Geospatial Information System Based Fibre Optic Cable Infrastructure Management Database for Nairobi West District-Kenya

Abstract

The high uptake of Fibre Optic Cable (FOC) communication in the developing countries has attracted more and more players and has become one of the critical infrastructures upon which countries rides on for prosperity. In Kenya it forms one of the economic pillars towards the achievement of vision 2030. FOC are laid on the road reserves amongst others but has come with its fare share of challenges as companies sought to connect consumers in the last mile. These includes fixed and controlled road reserves widths, lack of a geo-spatially referenced FOC database, inadequate Computer Aided Design (CAD) routes comparison and verification before approval for digging and ducting is done. This research paper describes how the prototype Geospatial Information System (GIS) based FOC infrastructure management database can effectively be used as an alternative tool on data management, integration, mapping, FOC planning designing and verification as opposed to the current hard copy CAD based FOC route design and planning system. The database was created in Postgres and accessibility enabled through phpPgAdmin and a web portal to standardize new route designs and their printout. The research revealed that currently there does not exist any relational database in the sector therefore, the need to develop a centralized database that is used to compare and verify the route designs before permit for excavation and laying down new FOC lines is done. Analysis of current FOC infrastructure revealed areas where up to four companies designed their FOC along the same routes with the same cable laying down specification and highest level of FOC destruction reported along them. The Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) can adopt and maintain the prototype centralized GIS based FOC database created from the study and construct a leased infrastructure through which the CSPs could pass their duct in future.