Abstract
Micro-trenching is an innovative and discreet utility installation method that includes the creation of a narrow trench to lay cable or conduit in the ground. To investigate the functionality and durability of micro-trenching in cold regions, two micro-trenching technologies were employed and monitored over the course of two winters in a parking lot in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. During construction, productivity rate and generated waste material were studied. The installation’s physical integrity and optical performance were also evaluated during the monitoring period. Physical integrity was assessed by monitoring the conduit location using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) test was conducted to determine attenuation in performance. Results indicated that the installation experienced undesirable upward and downward movements in sections with high traffic load, which may be prevented with a more effective reinstatement method. However, the fiber’s optical performance was not affected.
Highlights
Fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) initiatives in many countries have triggered fiber optic (FO) network construction for high-speed broadband (Stirling Lloyd Polychem Ltd. 2011)
Micro-trenching is a new, less-invasive FO deployment method used in business districts and congested urban areas as the environmental impacts and community disruption associated with its operations are significantly lower than those of traditional installation methods
To investigate micro-trenching’s viability in cold regions, a pilot installation was performed with two micro-trenching technologies (VIF and surface micro-cable inlay (SMCI)) in October 2013 and June 2014, respectively
Summary
Fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) initiatives in many countries have triggered fiber optic (FO) network construction for high-speed broadband (more than 100 megabits per second) (Stirling Lloyd Polychem Ltd. 2011). Personal communication, 2013), several key hazards and risks are associated with micro-trenching One such risk is reconstruction or future pavement maintenance activities; the risk can be greatly reduced through use of the “call before you dig” program, where a designated damage-prevention centre will identify existing buried utilities and their locations prior to planned construction or excavation. Another risk is old asphalt milling and overlaying, which are typical maintenance procedures for asphalt pavements. The micro-trench must be located well below the milling level so there is no possibility that this process will cause any damage to embedded cables
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