Underground Cables Mapped

The SebaKMT i5000 multi-frequency line location system induces a signal into the cable enabling field crews to find and follow the underground network. The locator can measure the position, the current intensity and evaluate the distortion of the signal.

Collected data is transmitted via Bluetooth to an accompanying Ashtech MobileMapper CX GPS/GIS handheld, which also displays a geographic map of the cable's position. The signal attributes, the position and depth of the cable are registered into the ATLANTIS-software running on the MobileMapper CX. Thanks to the GPS handheld, field crews can simultaneously navigate to the site, locate the cable, survey the network with precision and keep all map-data up to date for high- quality asset management. Additionally, with the aid of Ashtech's FAST Survey software the field crew sees in real time a graphical, scaleable background map displaying the cable's position as a colored line as it is being followed.

The MobileMapper CX GPS handheld was chosen to be paired with the SebaKMT i5000 because of its sub-metre real-time accuracy, ruggedness, and ease of use. Its Microsoft Windows CE open platform enabled the ATLANTIS-software to be seamlessly integrated and easily configured to receive and process the data from the i5000 cable locator. The new hardware software solution has enabled T-Com to reduce the time and cost required to map and manage its telecommunication network.