Field data to finished design: An agile approach to faster, smarter builds

Good data in is good data out.  Ask any OSP engineer, and this statement will hold true time and time again.  Field validation is where a good design begins and ends.  Field validation can vary in its level of detail based on the needs of the design as well as project to project.   

Accurate field data is essential for gaining a clear understanding of the project area and helps to identify potential problem areas early in the project lifecycle. Traditionally, field validation begins by defining a project boundary and then gathering all necessary field data before any design work starts. This linear approach often delays the start of design and adds time to the overall project. 

Biarri Networks’ Approach 

Biarri’s approach takes a more agile path by starting with a high-level design before field validation. Leveraging all available geospatial data, this preliminary design allows the team to visualize the project layout and potential issues early on. Then, field teams validate the high-level design, checking if the proposed layout is feasible and identifying any necessary adjustments.  

This method accelerates the design process by enabling immediate refinements based on field data, resulting in a constructible design output that is field-ready. By streamlining field validation and design adjustments, Biarri’s approach saves time, reduces rework, and improves overall project efficiency. 

Core items required during any field validation are as follows: 

• Address Validation: Verifying each address within a project area is accurately depicted in the proposed design.  The information being verified is the number of units, address type (SFU, SBU, MDU, etc.), power meter location, existing power, or telecom drop feed. 

• Construction Ride Out: CRO is when the proposed design is scrutinized and adjusted from the field. Adjusting proposed UG pathways due to obstacles neglected, overlooked, or unknown due to outdated data during the design phase. The CRO is also an opportunity to gather any information required for permitting purposes. This often includes right-of-way measurements, back of curb measurements, critical root zones and offsets for trees, and dimensions and offsets of other utilities above ground infrastructure within the right-of-way. 

• Pole Surveys: Pole surveying is the recording of the pole attributes such as height, class, circumference, ownership, and pole health. These surveys are mainly intended to verify the existing heights of attachments and mid-spans to ensure all attachments are within the NESC regulations.   

• Make Ready Engineering: MRE is the preparation of gathered pole data from a pole survey. When an attachment is in violation of the NESC regulations, then adjustments to the attachments are required. The calculations of the upstream and downstream effects of those changes and how to implement those changes are the MRE. 

In OSP engineering, the success of any design is rooted in the quality of its foundational data. Field validation stands as a crucial step in shaping the accuracy and effectiveness of the final network. While traditional approaches often lead to delays by gathering exhaustive data before design work begins, Biarri Networks's agile method introduces high-level design first, leveraging existing geospatial data to create an initial layout. This design-first approach, followed by on-the-ground validation, allows teams to address real-world conditions earlier and refine the design efficiently.