ADVANCE GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES FOR REAL TIME SMART FIBER MONITORING AND DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM (SFMDS)

Syed Abbas Raza Zaidi, Sajid Rashid Ahmad, Muhammad Asif Javed & Rizwan Latif

Corresponding Author email: m.asifjaved13@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Telecom Industry is the major utility supposed to as the fourth pillar of basics

needs in the fastest growing economical world. In olden days the network is being

managed by using coax cable technology or DSL etc. but there are some

bandwidth limitations in these technologies. With the innovation of Fiber Optic in

telecommunication industry the customer demands are high in terms of services

since fiber has capacity to deal with triple play services at once (voice, Video and

IPTV) at quality level. According to researches and industry expert’s opinion, the

biggest challenge is the cost on the civil work to remove the traditional HFC, Coax

cable with the fiber along with the newly deployment. Therefore, it is needed that

the latest trends and technologies should adopt in telecommunication sector to

automate the business process of the organization at enterprise level. Geospatial

technology plays a vital role in telecommunication industry in terms of planning,

scheduling, and monitoring as well as in Operation Maintenance. This study has

been done as a pilot on the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad, covering an area of

906 Sq Km. This research aimed at provide the extensive tools of Fiber Optic

network planning, monitoring, scheduling and integration by using a Centerline

and decentralize approach to build enterprise databases and RIA which opens a

new era in research and development of GIS roles in Utility sector. The study is

totally focused on the system automation, new customer installation along with its

fiber length detail by using rich internet Application which is very useful and cost-

effective solution for the companies as well as for the customer satisfaction along

with the quality of service. The solution as stated above is designed and developed

by using Open Source (Geo-server and Postgres) as per OGC Standards along with

ESRI (ArcMap) products. There is still the limitation of open source in terms of

tools and data development along with the cost of ESRI products is being high. It

is suggested that this cost-effective solution should be adopted in

telecommunication sector for system automation and to increase the efficiency in

infrastructure deployment.

Keywords: Digital subscriber line, Hybrid fiber Coaxial, Rich Internet

Applications, Open Geospatial consortium, Inc. Environmental System research

Institute.

Introduction

Optical fiber technology brings the new trends in telecommunication industry to

provide Triple Play (Voice, Data and IPTV) services Umar Farooq et al. (2015).

Earlier to that telecommunication network will be on copper cable network which

unable to full fill the user demand as required, the band width demand is increasing

day by day with an average of 50% per year, transformation in bandwidth from

narrow to broadband is quiet necessary Only Optical fiber network deployment is

the solution to sort out this issue and provide the better service as client required (J.

Nielsen, 2010; R. E. Wagner et al., 2006). Fiber had multiple advantages over

conventional copper cable network, since copper cable network had the best

thermal and electrical conductivity always need an electrical source,

Electromagnetic interference to continue its data transmission Pirich and anumolu

(2010), if we talk about the cost fiber deployment cost a bit high as compared to

FTTx the increase in cost is nothing but due to new civil work required for

excavation of trench etc. Matrood et al. (2014). Other factor like fiber had light

weight as compared to copper cable, size also less in case of fiber Babani et al.

(2014). GIS is a powerful tools and smart way of technology innovation which

almost all telecom companies are more friendly to use to monitor network,

minimize the construction cost as well as Operations maintenance cost. (Umar

Farooq et al., 2015; Manojkumar Lokhande et al., 2017; Rahul D. Taur1 et al.,

2014) Comprehensive multi scaled maps are too generated for operations teams to

increase the work efficiency and to reduce the maintenance cost(predictive and

preventive) (Petkovic et al., 2002 ; KUO et al., 2011; Ragade et al., 2016;

Gayathri et al., 2016) , For fault detection once the light beam travels in the cable

to identify the fault GIS system will be so responsive that it smartly work on

integration parameters to increase the efficiency in network operations

Veitenheimer et al. (2011) In Passive Optical network (PON) (20 KMs) we will

use passive devices like cabinets, splitters to transmit data from point to multipoint.

PON network is most widely used since its cost-effective solution as compared to

P2P and AON (Chen et al., 2010; Van Loggerenberg et al., 2010; F. Effenberger et

al., 2007; Kadhim et al., 2013)

Main objective of this study is to provide the integrated real time fiber optic cost

effective deployment solution a step towards telecommunication industry

automation across the world to overcome the conventional methods. Since it is

demand of latest trends in industry for system automation Umar Farooq et al.

(2015). The system should be smart enough to evaluate the capacity of existing

deployed network to accommodate the newly installed customers. GIS based

geometric network for utilities and routing will be created to find out the

appropriate and cost effective solution since more over the world copper is not

replaced with fiber because of is civil cost factor as well (Matrood et al., 2014 ;

Jens Myrup Pedersen et al., 2010 ; Attila Mitcsenkov et al., 2011 ; Rong-Show

Kuo et al., 2014).

