geospatiaL communications
This category involves the use of Bentley technology in projects associated
with the engineering, management, and analysis of communications networks,
such as those operated by telecommunications service providers,
CATV/MSO companies, and government organizations.
Fiber Optics Zuid-Limburg — Isilinx nacap telecom Bv WINNER
This project includes a large area in the most southern part of the Netherlands, called zuid-Limburg.
The backbone fiber-optic ring connects the largest
cities in zuid-Limburg via Maastricht and Valken.
The managed dark fiber service is built on an open
network provisioning model, in which three different corporations control services (data and speech),
the active infrastructure (lighting and management),
and the passive infrastructure (cables, cupboards,
and network construction). The benefit of this
model is that each layer is operated independently,
minimizing the chance that data confidentiality will
be breached. Nacap Telecom handles the passive
infrastructure for the project.
The network provides broadband access to a
number of members, including municipalities and
educational and nonprofit institutions. The first
phase of the project involved construction of a
145-kilometer route with connections to 56 member
sites. Since its completion in May 2006, an additional 50 member sites have been hooked up to
the network.
The network was designed with flexibility in mind.
The main route interconnects at strategic points, or
spokes, so that several rings are created within the
main ring. This allows new locations to be easily
connected. Additional tubes and optical fibers
can be added to expand capacity in the future.
The firm used MicroStation, Bentley Fiber, and
Project Wise Connector for Oracle to automate
the design and production process, allowing two
engineers to do the design work of ten. In addition,
MicroStation enabled collaborative work and
guaranteed a fully coordinated and integrated
design with the work of other disciplines. In the
design and construction phase, at least one man-year of time was saved at a cost of 85,000 euro,
plus an estimated 40,000 euro was saved in the
maintenance phase. This means that the software
and services Nacap Telecom purchased have
an ROI of half a year.
