Dsm - Blog Posts

cloudeo

4 years ago

How the telecommunication industry is getting reshaped with geo-spatial technologies

Telecommunication is a highly competitive industry and a major factor that has enabled the leaders to gain a competitive edge is their decision to factor in the power of location intelligence in their functioning at an early stage. Location intelligence has been helping them to understand vital facts about their business such as how many customers they can reach, how many towers they need to build and connect, how they can optimize the existing networks, etc. By keeping the ‘where’ dimension in their functioning, these companies have been able to model and test the best sites to locate towers for optimum coverage, understand the demographics of the population, and target outreach efforts.

Geo-spatial has been an integral part of telecom networks so far, but with 5G in the picture, the relevance of geodata in telecommunication increases manifold.

Why Geo-spatial is Crucial in Telecom’s sustainable development

Optimizing telecom networks is not just about rolling out new technologies like 5G. The telecom companies need to focus on analyzing and optimizing the existing networks as well, and this cannot be achieved without the effective use of geospatial data. Using new location data streams, they can understand consumers at a deeper granularity. Be it long-term network planning, developing the marketing strategy or capability building, geospatial becomes their ‘go-to’ technology as well.

With more complex 5G networks, the necessity of having accurate and detailed geospatial data will heighten. Location technology is vital for telecom network planning, risk management, and performance monitoring, and with 5G the importance will intensify.

5G is a wireless technology standard that promises to bring with it enhanced capacity and speed of data transmissions, often referred to as low latency. This is required to enable communication between millions of devices, sensors, and infrastructure. This split-second flow of densely packed data will allow intelligent systems to make more informed decisions while managing daily operations of smart communities.

5G will serve as the data transmission backbone of future technologies and cities, and to make the technology a success, telecom operators have to necessarily integrate spatial data and big data into their operations. So is the case with existing networks (2G, 3G, 4G/LTE) which aim to upgrade themselves and provide better services.

Geospatial data in all realms

Low-latency data throughput, which must be achieved by 5G to fulfill its promises of high-speed connectivity and data transmission, requires it to operate in a very broad bandwidth of the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum with a much higher frequency. Accordingly, cellular networks need to be reconfigured into much smaller, tighter cell sites, and as compared to 4G networks, operators are required to install many more cell sites per square kilometer. For such precise planning of installation sites, using location intelligence becomes necessary.

Next, to have undisturbed high-speed data transmission and network availability, it is necessary to ensure that 5G signal paths do not get obstructed by objects such as buildings and trees. For ensuring this, highly accurate geodata is required. Accurate maps that display terrain and infrastructure can help the telecom operators to determine where the towers can be built such that they can relay high-frequency signals effectively.

Managing Risks and Assets

Location intelligence and access to highly accurate geospatial data can help the telecom operators to not only carry out effective network planning but also manage the assets after installation. Accurate identification of problem sites will help the teams to resolve the issues quickly. This quick and efficient resolution of issues will lead to enhanced customer satisfaction.

Using visual mapping dashboards and automated alerts triggered from the GIS system based on geofencing or risk proximity, Network Operating Centers can get a clear overview of physical and human assets and proactively monitor the risks that could threaten the network operations. Risks could be environmental such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and storms as well as those related to health and safety.

Timely identification of the risks will allow the organizations to take the necessary action faster and add more satisfied customers to the database.

Improving Workforce Management

There remains no doubt that due to the presence of more advanced capabilities, 5G networks and infrastructure will be more complex than the 3G and 4G networks. Accordingly, there will be an increase in the number of assets (towers, microcells) as well. The increased number of assets will require more installation and maintenance work, putting more pressure on the field service workforce.

In such high-pressure situations, geospatial technology will enable the workforce to be more efficient. Geospatial technology will help in improving and automating several aspects of the workflow management; right from route planning optimization to dispatch and vehicle tracking, to monitoring real-time outage intervention status. The outcomes so achieved will be par excellence.

Enhancing Customer Experience

Right from the planning stage, geospatial data will significantly help the telecom operators identify the best markets to develop. Based on data related to population density or population segmentation expenditures, the operators can identify the best areas for potential 5G consumers. Demographic data can also help them to ascertain where the towers should be installed as it would be better to keep them closer to areas where the maximum number of customers will be located.

