CORPORATE MEMBERS
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS
-
Member Login
Know Before You Dig
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) owns buried fiber optic cable, wireless networks, and phone systems throughout the state. Information about these systems was scattered across hundreds of paper maps, or only known to the people who buried the cable. Digging on properties was resulting in damages to buried cables because information about their locations was inaccessible. Expensive network repairs were causing downtime and costing taxpayers unnecessary money.
Cable maps dating back over 50 years were gathered, along with firsthand accounts of employees who witnessed the burial of cable on over 300 sites. DNR then developed a GIS capable of managing all the data in one place. The cable data was digitized and entered into the GIS, and can be accessed through a database or web interface. This allows users who are not necessarily GIS experts to retrieve problem resolution data from any computer connected to the internet.
The system was also used to identify towers which could be used for the deployment of long range canopy networks. Forty-five of these networks were installed and are now tracked by the system.
Results
With this project, over 290 miles of cable, 800 buildings, 146 towers, and all of the properties’ phone system information has been documented in a single, easily accessible location. The GIS allows DNR employees to locate and mark buried cable before digging is started. This prevents almost all cable cuts and damages to underground facilities.
Repair vendors access the data on phone systems and computer networks daily. They can see what equipment is onsite, ensuring the correct supplies and parts are brought on repair jobs and eliminating the need for return trips. The GIS is constantly updated by vendors submitting changes made during repairs or when new equipment is added. The faster, more reliable system has led to fewer charges and much less overall downtime.