Network 21 Update

Fiber-Optic Cabling Phase Complete

Thanks to the hard work of a great many people in the UC Davis community and to Digital Equipment Corporation and its subcontractors, UC Davis now has a fiber-optic cabling system that forms the infrastructure of Network 21.

Digital Equipment Corporation was hired in December 1995 to design and install the fiber-optic infrastructure and to install the cabinets that house the Network 21 electronics. According to design specifications, the cable was laid in a star-ring configuration that connected six outlying Area Distribution Frames (ADFs) to the Network Operations Center (NOC) in two connecting patterns. The dual cabling pattern was designed to ensure continued service in the event of a ruptured cable. The communications closet upgrade, led by Kelvin Bush of Physical Plant, had to be carefully timed in order to have closets ready for cabinet installation.

The unique constraints on this phase of the Network 21 project made its July 30 completion an important project milestone. The size of UC Davis, the distance between buildings, and the great variety of buildings (some requiring asbestos mitigation) made standardization of work nearly impossible. Because of the complexities encountered, the Project Management Group of Information Resources, led by Debbie Lauriano, was recruited to facilitate quick and efficient resolutions. According to Lauriano, "The project encountered what first appeared to be insurmountable obstacles, but through the perseverence of university project staff and Digital we were able to overcome them."

For a contractor like Digital, undertaking a project of this size at a university is a major challenge, says Network 21 Construction Manager Jim Burns. Burns says the most satisfying work on the project was his ability to "coordinate all the interests on campus and get the job done."

Nonetheless, difficulties inevitably arose, from accessing a campus building to inaccurate building blueprints. "Walls would show up where they weren't supposed to be," Digital Customer Program Manager Les Martin says.

Under Martin's direction, Digital placed a high priority on proper protocol. "Creating noise and dust in a classroom environment is a problem," Martin says. "We had to be very sensitive to issues of noise abatement. Because of this, some buildings were difficult to work in during business hours and nearly impossible after hours" due to access issues.

What made the project a success? "It comes down to planning and communication," Martin says. It's natural for people to communicate best within their own organization, but improving communication among the players in a big project is paramount, he says. Martin was as impressed with the Communications Resources (CR) staff as he was proud to work with his crew from Digital.

Most important is the end result. Says Communications Resources Assistant Director Grazia Jaroff, "The Digital team led by Les Martin brought high-quality design, materials, and workmanship to the job, producing outstanding results and a defect-free fiber installation the campus will use for many years to come."