This textbook is a guide to outside plant fiber optic construction, basically the process of installing the fiber optic cable plant including the work necessary before the fiber optic techs begin splicing, terminating and testing the cable plant. This book was written by Joe Botha of Triple Play Fibre Optic Solutions in South Africa as a textbook for classes he teaches on construction. Joe, an FOA Master Instructor, created the course to fill a need for training OSP construction crews. The book covers topics which are rare in textbooks, practical solutions to designing and installing the fiber optic cable plant. It is an extremely valuable reference book for all owners, designers, supervisors and installers of fiber optic OSP networks.

A re-working of C.D. Chaffee's previously published The Rewiring of America (Academia, 1988), this professional book describes the fiber optics revolution. There have been many changes in the fiber optics field since the book's first publication. These include advances in optical networking; the additional bandwidth created by the Internet and associated data services; liberalization of the global telecommunications industry; and the rewiring of the world's oceans with fiber optics. Building the Global Fiber Optics Superhighway details all these developments. C.D. Chaffee writes: `One thing is clear: as our networks become primarily data-driven, they need to be built differently, to be able to handle data first, but also voice. It is a different way of looking at the world.'

* Ideal for those with some background in communications but without previous knowledge of fiber optics * Provides a comprehensive treatment of the fundamentals of fiber optic systems and their individual components * Places emphasis on practical techniques of component installation and system design Fiber Optics is a technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data. A fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves. Fiber optics have several advantages over traditional metal communications lines. While there are plenty of theoretical texts on fiber optics, high-level engineering texts and installation guides, there are few comprehensive applied texts for practicing engineers. This book covers design issues, installation and troubleshooting in the right depth for engineers working in industry. Readers will use this knowledge to develop the required techniques for design, installation and maintenance of their own fiber optic systems.

Fiber optic communications and the data cabling revolution -- Optical fiber theory -- Optical fiber production techniques -- Optical fiber connection theory and basic techniques -- Practical aspects of connection technology -- Connectors and joints, alternatives and applications -- Fiber optic cables -- Optical fiber highways -- Optical fiber highway design -- Component choice -- Specification definition -- Acceptance test methods -- Installation practice -- Final acceptance testing -- Documentation -- Repair and maintenance -- Case study -- Future developments.

This book is intended as an introduction and reference to fiber optic smart structures. Smart structures are used as sensors in a wide variety of applications and fields--from aerospace engineering to electrical engineering to civil engineering.