CHAPTER 11.

SITE VISIT AND ROUTE INSPECTION

11.1 Introduction
The cable installation means laying the cable between the transmitter and
the receiver. This cable acts as a medium to transfer the data or information
in case of wired communication as discussed in chapter1. Cable can be
copper cable, coaxial cable or optical fibre cable. Installation of cables is not
an easy work. It requires skilled labours, technicians and lot of investment
of money. Hence proper planning is done, area is surveyed, and instruction
manuals are made for do’s and don’ts. Proposal or contract is given to the
company who handles whole process of cable laying in a specified time.
Agreement is made on the paper following the Indian government laws of
court. Finally, cable is layered following the set of protocols discussed in the
chapter. Cables can be installed indoor or outdoor using various installation
methods. Outdoor cable can be directly buried or installed aerially between
poles. Indoor cables can be installed in cable trays above ceilings or under
floors. The installation process will depend on the type of cable being used
and the nature of the installation. Installation of both copper wire and
optical fibre cables are similar. The only difference between them is that on
copper cables greater pressure can be applied but optical fibre cables
require careful handling. Since fibres are made up of glass hence carefully it
has to be installed. Otherwise it can damage the cable. It cannot sustain the
stress like copper wires. There are some general rules that should be
followed while laying the cable.
The steps involved includes following steps.
1. Site visit
2. Route inspection
 Obtain an OFC route plan.
 Verify the plan through a Route Walk.
 Take corrective actions
3. Fibre optic cable laying

11.2 Site Visit

Before installation of any job, site visit or project tour is required to be done.
A site visit will determine approximate idea of the area where cable has to be
laid and how much overall area to be covered, what all obstacles have to be
faced like somewhere building or trees are encountered. It provides
architectural diagrams of the area. You may find obstruction which may
prevent transportation of various equipment to the site. Existing gas pipes
or water pipes should not be damaged. It also determines overall cost based
on the area covered. Site visit is essential before making any plan of action.
The visit gives the necessary information about the changes to be needed for
the ideal plan. By doing effective site visit one could avoid ambiguities and

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make the best plan of installation. Transportation of various equipment’s
can create obstruction to the site. Start from layout view while performing
site visit it is necessary to note down all the points observed. Site visit will
make us understand actual equipment locations, routing for conduits, and
proper elevations. It will help you to apply methods to overcome the
challenges by applying the architectural drawings/ layouts. If found Site
drawing details incomplete, then update it by site actual data.

Fig.11.1: site visit

Source: https://bit.ly/2CpWqK3
11.2.1 Different site conditions:
Laying pipelines in very steep slopes (>70°), on rocky ground in the
mountains, in hilly landscapes, environmentally critical terrain (e.g. rain
forests) and many other areas require special solutions to transport pipes,
position them and to do pre- and post-construction services such as
earthworks (digging, trenching and reinstatement works).
The cables shall be laid direct in ground, pipe, closed or open ducts, and
cable trays or on surface of wall etc.
1. Laying direct in ground
This method shall be adopted where the cable route is through open ground,
along roads/lanes, etc. and where no frequent excavations are likely to be
encountered and where re-excavation is easily possible without affecting
other services.
2. Laying in pipes / closed ducts
In locations such as road crossing, entry in to buildings, paved areas etc.
cables shall be laid in pipes or closed ducts. Metallic pipe shall be used as
protection pipe for cables fixed on poles of overhead lines.
3. Laying into the building

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Pipes for cable entries to the building shall slope downwards from the
building. The pipes at the building end shall be suitably sealed to avoid
entry of water, after the cables are laid.
4. Laying in open ducts
Open ducts with suitable removable covers (RCC slabs or chequered plates)
are generally provided in sub-stations, switch rooms, plant rooms,
workshops etc. for taking the cables. The cable ducts should be of suitable
dimensions for the number of cables involved.
5. Laying on surface
This method may be adopted in places like switch rooms,
workshops, tunnels, rising (distribution) mains in buildings etc. This
may also be necessitated in the works of additions and/or
alterations to the existing installation, where other methods of
laying may not be feasible.
6. Laying on cable tray
This method may be adopted in places like indoor substations,
air-conditioning plant rooms, generator rooms etc. or where long horizontal
runs of cables are required within the building and where it is not
convenient to carry the cable in open ducts. This method is preferred where
heavy sized cables or a number of cables are required to be laid. The cable
trays may be either of perforated sheet type or of ladder type.

Fig.11.2: Laying on cable tray

Source: https://bit.ly/2rLXnGl

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 Fig.11.3: cable tray
Source: https://bit.ly/2Ey9r5J

11.3 Route Inspection:

Route inspection will give you an insight of the job to be performed. You can
find obstructions, issues or gaps which you would have not known unless
you conducted this ‘inspection’.
Following are the steps for route inspection
 Obtain an OFC route plan.
 Verify the plan through a Route Walk.
 Take corrective actions
11.3.1 Obtain an OFC Route Plan
Obtain a layout describing the proposed OFC route from the planning team
so as to identify the:
 Physical locations (premises or outside plant) along the route.
 Other utilities, cables etc. so that damages are avoided.
 Departments involved – electricity, water, municipality, etc.
 Permission(s) required to carry out the entire activity.
 Physical obstacles & health hazards along the route.

