Success Story

Overview, even when things get tight

Nadja Müller

Freelance copywriter and journalist

Coordinated cable planning is necessary in complex projects such as tunnel construction. The tight space requires precise coordination between the trades involved. If this is done on the basis of CAD plans or a spreadsheet, not only do errors quickly occur. The manual work is time-consuming and complicates the subsequent processes such as cable laying and documentation. This is where a software tool for cable planning in complex buildings helps.

Software supports the planning of cabling on new railway lines and in tunnels

Data and power cables must be laid in the tunnel as railway equipment,  among other things for the data transmission of sensors and signals, for power supply, fiber optic cables, lighting, video or for fire protection reasons. This requires coordinated cable planning in the tunnel. It represents an additional step in complex projects such as in the cramped route system of a tunnel. Here, space is limited; once the empty pipes have been laid and the concrete has been poured, nothing can be changed. While the requirements for necessary cables are met by the various specialist planners, coordinated cable planning requires special expertise.

This type of planning is usually associated with complex manual work, but a software solution can make the task easier: the connection manager VM.7 from the software house AT+C. The advantage: if the tool is already used in the planning of the cabling, the subsequent construction work can continue to work with it. The process from planning to acceptance of the cable pull is completely digitalized, including the electronic recording of signatures.

The company that was responsible for cable planning for the project was immediately convinced: the tool was the first that could also map requirements such as automatic routing. The start and destination of the cables are specified graphically, general conditions defined and route options are then calculated by the program. Two sections of the new route were planned manually, two with the help of the software.

Complex generation of spreadsheets

Before the connection manager was introduced, the cable routes were drawn in a CAD tool on the floor plans of the tunnels. Excel lists were then generated from this to sort the type of cable and their route sections or start and end points, for example from which distributor or transformer house they run to which track section. In shafts, empty pipes usually converge on all four sides, bundling different cable strands that in turn branch off in different ways. In the area of ​​​​a contract, the number of shafts quickly added up to 400 to 500. Each shaft received a shaft occupancy sheet as an Excel document with information about the cables, such as which cables run through or where the shaft is located. If the cable type or properties changed on the route, this could affect up to 150 shafts. This meant that every single document had to be adjusted manually: strenuous work that quickly overloaded the computer. The manual generation of Excel lists from graphical processes in the CAD program is also very error-prone. This can be automated using the connection manager.

Optimize subsequent processes

The connection manager is used as an integrated database tool in the Auto-CAD interface. Elements such as shafts and cable ducts can now not only be shown on a drawing, but information can also be stored about them: for example, the name, trade assignment and specification of the shaft or the number, size and arrangement of the empty pipes in the cable ducts. In the next step, the cables are entered using automatic cable routing. A cable drawing map can then be displayed which shows the entire route of the cable through all routes and shafts, including the start and end points. This makes it easy to see on the construction site which cable runs where. In the past, Excel lists in combination with the CAD plan and the shaft documentation formed the basis for work for cable-laying companies. This showed which cables run in which empty pipe on each shaft wall. However, this did not correspond to the ideal approach of installers: they go from shaft to shaft for each cable type and need to know which pipes the cables come from. The documentation, on the other hand, only focused on the shafts. Now automatically generated cable drawing maps are available that show the course of the cable from start to finish as a whole and not just the transitions in the shafts. This is a huge relief for the assembly team.

The advantages  

The connection manager was adapted to railway requirements within a few days. After implementation, the cable planners were given practical training using the tunnel project data. Since the users were already familiar with AutoCAD, the learning curve was steep and the training period short. However, it is not just the comfortable way of working with the tool that makes users highly satisfied, but also AT+C's way of working. Problem solutions were quickly found and implemented and support provides assistance with adapting reports, requests for new functions and upgrades.

The system now helps to save time and errors in coordinated cable planning and, in particular, it minimizes tedious tasks, as changes no longer have to be made manually in numerous Excel sheets. Instead, the cable structure can be adjusted once and the tool automatically outputs the result files. In addition to the optimizations in the planning and execution of the cabling, another element of great importance in the tunnel project was the complete digitization of the documentation.

Once the work is complete, the installer enters all essential installation information directly into the connection manager via web access and uploads measurement reports and other documents. CAD plans with the cable routes, cable pull lists and the documentation of the installation with the reports can now be bundled in one software. It is quick and easy to access, traceable and meets compliance requirements. The documentation is also a good prerequisite for transferring the planning to the existing system: In the event of a problem, if cable connections are interrupted, in the event of failures, corroded connections or a flooded shaft, those responsible can quickly identify which connections and devices are affected and access the information specifically. During repair work or new installations, it is easy to find out which cable specifications and which length of replacement cable are required. This means that the tool can also be used to optimize the subsequent cable planning processes.

Conclusion

A software tool is ideal for coordinated cable planning in tunnels. It simplifies the complex planning process, allows quick changes and automates the creation of important execution instructions, which reduces manual effort and thus errors. In addition, the tool can also simplify follow-up processes: It is adapted to the needs of the installers and can support documentation and later in operation because it makes faults and errors quickly identifiable.

Authors: Nadja Müller, Michael Brüning (AT+C EDV GmbH)
Image source: F. Heiberger from Pixabay