformation Monitoring: A Review

Slope instabilities are a common occurrence in hilly areas, mine, and dam region, which bring a grave threat to the safety of transportation business and human life. The effective slope monitoring methods and instruments can provide information on the current deformation and historical trends, which is important scientific information for researchers to analyze slope stability and provide a timely warning to the public. Optical fiber sensors (OFSs) have attracted many researchers to explore due to their unique advantages in comparison with conventional electronic-based sensing technologies, such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, remote transmission, easy integration, and high sensitivity. This review presents an overview of the latest development and application of OFS-based slope deformation monitoring from two aspects: 1) fiber Bragg grating-based sensing and monitoring technology and 2) distributed OFSs including Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry and Brillouin optical time domain analysis for slope monitoring. Meanwhile, current challenges in implementing the OFS-based slope monitoring technology are discussed.