Purpose built fiber mapping tools with a SQL database backend definitely do exist - but you're looking at license costs that are prohibitive for all but the biggest ISPs. The sort of money for which you could hire a full time splicer and equip a splicing trailer + its operating costs...
Autodesk's municipal GIS product, which is the main competitor to ArcGIS/ESRI, I believe has several plugins and third party vendors which offer solutions for fiber mapping, and more specifically underground utilities. On Wed, Jun 6, 2018 at 2:28 PM, Steve D <bigd...@gmail.com> wrote: > 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 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>
