The common enemy in joint-use projects: Inefficient workflows

Cloud-based workflows can be a savior for all parties involved

The race to expand broadband access across the country relies heavily on the joint-use process, where communications companies attach their cables to existing utility poles.

For communications firms, speed is critical – the faster you obtain permits and complete attachments, the sooner you start realizing profits. However, utilities prioritize safety and service reliability above all else. Overloaded poles are a major liability that can lead to outages and hazards, especially during extreme weather events.

Inefficient data workflows can severely hinder both the pace of broadband rollout and the integrity of the joint-use process. The most traditional method of pole data collection (Hastings Stick and pen and paper) is slow and error-prone. The collected data then has to be physically transported back to an office before it can be uploaded for analysis. Field crews often work in remote areas, adding substantial delays and increased labor costs. More modern methods, involving digital cameras and tablets, have their downsides as well – most commonly, they require more time in the back office to prepare the data.

These delays cost precious time and money in an industry where every second counts towards deployment targets. But the bigger risk is human error – both from field crews and back-office analysts operating under pressure to rush permits. Incorrect data can easily get buried in utilities’ geographic information systems (GIS), only to be exposed too late when an overloaded pole fails catastrophically.

Cloud-based workflows are a digital panacea for the joint-use process. Field data can be uploaded to cloud platforms accessible by both communications companies and utilities. Removing data silos and enabling all stakeholders to view and verify data ensures structural integrity and the safety of the public. Data can then be exported to downstream applications such as pole loading analysis software. This allows continuous verification to ensure the utility’s standards and safety regulations are met before attachments proceed.

The IKE Device is a rugged field tool that enables a solo fielder to rapidly capture data, upload to the cloud-based software IKE Office Pro and create a verifiable record of the pole. Data can then be permanently stored in the cloud or temporarily staged for export to the utility’s native GIS after the joint-use process concludes. Large utilities often have complex databases they cannot simply replace, so a cloud-based workflow complements rather than replaces these systems and enables seamless interoperability.

These advanced cloud-based workflows turn a historically linear, disjointed process into a live cycle of continuous improvement. By having one single and accessible source of truth for pole records that utilities and communications firms collaborate on simultaneously, the joint-use process accelerates dramatically while upholding the highest safety standards.

The pioneers who designed the electric grid and modern communications networks were big thinkers whose visionary ideas transformed society. Today, as broadband and grid modernization again reshape our world, the future lies in leveraging cloud data and workflows. For both efficient broadband expansion and a resilient grid capable of weathering climate challenges, the solution is getting your data into the cloud.

Learn about how IKE Office Pro’s cloud-based workflows enable streamlined pole data projects.

Spencer Hankin is a Senior GIS Manager for ikeGPS. He has worked in every aspect of OSP aerial engineering including fielding poles in remote areas, building PLAs, managing field teams, and overseeing fiber design projects from start to finish as a lead OSP engineer. He holds an undergraduate degree in Geology from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Redlands with a concentration in Location Analytics.