Materials and Methods

Geo-spatial technology has been utilized to develop the web-based planning

module for the prefect planning routes in order to make new installation. This

portal is prepared by using OGC standard software’s, open source QGIS, however

for the data storage purpose, Postgres and Geo-server is being used as an

application hosted server, While, JAVA, PHP cod ignitor, Bootstrap and leaflet JS

API have been used as tools. Fig 1 shows the methodology of the research.

Figure 1: Project Methodology Overview for Proposed System

Data Processing

Fiber optic data is being collected from Wateen telecom; however field surveys

using GPS and handheld android GPS devices were also carried out in order to

collect the missing datasets. Collected data sets kml files were being converted

into GIS format and plotted on the georeferenced and digitized maps. Collected

data is the main Long-haul cable spreading nationwide and the core network data

from ADM Site to the Terminal site, along with the splitter data capacity of the

splitter and the rings etc. All the points’ splitters cabinets, joints, OLT and cable

data is being processed and prepared in Arc GIS software’s, by ensuring that OLT

is properly connected with the main cable and having the attributes of capacity

information as required.

Figure 2: An Overview of Collected Project Data

The main cable nationwide Long-haul network consist of mostly 96 cores which is

further splitted at ADM Site which further passes as a feeder cable to the OLT,

Islamabad. This cable had one OLT which is being installed in the center of the

city. This OLT is behaving as an ideal as it serves an area of 10 to 12 KM buffer

from its location. From OLT. Further, this cable is splitted into rings and sub rings

called ACR rings which ensure the connectivity of all the hubs in the city to serve

the enterprise corporate customers. OLT further used to feed the splitter mostly

24,36 core cable at a distance of about 7.5 to 8 KM ideally and make a check that

all the splitters are connected in a ring to provide live and redundant path as

sometimes there is not a separate cable installed for the splitter on ring itself. From

customer a drop cable is being use to connect the customers mostly 2 core for the

SOHO, sometimes its 12 based on the client need and customer itself. Joint city

Telecommunication layout also is shown in figure 3.

Figure 3: Existing Fiber Infrastructure for the City

Quality Control (QA/QC)

After digitizing the network, topology is being applied to check and resolve the

unseen errors i.e. dangle, undershoot, over shoot errors along with the

infrastructure connectivity. After preparing the proper data rings and available last

mile connectivity geometric network for utilities, a tool in ArcGIS is being used to

create the geometric networks to make sure that all the data is aligned in a network

form and functional tracing. Subsequently, their source of flow is adjusted along

with the weight if needed in our case weight is not needed at this time. The

following operations were performed while using the geometric network for

utilities as a QC of the data as required for the network operations.

Network Tracing

Loops and rings tracing

Upstream Network flow

Downstream Network flow

Determinate flow

Indeterminate flow

Uninitialized flow

Determinate flow means network is working fine, however indeterminate means

flow may be in loop so that’s also fine, but for the un-initialized flow means there

have been some error which must be checked and removed. The error may be

connectivity or geometric weight rules etc.

Figure 4: Geometric Network Error Detection & Rectification

Figure 5: Network Connectivity Validation

.After removing all these errors and exception, there was need to validate the

network and check the loops since core network deployed in the form of rings by

putting a flag on any customer and click on solve the system which showed the

rings. Since the main fiber carrier is deployed in the form of rings and its quite

necessary to check the rings connectivity to avoid the system loss, this tool ensured

that there is no fiber cut in the ring connectivity. Furthermore, upstream and

downstream path of each customer were also checked which describes from where

it’s feeding its main source of transmission up to the ring (Fig 6).

Figure 6: Network Upstream / Downstream Path Validation

Please note that the upstream path is from sink to source and downstream from

source to sink so downstream one can check from OLT, Splitter to connected

customers etc. After checking the database QA/QC we migrate to the next level of

project towards application development.

Application Development Module

After validation, database server is being configured with the geo server for direct

communication of data with the application. Customer planning and application is

developed such a way that anyone could find the minimal optimal path for the

customer cable layout.

In very 1st stage a frame is design for the design view of the portal having the

basic OSM service along with the basic tools such as:

Map view (Show the overview of deployed network)

Zoom In (Maximize Extent)

Zoom Out (Minimize Extent)

Connection Point (For newly connection deployed Tool)

Measurement Tool (Ruler tool to measure the lengths)

Clear Graphic (Clear the purposed solution)

Reset (Refresh the system and back to the 1st stage of proposed connection)

