Telecommunications Network Modeling
Steve Van Ausdall
Geographic Information Technology, Inc. (GeoIT)
101 Inverness Drive East, Suite 130
Englewood, CO 80112
Abstract
Telecommunications networks are inherently complex. Telecommunications companies
must plan, design, construct, provision, and maintain networks with millions of unique
signal paths connecting their subscribers. Often, junctions contain thousands of physical
connections. Building and maintaining an information system to model such a network is
arguably more complex than building the network itself - especially when system
requirements include such features as scalable concurrent multi-user access, versioned
workflow processes, conflict detection and resolution, transaction control and data
integrity, network analysis, and downstream administrative count changes, or “ripples”.
This paper explores and explains some of the complexities, and addresses one of the core
tasks – defining database structures to hold the myriad pathways, interconnections, and
signal identifiers that can support construction and grow with the company. Once an
accurate model of the network has been built, and a user interface has been provided to
easily visualize, navigate, update, validate, and issue changes to the network, the
resulting system can accelerate engineering and construction, improve customer service
and order completion time, and reduce operating costs.
Complexity
Figure 1: A Splice Engineer Repairs an Accidental Cut
Telco networks are the most complex of any infrastructure network, since each feature
(cable, device, etc.) can have multiple sets or banks of n connectable elements, or
connectors (pairs, fiber strands, posts, ports, etc.). For example, an interface terminal may
have 400 input posts, and 800 output posts. In the picture above, a splice engineer is
repairing damage to a large bundle of copper pairs. The wires are uniquely colored, in
order, so that they can be enumerated and identified.
The simplest types of networks are water / wastewater, gas, and cable. They have only
one conduit for transport (the product is broadcast, so to speak), so connections can be
specified at the feature level without compromising functionality. This is how most GIS
systems support connectivity – at the graphic feature level.