Fig.11.4: fibre optical network

Source: https://bit.ly/2UXKs1r
11.3.2 Verify the plan through a route walk

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Preliminary survey shall be carried out for finalizing the drawing for the
route of optical fibre cable as a part of project planning and execution.
Following main items of work shall constitute the survey.
 Plan the Installation.
 Create a detailed, written plan of installation. Majority of the problems
(approx. 95%) can be eliminated by creating a proper planning of the
site.
 Planning should incorporate equipment’s to be used while executing
the job, suppliers or companies who provide those equipment,
technical datasheet of the cable, installation guidelines, problems
associated in the total area to be covered, safety measures to be
incorporated, total budget or cost involved.
 To work with heavy tools and equipment’s (like vehicle carrying fibre
cable) availability of the road should be decided so that equipment’s
can be placed and worked with it.
 Type of soil, embankments, water logged areas, major bridges, major
yards need to be considered and accessed.
 Avoid laying of cable close to a laid track of gas pipes or water pipes.
 Avoid laying of the cable adjacent to the cultivated Fields.
 Avoid areas which are prone to water logging.
 Avoid laying of the cable inside the ground where soil is composed of
cinders, coal ashes, etc.
 Avoid the areas near river where heavily fertilized soils contain acids,
electrolytes and decomposable organic materials promoting bacterial
activity because it can damage the cable.
 Avoid the areas near industry of chemical because such industries
discharge poisonous chemicals and if cable is laid then they react with
chemical and damaged.
 Avoid the areas which require large rock cutting, thick jungles with
trees. It is difficult to approach such areas.
 Carefully decide the route of the cable in order to avoid built up areas
including those areas where building, etc. are likely to come up in
future.
 In order to protect the cable from corrosion determine the composition
of the soil and based on it special protection required for cable.
 The requirement of transport vehicles like jeeps, Lorries, motor
trolleys, etc. for the execution of the work is considered
 Verify the ‘plan’ for accessibility and availability as per design.

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  Verify construction methods, special tools, splice locations, etc.
 Verify ground characteristics including subsurface investigation; it
helps allay fears related
 to trenching / ploughing
 Draw and mark bends, conduit size, splice locations, manholes, etc.,
so as to begin any
 Preparatory or co-ordination work (Ref. next page).
 Mark the proximity to AC power areas to avoid possibility of damages
/accidents
 Check for material storage areas, ventilation, etc.

Fig.11.5: OFC Route Walk

Source: https://bit.ly/2UZ2wbC
Avoid proximity to AC power areas to avoid any accidents. Although the fibre
does not conduct electricity yet, fibre could be means to conduct electricity,
installer should take precautions with live electrical wires in working when
close to AC power. Mark other utility lines so as to avoid damage. Thereafter
make a sketch as per the route walk. It is called the ‘Route Walk Sketch’.

Fig.11.6: OFC Route Walk sketch

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11.3 Take corrective actions
Prepare the site so that it is ready for installation by taking corrective
actions with the help of labourers:
 Take permissions from other departments, etc., if required.
 Revise routes – bends, splicer locations, etc., if required.
 Arrange for the availability of any special tools, if required.
 Remove or circumvent any obstruction / conflict along the route.
Prepare the site thoroughly and properly for better productivity.
 If the route contains sections where the optical cable is subject to high
temperatures, provide necessary protection.
 Take measures to prevent optical cables from direct stress.
 Determine locations where reels are to be positioned during the
installation.

Fig.11.7: Corrective for route plan

11.4 Benefits of route inspection

Following are the benefits of a detailed route inspection:
 Improved quality of network is the biggest gain.
 Plan is verified with the actual physical location to identify gaps.
 Helps in meeting manufacturer’s specification regarding “bend ratios.”
 Plan is designed keeping in mind the health and safety standards.

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  Any re-work due to lack of plan is avoided.
 Accidents are avoided due to proper planning.

Fig.11.8: Warning
11.5 Route inspection report
The Contractor shall submit the survey report with the most suitable routes
for all the fibre optic links along with details described above for
owner/employer’s approval FO cable route. The owner/employer will give
the preliminary approval for the route, subject to obtaining the
required clearances. Up on approval contractor shall carry out detail
survey for the selected routes and submit the final survey report for
approval before implementation.
The final survey report shall include at least the following:
a. A drawing of the proposed route indicating all details of the route
including relevant details of soil strata, bridges, culverts, causeways,
rail over/under bridges, defence area, underground gas / oil / water
pipe line, power and communication cables routes, other important
landmarks etc.
b. The distance of the fibre optic cable route from the centre of the
road/rail/river/bridge/culvert etc. shall be indicated on the route
maps as well as documented in tables.
c. Location and number of permanent and temporary manholes.
d. Location of all turns, bends and major landmarks.
e. Type, quantity and location of all the joint boxes. Care must be taken
to minimise the number of splicing and joint boxes.
f. Section lengths of the underground fibre optic cable, total length of
each link and drum scheduling for all the links.

