Does anyone have experience in running fiber optic cable with
micro-trenching techniques in areas where there is no existing asphalt or
concrete roadway, just packed earth and rock? Environmental limitations do
not allow for constructing an aerial power pole alignment, or underground
ductbank. The distance is about 10 kM.
David
I would think that in such a deployment scenario, microtrenching might
not be the best bet.
Part of the appeal (IMO) of microtrenching in existing pavement is
that once filled, the pavement slab provides for some protection and
rigidity.
If making a small trench into packed dirt, you're much more
susceptible to accidental cuts and erosion.
I would suggest a Ditch Witch or similar trencher and laying some
ABS/PVC conduit could give some protection from small nicks and cuts,
and allow for future strands to be pulled along your path.
Cheers,
jof
My best guess is that you would want to use directional boring in that case. A
small hole every couple hundred meters, horizontal bore and duct pullback
between holes. No personal experience here other than watching it being done
for new pulls into existing developments. No need for digging up
yards/sidewalks/parking lots, just a bunch of potholes at the new junction
box locations and a single horizontal bore down the property line from the
street, intercepting each of the potholes.
Adrian
In New Zealand we used a tool behind a tractor that was normally used for
laying PVC pipe. So if you were using an armored cable you might be able to
get with doing something similar.
Here is a video. Note the exact method but you can get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI0vfIIgJBM
Hi.
You are thinking to small, you need to have space for the future:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BKCsVxuIM
Seriously, go with a vibrator plow or a chain trencher:
Maybe a little small for a 10 km run:
http://ditchwitch.com/trenchers-plows/walk-behind-vibratory-plow/410sx-vibratory-plow/
This should be good:
http://ditchwitch.com/trenchers-plows/ride-on/RT45-trencher/
concrete roadway, just packed earth and rock? Environmental limitations do
My best guess is that you would want to use directional boring in that case. A
small hole every couple hundred meters, horizontal bore and duct pullback
You'll struggle to get a directional drill through material that includes rock.
It's two days work for this kit
John
Depends on the material, thru hard and broken rock is definitely do-able with
a horizontal bore and pneumatic impact head:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbn7rgUvFuI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbksxTJLgCc
Horizontal boring can be done with/without drilling fluid and with/without
active drilling heads, depending on the conditions. The op was rather vague
on the actual requirements, so we are all left guessing... I took "packed
earth and rock? Environmental limitations do not allow... underground
ductbank" to mean mixed earth and no open trenching or methods that would
potentially cut aquifer plains allowed. I.e. running this theoretical fiber
thru a national forest, trenching 6ft down with a wheel or cable plow and
cutting all the tree roots in the path would be bad...
Adrian