Google OSM Service is being used for the street view and the cable network is

published on it as a network. The published network service having all the

network components, switch view for the hybrid and OSM is created for review

and validate the data with satellite imagery. Basic tools are being created by using

java and the template is design in leaflet and bootstrap library. However, PG

Routing (a product of OGC) is being used to find the most suitable and shortest

path. The core features of the PG Routing are

Find shortest path

Bi directional Path

Driving directions flow

Driving distance calculation

Show the multiple options

Travelling sales

Geo Server is the family of OGC written in Java, which was used to publish the

geospatial services, though we can also use WCS and WMS services while hosting

as a backend. Fiber-OLT-Splitter is the combine layer of OLT to splitter, the

Fiber-Shortest-Path is to store the shortest path of the newly deployment, Hub

Style shows the hubs data on carrier rings, Metro-Hand hole-Ex is present the

existing hand holes of the city, Metro-Joint-EX are the normal, cut and T-Joints of

the cable, normal joints are at the distance of 4 km at every patch normally. Cut

joints are used where the cut came, T-joints are normally installed on the cable

where new connection to be made, T joints are also called the major joint of Fiber

optic cable. Metro-Ring is the line feature shows the whole rings of the city along

with its capacity, however, these rings are also categorized as major rings and sub

rings (ACR’s and Sub ACR’s), New-Connection-Marker is the point for the

purposed connection. OLT Style is the OLTs of the installed system, Shortest Path

is the layer to store the shortest path from nearest fiber, while splitter data is being

used to store the splitters data, rest all layers dem, cite-lakes are the by default

layers in the server used as a base map support.

Results & Discussion

Since all the goals and planned tasks were completed here as under is the general

overview of the basic tools developed in web interface 7(a). Once the application

developed as per the provided data, the testing is required to make sure that its

working fine. Selection window is displayed in figure 7(b) to insert the location of

the customer where connection is required. Subsequently, by entering the package

type by customer, application finds out the nearest fiber by using PG routing.

Application provides the results by tracing the shortest route from the main cable

and up to the splitter and OLT as shown in figure 8(a) & 8(b).

Figure 7: (a) Complete Overview of Developed Application for the Proposed Solution

(b) Web Application Interface for Customer Service

Figure 8: (a) Connection window to check Network Feasibility

(b) Network Connection Building, Shortest Route

However, upon selection of the demand place system provides the shortest way to

the nearest cable shows in a first separate part, most probably the new cable

installed patch. Then from the splicing joint o route on the existing routes rings etc.

up to splitter from where to be served as a primary site also the system calculates

the cable for the secondary serving site such as OLT or Hub etc. The developed

system is smart enough if someone want to change the estimated cable route

system, this application allowed to re-route the plan as shown in (Figure 9-a & b).

These figures show full and final deployed solution for the new customer’s

installation along with the cable statistics for the newly installed and the existing

one. Furthermore, meta data of the database is being created in detail to know

about the database schema and for better understanding with the layers using in

this project.

Figure 9: (a) Re-route the Calculated and Design Path

(b) Length and Re-routing of Modified Path

Since the system automation is the latest trends in utility industry to bring a new

innovation. An attempt has been made to make an integrated platform for the fiber

optic deployment in order to calculate the finest route of fiber deployment along

with its cost calculations. It becomes need of the hour to automate the business

process of entire industry as well as the customer satisfaction. This study is of quite

significance as the application was designed by using advanced geospatial

techniques as per industry demand. Though there were some limitations in the

OGC so new codes were developed for the database refining and to utilize the

other available geospatial products.

Conclusion

Solution provided in this study is based on the geospatial products which

comprises on an automated and integrated system for the Optical Fiber network

deployment, monitoring as well as Operation and maintenance prospective. The

goals are achieved as purposed, a web-based GIS application is developed for the

end user and stakeholders for the newly connection planning and deployment along

with to continue the operational tasks and analyze the Fiber optic system

effectively for the city. It is observed that by adoption of the integrated purposed

solution one can save the time, work efficiency from the conventional method,

accurate planning for the deployment, business development and cost effective at

organizational level. Furthermore the solution could be implementation at small,

medium and enterprise level firms don’t have limitations with the no of users. The

designed system could be better if the datacenters (ENOC) are being integrated

with the Operational network as well as the Enterprise resource Planning (ERP); a

step towards the revolution in integration of geospatial technologies in Business

development. Moreover,, the nationwide addressing data could improve the

Operation and maintenance activity for the designed solution. Hence, geospatial

techniques proved to vital in utility industry for system automation and network

optimization.

Though to develop all the recommended solution demands the software and

hardware package, so, there are still the limitation in terms of software purchasing

cost, as open source software’s do not not allow the Integrated utility solution in

one package. To do so, there is a huge expertise required to design and integrate

such system to manage the utility network smartly. ESRI have provided solutions

and tools in such type of utilities domain as per market demand but these are much

expensive and are out of the affordability of small and medium enterprises. Since

the developed system is efficient and cost effective, therefore it should be

introduced in telecom industry to make their organizational part. Furthermore it is

recommended that there is a need to integrate all the available systems of

Operation maintenance (Optical light source) with the GIS for live complaint view

and solution to work on fiber core management, Pair utilization, tube data etc.

which leads further this system towards smart city.

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