An important component of good customer service is the easy availability of a physical store. It is necessary for the telecom providers to place the stores strategically to be able to cater to the existing and new customers better. This is another area where geospatial data has been playing a vital role. It has been helping the telecommunication companies in identifying the best location for their stores and with 5G the story will be no different.

In today’s digital world, even before a customer arrives at a physical store, he/she researches the carrier, its coverage quality, or availability of the service in their geographic area through the company website. For providing such information accurately to the prospective customers, telecom companies have to harness the power of location technology, be it for geocoding the customer location, validating service availability, or allowing them to select the nearest store-based on preferred criteria. This practice has been adopted by the leaders in the fields and with competition enhancing, the 5G players definitely need to imbibe the same.

Telecom companies must work towards including highly accurate coverage maps in their websites which can help the prospective customers to know when the 5G technology will be available near them. Easy availability of such information will help in building up the customer base. Moreover, analysis of such queries can largely enable the telecom provider to decide where to invest while building up the network such that it can cater to a larger number of customers.

After the service is in place, geospatial data will also be beneficial for resolving customer complaints. It can be used to perform pre-diagnostic tests by locating potential causes, whether it’s a weak coverage close to a customer location, an ongoing outage in proximity to a customer, or a cell site that reaches maximum capacity. Such location-based analysis can greatly speed up the resolution time and improve customer satisfaction while making the telecom provider more efficient.

Where to Find High-Quality Geodata

So, there is no doubt that using geospatial data, telecom companies can aim towards creating more robust networks and achieving the goals of very high data speeds, low latency, enhanced reliability, huge network capacity, and better user experience to the increased numbers of users.

However, an important question arises here, ‘Where to get high-quality geospatial data that meets the needs effectively?’

One answer is Cloudeo.

Cloudeo is the platform that enables Telecom companies to access multiple high-quality, ready-to-use data from various geodata creators like satellites, airplanes, and drones, in-situ-data, etc. under Data as a Service (DaaS) in a few clicks. Additionally, the Software as a Service (SaaS) feature allows the customers to use the latest version of different types of software needed to process the geodata without worrying about updates, releases, etc. The platform strategically brings together Partners and customers into one standard operating platform globally.

This cloud-based market platform hosts a wide range of value-added service providers and developers who can simplify and customize the data as per the user’s needs. With Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provision, the users can use all of Cloudeo’s services without increasing their IT infrastructure cost. The service works excellently with user-specific specifications, code, workflow, and even has to scale up options at a very affordable cost at the customer’s preferred location and time.

All in all, the platform stands out as the perfect choice for high-valued geoinformation services that telecom companies are looking at, more actively now with the promise of 5G in place. By bringing in all the data creators, data processors, and data users into one platform, Cloudeo is creating the most user-friendly geospatial solutions marketplace to meet your company’s need of accessing highly accurate geospatial data.

Explore Cloudeo today and take the first step towards creating more robust networks that will power the smarter cities of tomorrow.

Highlight the risk in real estate with Digital Elevation Model Data

NEXTMap One is available as a DSM (digital surface model) or DTM (digital terrain model). With a DSM, it is also possible to see buildings and trees, whereas, with a DTM, just the bare earth surface is presented. A DSM might be particularly useful for visualizing hazards down to the individual building level. A DTM might be more useful for slope and soil removal calculations.

The location of new real estate comes with inherent uncertainties: what environmental hazards could affect this site? Before you build, consider the often-overlooked factor of elevation.

Logistics of new real estate

In real estate development, before you select a site for a new building, many aspects must be considered prior to the construction phase.

Logistics within real estate is not a new concept, however, new technologies are taking it to the next level. High powered modeling software and precision data are allowing the industry to plan ahead and better identify potential problems before they happen. An example of this is the integration of environmental factors into the planning process.

One of the most commonly overlooked aspects before investing is mitigating environmental uncertainties on the site, many of which can be attributed to elevation. The elevation is an important indicator for many costly hazards associated with a specific location of interest, such as landslides, flooding, sea-level rise, and accessibility.