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 g. List of authorities from which clearance shall be required to be
obtained for each relevant section.
h. Sections of unavoidable rat infected areas along the proposed route,
for which armoured optical fibre cable is required.
i. All the information required for obtaining clearance.
j. It may be noted that the reinstatement of the facilities/properties
damaged during the installation is the responsibility of the Contractor
for which there will be no additional cost implication to the
Owner/Employer.
It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to propose the alternate route,
if the proposed route is not suitable for installation due to the condition of
soil or non-availability of clearances or any other reasons.
The final survey report shall have to be approved by the Owner/Employer
and requisite clearances need to be obtained before the cable installation
work is commenced by the contractor.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
A. Choose the correct option from those given below:

1. Cable installation requires:

a) Skilled labours
b) Equipment
c) Technicians
d) All of above
2. Optical cables can be made up of
a) Copper
b) Fibres
c) Twisted Wires
d) Shielded wires
3. Cables can be installed
a) Indoors
b) Outdoors
c) Both a and b
d) Only a
4. To install the cable underground first thing it require is:
a) Route plan
b) Permission from various governing bodies
c) Site visit
d) None of the above

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5. Steps for the Route inspection:
a) Obtain an OFC route plan.
b) Verify the plan through a Route Walk .
c) Take corrective actions
d) All of the above
6. Site visit determines
a) approximate idea of the area where cable has to be laid
b) how much overall area to be covered
c) What all obstacles have to be faced like somewhere building or trees
are encountered.
d) All of the above
7. Underground cable installation cautions
a) Bury the cable below the frost line to prevent the damage by ground
frost heaves.
b) Do not keep the trench as straight as possible.
c) Do not bury fibre cable warning labels
d) Properly ground of cables is avoided
8. Moisture in the environment can result in
a) Fibre breakage
b) Increased fibre strength
c) Attenuation rate is decreased
d) All of the above
9. Cable placement means
a) Installing the cable without pulling it
b) Installing the cable by pulling it
c) Uninstalling the cable without pulling it
d) Uninstalling the cable without pulling
Fill in the blanks
1. Underground cable laying are basically two most common types of
installation named as_______________ and _________________
2. Fibre is stronger than __________when you pull it straight, but it
breaks easily when bent ______________________
3. Direct Burial Installation is most common for ____________.
4. Most commonly used Direct Burial Installation cable
is_________________.
True and false

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1. Cable installation cannot be done with the coaxial cables.
2. Before installation of the cable it is required to have proper planning
where installation can take place
3. There are 2 unique kinds of fibre optic broadband, FTTC and FTTH.
4. Safety glasses or goggles must be worn while performing drilling or
similar operation
5. When working in extremely hot conditions, you need to follow safe work
practices to combat working in extreme temperatures.
6. Safety helmets cannot be worn by all workers at all times in all
designated areas.
7. Respiratory or dust masks are to be worn when carrying out tasks that
create respirable dust or fumes, when handling certain chemicals or when
working in dusty environments.
8. Footwear Steel capped boots or equivalent cannot be worn at all times on
site, except where the site foreman or safety supervisor has given approval
to certain trades to use other footwear.
9. Safety gloves of appropriate protective material are to be worn when
handling sharp or hot materials, chemicals or dangerous liquids.
10. Trenching uses machinery to either create a large cut all the way
through the pave or a slender cut within the high of the pave to put the fibre
cable
Short questions answers
1. What is route inspection?
2. What are benefits of Route Inspection
3. Briefly explain the three steps of route inspection.
4. List out precautions to be taken to install fibre
5. How to do site visit to install the cables
6. What is the benefits of route plan
7. How cables are installed underground
8. How the future networking is dependent on optical fibre cabling and
why?
Answer in brief:
1. What is the requirement of site visit?
2. Why route inspection is necessary? Write the steps to follow route
inspection
3. Write the safety precautions to be followed to perform route inspection?
4. How to install the cables near railway lines?
5 How to install the cables near existing pipelines?

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6. Why safety at the site of job is important?
7. In case of extreme temperature what precautions has to be taken at job at
site.
8. Write at-least 6 steps to execute job at site safely
9. What happens if there is sudden rainfall at the site occurs?
10. In case of emergency which number should be dialled to call
ambulance?
11. List the method to resolve the problem with job technician in case any
tool/machinery fault in between job

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