Civil works

From A to B, preferably without detours

Civil works stands out. Last week, there was nothing to see, this week everything is blocked off and dug up, and next week it will look (almost) as if nothing ever had happened. Civil works must be fast and efficient. And precise: EU requirements stipulate that the center line of the road must be documented with an accuracy of 20 to 30 cm. This makes sense, because you’re rarely the only utility under the sidewalk.

It is sometimes possible to use existing routes, pipes, poles, etc. But this is not usually the case, especially when it comes to fiber optic infrastructure. There are many complex aspects to consider.

The layout of new routes, terrain characteristics (from asphalt to grass), location (of shafts, cabinets, poles, etc.), route content (including pipes, microducts, and cable distribution), and much more.

Topography and topology play an important role here: Where is the shaft located, for example? And which cabinet does its piping lead to? And, of course, what needs to be spliced?

Route planning determines the most suitable location and direction of a route on the ground between its starting point and its end point. According to Wikipedia. However, the competent authority may disagree. In this case, the entire route must be as easy as possible to travel when planning – including everything along that lies within, of course.

This naturally has an impact on cable routing and pipe allocation. It’s preferable for the signal to remain routable at all times. Pipe allocation and provision should be easy to identify using a schematic representation.

The quality of route planning, combined with detailed information, is key to the success of FTTH expansion projects: minimizing effort, minimizing planning and construction time, and minimizing construction costs. Fortunately, with the right tool, this is not a problem.