On the Use of Optical Fiber Sensors for Debris Flow Monitoring: A Review of Recent Achievements

Debris flows are among the most common and dangerous types of landslides on the planet, often occurring in mountainous areas. Because of their tremendous speeds and the sheer destructive power of their flow, they are extremely hazardous to life and property. Geotechnical instrumentation is critical for monitoring and warning debris flows. However, traditional monitoring systems are hampered by limitations, such as limited spatial resolution and sensitivity, reduced robustness, and powering and cabling issues. These limitations can be surpassed using optical fiber sensors, which are gaining increasing interest by the scientific and stakeholders community. In this paper, we have selected and reviewed some of the most significant achievements and trends on this topic.