the field, and offers a comprehensive introduction to this fast growing technology. Beginning with a historical overview and a look at the background technology, the book goes on to discuss methods of embedding optical fibers in modern high-strength, lightweight composite materials; ingress and egress of optical fibers; and more specialized application concerns, including use of the Fabry-Perot interferometer and Bragg grating sensors. Lower cost options are considered in light of performance trade-offs, and broad area coverage through single-line stringing of multiple fiber sensors is compared with single and distributed sensor approaches. The last section of the book treats the use of fiber optic smart structures in a wide range of settings. Discussions include applications in environments where high temperature and ultrasonic waves play a role; in the aerospace industry, where changes in the structural integrity of the system demand real-time automatic changes; and arapidly emerging new direction, earthquake-resistant buildings and, along similar lines, bridges that perform self-diagnostics.