I just realized that last message was more a rambling trip through nostalgia versus anything useful for the OP or others looking at this software.
GIS software in general is probably very well suited to fiber mapping and most of it very database driven. Oil&Gas, Forestry, Mining all make use of this sort of software big time. There probably exist "purpose" built tools as others have mentioned on here, but a more "general" piece of GIS software like this has the benefit of being able to handle whatever you want to throw at it, at the expense of making it a bit more complicated to get setup. Long term though, you'll have something that can scale. If down the road, for whatever reason, you need to work with another company or government, being able to be "here, this is what we have" in a shapefile (or whatever format) they'll really appreciate it. Likewise, you might get data from another entity and be able to easily merge it in with your own. Anyway, my two cents. Cheers, -Steve D On Wed, Jun 6, 2018 at 2:05 PM Steve D <bigd...@gmail.com> wrote: > You know I have to say, I have not given QGIS a fair shake in over 10 > years. I gave it a download last night and it's not the weak, completely > unfinished, seemingly dead piece of open source software I played with back > in 2005/2006. Around that time, as part of a part-time job/college > project/whatever thing, I was working on a Shapefile to PostGIS tool and > relied on a lot of the work QGIS had already done, but only because we had > no desire to work with QGIS itself (and at that time, ESRI made no bones > about having nothing to do with OSS software - a very Microsoft attitude). > When I finished college and moved on to new full time work at a couple of > places, I never gave it a close look again. First working with ARCGIS > (spoiled me) then onto other programs, such as Pathloss, GlobalMapper, and > so forth. So when I say QGIS, at a glance, looks pretty damn good, I mean > it. It certainly has the gears in my head turning about what I can do with > it next. > > On Wed, Jun 6, 2018 at 10:32 AM Brian Webster <i...@wirelessmapping.com> > wrote: > >> Sterling, >> >> The QGIS software is well suited for what you want and >> you can spin up an instance of PostgreSQL/PostGIS database for all the data >> and have the mapping interface directly to the database and without too >> much other work the mapping can be web enabled such that the data is >> accessible on other devices. I would be willing to help you set something >> like this up. It’s not too bad to do if someone already have a Google Earth >> file and/or spreadsheet established for their existing information. That >> can be imported and used to start the whole system. Software cost is nil, >> time is your other investment and paying me if you want some help in that >> regard. If you already have someone who is good with relational databases >> then your learning curve is not as steep. >> >> >> >> Thank You, >> >> Brian Webster >> >> www.wirelessmapping.com >> >> www.Broadband-Mapping.com >> >> >> >> *From:* Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] *On Behalf Of *Sterling Jacobson >> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 06, 2018 12:13 PM >> *To:* af@afmug.com >> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Fiber Mapping - 2018 >> >> >> >> Sounds interesting. >> >> >> >> What I really want, if it exists, is a full layer system. >> >> >> >> Such that I can enter my GIS info for conduit and conduit capacity and >> used capacity on the physical level, then the fiber type/count in each >> section by geo on top of that, then the splice points/case map and power >> readings on top of that. >> >> >> >> Then the network layer on top of that with all the switch connections and >> capacity, then the layer 3 on top of that with current routing info. >> >> >> >> Too much to ask for, but it would be awesome to say give me the details >> between point A and B and explode the view open to all layers to review >> things at any level. >> >> >> >> *From:* Af <af-boun...@afmug.com> *On Behalf Of *Dennis Burgess >> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 5, 2018 11:07 AM >> *To:* af@afmug.com >> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Fiber Mapping - 2018 >> >> >> >> You can use TowerCoverage.com to map your fiber as well as use our “End >> User Submission” system to match potential users to the fiber mapping. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *Dennis Burgess, Mikrotik Certified Trainer * >> >> Author of "Learn RouterOS- Second Edition” >> >> *Link Technologies, Inc* -- Mikrotik & WISP Support Services >> >> *Office*: 314-735-0270 Website: http://www.linktechs.net >> >> Create Wireless Coverage’s with www.towercoverage.com >> >> >> >> *From:* Af <af-boun...@afmug.com> *On Behalf Of *Paul Stewart >> *Sent:* Saturday, June 2, 2018 6:31 AM >> *To:* af@afmug.com >> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Fiber Mapping - 2018 >> >> >> >> We utilize Patch Manager - https://patchmanager.com >> >> >> >> It started as a great way to DCIM – data center racks across many >> locations etc but with their GIS mapping add-on and other features we’re >> looking to utilize it for fiber builds and should work pretty nicely …. >> >> >> >> Paul >> >> >> >> >> >> *From: *Af <af-boun...@afmug.com> on behalf of Brian Webster < >> i...@wirelessmapping.com> >> *Reply-To: *<af@afmug.com> >> *Date: *Friday, June 1, 2018 at 10:46 PM >> *To: *<af@afmug.com> >> *Subject: *Re: [AFMUG] Fiber Mapping - 2018 >> >> >> >> Yes QGIS is a great program and since it is open source you will find a >> lot of support and how to articles. Not as simple as Google Earth Pro but >> it has a lot more power. A real professional GIS platform. The key to its >> flexibility are the plugins you can download. Plan on spending some time >> reading through each of those descriptions to see if there are features you >> want. It certainly has a learning curve as does any mapping program. On the >> higher level you can actually connect to most database platforms so if you >> plan on managing your plant with more than spreadsheets you can keep both >> the mapping and database tied together as one. >> >> >> >> Thank You, >> >> Brian Webster >> >> www.wirelessmapping.com >> >> www.Broadband-Mapping.com >> >> >> >> *From:* Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com <af-boun...@afmug.com>] *On >> Behalf Of *Mark Radabaugh >> *Sent:* Friday, June 01, 2018 5:12 PM >> *To:* af@afmug.com >> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Fiber Mapping - 2018 >> >> >> >> QGIS is very useful and open source (as in free). >> >> >> >> Nothing specific for fiber mapping in it but it could pretty easily be >> used for it if I was ambitious enough to put all the info in. >> >> >> >> Mark >> >> >> >> On Jun 1, 2018, at 5:06 PM, Eric Kuhnke <eric.kuh...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> For basic needs, the advantage of doing mapping using Google Earth Pro is >> that most "serious" GIS packages support import and export to/from the XML >> format Google Earth uses. A line on the map on Google Earth or a >> multi-segmented line is just a collection of vector placemarks in a XML >> file with lat/long coordinates, with metadata describing the thickness of >> the line, the color of the line, how many intermediate points are on the >> line, and so forth. >> >> >> >> The best organizational advice I can give is to use folders and >> subfolders in Google Earth Pro appropriately to sort projects, so that you >> don't end up with a single folder that contains 500 unnamed lines. Might >> look fine when viewed on a map but can become an organization nightmare. >> >> >> >> On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 1:34 PM, Cassidy B. Larson <c...@infowest.com> >> wrote: >> >> Last topic I see on this was from 2014. So maybe it’s time to review and >> ask again? What are you guys using for fiber mapping, now in 2018? >> >> >> >> In 2014 I read: >> >> Craig was doing google earth and excel sheets. >> >> Chuck Hogg was using Manifold (kinda), and some Google Maps Engine. >> >> Mike H was using ArcMap for his clients. >> >> A few other google sheets. >> >> >> >> What’s changed, what’s new, what’re you using today? Same as before? >> Something different? Why? >> >> >> >> -c >> >> >> >> >> >
