Fibre to the premises
Lucy Hamilton, KOREC Group
Jorvik’s Trimble MX50 Mobile Mapping system.
THE UK is currently immersed in an extensive full-fibre broadband rollout, a key initiative aimed at realising the government’s vision of ensuring gigabit-capable broadband accessibility for over 85% of the country by 2025, with the ultimate goal of nationwide coverage reaching at least 99% of premises by 2030. Undoubtedly, this strategic undertaking is poised to revolutionise the communication landscape in the UK.
However, it comes with its fair share of intricate engineering and positioning challenges and in particular, across the realms of planning and design, construction, and operation and maintenance. Geospatial data will be crucial to the successful meeting of these targets. KOREC is already working with a number of utility and fibre companies who have adopted a digital approach to their fibre to the premises (FTTP) field data collection and data handling workflows.
These companies are now reporting the benefits of accurately capturing survey data across the three areas mentioned above. Our industry is uniquely placed to address challenges that might hinder productivity in each of these stages. The ensuing examples with a variety of companies highlight the efficacy of mobile mapping, centimetre accurate GPS, and customised workflows in overcoming these hurdles.
Showing vegetation encroachment from mobile mapping data.
Positional information for each connection.
Enhancing productivity for survey, planning, and design services
Jorvik Design Group has revolutionised its data capture operations through its investment in a vehicle-mounted mobile mapping system. Its Trimble MX50 system delivers a point cloud of the environment along with immersive imagery to create accurate designs without time-consuming, labour-intensive site checks.
The UK is currently immersed in an extensive full- fibre broadband rollout, a key initiative aimed at realising the government’s vision of ensuring gigabit-capable broadband accessibility for over 85% of the country by 2025, with the ultimate goal of nationwide coverage reaching at least 99% of premises by 2030.An enhanced workflow was developed to help clients provide a boundary map and all relevant unique property reference numbers (UPRN) along with a request for a plan to be created for a design for that network. An initial survey is then driven with the MX50 mounted on a Land Rover Defender. Having access to a current 3D point cloud means savings on cost, as well as faster design service based on correct asset location.
Working on a new build site for a utility construction company
Working on new build sites, the installation of utilities is based on designers’ detailed line drawings rather than OS MasterMap data which has yet to be created for new developments. However, digitising these line drawings to take into the field, sometimes up to 6,000 in a single project, is extremely problematic due to the density of the information contained. In order to create a new digital workflow, KOREC’s software division, K-MATIC, worked with the client to create a drag-and-drop solution which allows for the transfer of these large files from the office on to field devices.
Digitised workflows for a utility installation company
The client wanted to become more efficient in the field, collecting as-built information. A requirement was for better than 10cm positional accuracy on each connection (as per UK legislation), alongside the ability to document each connection with attribute information fed live to a secure cloud-based portal. This would enable them to provide proof of connection and bill weekly for work done.
Geospatial data will be crucial to the successful meeting of these targets.
A Trimble Catalyst GNSS which has a choice of subscriptions for different accuracies, was the option for them. This was complemented by K-MATIC’s Capture field data software. This software is designed to run on standard smartphones or loggers making it easier.
Pre-empting potential problems and minimising risk for a network operator
Utility companies have to maintain the existing network from pole inspection to vegetation encroachment, with the client selecting a mobile mapping survey to help with this. This data, once processed, was analysed with automated routines for poles that were not in the existing inventory, plus locations where vegetation could encroach the network and impact connectivity. This allowed them to better manage their assets and foresee potential issues.
Lucy Hamilton, KOREC Group