When underground fiber optic cables are damaged, determining accountability isn't just about fixing the line; it's about protecting state resources and keeping critical services online for the dedicated customers we serve. ICNβs Outside Plant team is finding innovative, cost-effective ways to reduce the risks and expenses tied to fiber hits across the state, while also building solid evidence for damage investigations by implementing new techniques.
When ICN fiber was hit recently, field technicians needed a way to prove what was happening on the ground. Using pre- and post-damage photographs, an ICN technician overlaid the images to create a clear visual timeline.
The result was definitive: the overlay proved that the locate flag was moved after digging. This documentation enabled ICN to correctly assign responsibility and recover the associated repair costs.
Simple Tools, Major Impact
To standardize how field incidents are documented, ICN uses a Hit Kit, a documentation toolkit used when infrastructure is struck or damaged. The team leverages off-the-shelf video overlay tools available on their devices such as:
- Google Slides: Used to layer pre- and post-strike photographs with transparency controls, creating precise visual evidence.
- Clipchamp: Utilized to compile images or video footage from site walk-throughs, providing context before and after outside work occurs.
Going forward, the additional video overlay imaging as added evidence will:
- Strengthen damage investigations with clear visual evidence.
- Improve accountability across all sites.
- Reduce uncompensated damages and streamline the claims recovery process.
By combining practical field experience with everyday software applications, ICN's Outside Plant team continues to safeguard the state's critical infrastructure while keeping operational costs down.