Tips for Migrating Fiber Data

January 16, 2019 — Tim Battle

So, you’re looking to migrate the company’s fiber data into GIS.  Obviously, that is a great decision.  Today organizations use location-based data to make critical business decisions daily.  In today’s utility, the information stored in GIS is accessed by individuals across departmental boundaries.  Traditionally, telecommunication companies cared most about fiber data, but now all utilities are understanding the benefit of tracking this valuable asset.  Electric utilities are now leveraging existing infrastructure (fiber for SCADA) to extract additional revenues in the form of wholesale dark fiber leasing.  With data traffic expected to double by 2020, fiber and the data associated with it will be more critical to organizations across the globe.

Now that you have made the decision to leverage GIS as your fiber repository, what are some of the pitfalls you may encounter in your journey and how do you avoid them.

Organizational buy-in

Before the first piece of data is touched it is necessary for the organization to understand the project and what role each group plays in its ultimate success. Ensure that all parties involved understand the scope of the project and the level of effort required.  By setting up a GIS committee and engaging early and often with the different business units (Engineering, Operations, Asset Management, Finance, etc.) in the utility you can ensure that the needs for each of these groups are met by identifying and refining user requirements.  Obviously, each of these groups will have different needs pertaining to this data and how they intend to use it.  For example, the Engineering group will have different needs from say Finance.  While it is important for Engineering to know the available fibers on a fiber cable for design, Finance may want to know how many different sizes of fiber cable the utility is using to track cost and depreciation.  By engaging with the different groups beforehand you can ensure that you are tracking attributes that are valuable to each distinct business unit.  This also will give everyone a sense of ownership and responsibility in providing quality data.

Understanding Data Sources & Specification document creation

Getting a handle on how and where information is currently being tracked is a vital piece of the puzzle.  Many utilities have information stored across disparate systems and many different data types.  Creating a specification document will allow you to plan out how the product will meet the requirements of its user.  This is where you will define what information is needed, how it will be presented and how it will be maintained moving forward.  Fiber data can be extremely complex because of the relationships between fiber cable, buffer tubes, individual fiber strands, etc.  Maintaining this document and updating it as new or unexpected scenarios are encountered will save to time and frustration later.  Having good documentation allows for flexibility in staffing and reduced training.  This is a living document and should be revisited whenever changes occur to the process in how or what data is being collected.  Avoid short cuts in the creation of this extremely important resource.  The time spent getting this right now will save you countless hours in the future.

Start with a Pilot project

After spending significant time in making the decision to move your fiber data into GIS chances are everyone will be clamoring for a quick turnaround, after all we live in era of instant everything – instant information, instant communication, instant gratification.  By taking a step back and taking a little time to do a small pilot you can help identify unforeseen hurdles.  This will also give the project team a clearer understanding of project timelines and levels of effort involved.  By dipping your toe in the water so to speak it will be easier to manage the expectations from within your organization and possibly even convert some of the naysayers.

Don’t wait to start the QA/QC process

  • “Quality data is not a luxury- It is an operational, regulatory and statutory requirement”
  • “Quality data does NOT guarantee quality information, but quality information is impossible without quality data”

Quality control and ongoing quality improvement must be inherent throughout any mapping organization’s production process. Quality must be a top priority and starts at the beginning of the process not the end.  Sure QA/QC is your last line of defense but never wait until the project is complete to start.  To quote the great John Wooden “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over.” A good quality assurance plan should identify accuracy, completeness and consistency in your data.

Hopefully these tips will help you on your journey to a successful fiber migration!

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