The elevation is used not only to identify hazards but also to estimate how much preparation will be necessary on a landscape for new construction, including grading and calculating how much soil needs to be removed or added. Costs can be estimated ahead of time and better budgeted even before the first survey occurs.

NEXTMap One is a high-resolution elevation dataset designed for precision analysis. It is one of the most accurate digital elevation models (DEMs) on the market, with up to 1-meter (3.24ft) resolution, now available as a subscription service exclusively from cloudeo.

With NEXTMap One as a Service, you can quickly analyze your area of interest to determine the feasibility of a new site before you build to minimize the uncertainty of future issues. Quick analysis in GIS software can reveal more than meets the eye.

Landslides

The slope is an important component in calculating the chance of landslides. Although it is not the only factor, it can be an important indicator especially if homes are built on a steep slope or on the top of a hill close to the slope edge.

Slope information can easily be derived with the industry-leading NEXTMap One as a Service elevation data in most free and commercial GIS Mapping software.

Flood Assessment

Elevation data can be used to evaluate the risk of flooding. If an area is within close proximity to a river, in a floodplain, or has previously experienced flash-floods, elevation can reveal how much water the property would be subjected to in a flooding event.

Find the lowest elevations nearby a river or run hydrology analysis in professional GIS analysis programs on the NEXTMap One elevation data.

Sea level rise

Coastal properties face the risk of rising sea levels. How close to the water should a waterfront property be if there are just a few inches of sea-level rise? How does that affect the property value long-term?

Use the NEXTMap One data in gis software to estimate where the new coastline would be with a loss of coastline due to a rise in sea level.

Accessibility

During the construction phase, how will the materials be brought to the site? Are roads and infrastructure good enough for large trucks to bring the materials? If flooding or a landslide were to occur, how would that affect access to the site?

Overlay infrastructure data with NEXTMap data in GIS software. Identify where roads run along with landslide-prone steep areas or if roads at low elevation near your area of interest are at risk of flooding.

Case in point: seasonal flooding

Along the Mississippi river exists seasonal flooding due to spring rains. This year, it is currently experiencing the highest amount of flooding since record-keeping began in the 1800s. The river is nearly 23 feet (7 meters) deep, about 8 feet (2.5 meters) above flood level. (USA Today)

Here is the NEXTMap One elevation map, or digital surface model (DSM), over Davenport, Iowa, a town of about 100,000 people.

Green areas in the image are lower elevation and red areas are higher elevation.

Infrastructure Data

With free TIGER files road data overlayed on top of the DSM, it is possible to see the roads and the elevation information together. Roads that are over the dark green areas are built at low elevations, while roads over lighter areas are built over higher elevations. (US Census Bureau)

Low Elevation Areas Highlighted

Using the DSM, which includes buildings and infrastructure, it is possible to see exactly which structures will be affected if the river rises to a specific level, in this case about 14 feet (4.2 meters) above the normal water level. This analysis is possible because of the high resolution of the elevation data.

Even the pedestrian and cycling bridge in the middle of the frame could be affected by a flood this high.

heck, your potential construction site or new real estate investment with NEXTMap One before you build to reduce the risk of damages from flooding, landslide, sea-level rise, or accessibility. The NEXTMap One dataset is the industry-leading 1-meter resolution (3.28ft) elevation data set built with 2016 or newer satellite data, so you know you are getting the most up to date information available. It is 6 times more precise than free data and is more affordable than other commercial options, making it the best bang for your buck.

The seamless data set offers coverage free from blunders, seam lines, or spikes that can be visible in other datasets.

With availability over the whole USA and Germany, you can get the coverage you need for your project. Water bodies and coastlines are flattened and corrected for accurate measurement. And NEXTMap One operates natively with all of your other data or programs since it's compliant with the OGC data standards.

NEXTMap One is available as a DSM (digital surface model) or DTM (digital terrain model). With a DSM, it is also possible to see buildings and trees, whereas, with a DTM, just the bare earth surface is presented. A DSM might be particularly useful for visualizing hazards down to the individual building level. A DTM might be more useful for slope and soil removal calculations.