Quilt Optical Fiber Workshop
Boulder Research and Administrative Network (BRAN)
Experiences/Lessons Learned
By Jim Van Dyke
6/22/04 - 2
BRAN Introduction Four Partners: NCAR/UCAR, City of
Boulder, NOAA/NIST, CU at Boulder Boulder metro installation to connect
partner sites A 96 strand SMF-28 fiber from end to
end Nodes are spliced and pigtailed
6/22/04 - 4
Development Initiated by technical side, not
management side Four partners mean: cooperation,
politics, serving special interests Management and technical folks had
to work together to develop project RFP process with detailed
specifications
6/22/04 - 5
Specifications Identify lead party to develop and
champion specifications Do not compromise quality Document and confirm the details Have other parties review specs and
proposals
6/22/04 - 6
Construction Electrical contractor won the bid with a
communications subcontractor The contractor underestimated the
complexity/cost of the installation – it is called “Boulder” for a reason– Hit countless big rocks– Hit at least 2 water mains– Locates/paths under busy intersections
difficult– Working with railroad RoWs difficult
6/22/04 - 8
Installation Assign lead party to manage
installation Spend time with the contractor/installer
up front Verify quality of fiber installers/splicers
prior to installation
6/22/04 - 9
Acceptance Criteria Quality components Bend radius Pulling tension Splice quality Connector quality 100% fiber strand verification Make sure your expectations are clear
up front– Verify quality early and often
6/22/04 - 12
Phased implementation Specifications should allow turning up
links in the path without having the entire project done
6/22/04 - 13
Maintenance: Do you maintain or outsource? Coordinate outsource management
– Locator– Manhole verification - annually– Repair
We maintain– Emergency parts– Contingency fund
6/22/04 - 16
Expansion Collocated at local PoPs Have a common bundle of fiber go to
every new node/spur and be terminated for route testing