We’re seeing enormous investment in fiber, data centers, and digital infrastructure. But as the physical infrastructure around us becomes more sophisticated, an important question is emerging: Are our infrastructure records keeping pace with what we're building? We spoke with Vanessa Wells VP of Engineering, OSP veteran of 28 years, and author of Copper & Glass to explore what happens when the digital record of our infrastructure falls behind the physical reality. From instit

I recently had a construction project done at my house. I found myself watching the guys work probably more than I should have. Not because I was checking up on them, but because it was impressive watching people who really knew what they were doing. I own a hammer. I own a saw. I have paintbrushes. I can do a little wiring. I have fixed things around the house. I can watch a YouTube video with the best of them. But watching these guys move through the project was different.

Fiber deployment across the Midwest is gaining momentum. As federal funding, private investment, and rural broadband initiatives continue to accelerate, providers are moving from planning to construction at an unprecedented pace. Across the region, engineering firms, utilities, and contractors are racing to deliver reliable broadband infrastructure to communities that have long been underserved. But building faster requires more than funding. It requires accurate data. At Geo

Every utility project starts with a plan. The challenge is that projects rarely get delayed because of the things everyone expects. More often, schedules slip and budgets expand because of small issues that compound over time: incomplete field data, inaccurate records, unexpected site conditions, design revisions, or communication gaps between teams. Whether you're deploying fiber, upgrading infrastructure, or expanding a utility network, staying on schedule and within budg

When a project falls behind schedule, the root cause usually isn’t dramatic. It’s rarely a massive design flaw or a catastrophic equipment failure. More often, it starts with something small: one outdated map or one incorrect measurement that gets passed from team to team until the mistake becomes expensive. A field crew revisits the site. A redesign gets pushed through late in the process. Materials are reordered. Timelines stretch. Trust falters. These aren’t random probl

At the end of every fiber project, something tangible gets handed off. A construction print-a design that moves from sheets to the street. For all the complexity in broadband infrastructure — the software, the capture tools, the routing models — what ultimately moves a project forward is clarity. Clear data. Clear handoffs. Clear ownership. From the Dakota’s perspective, that clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built long before construction begins. And when somethin

Those of you who know me well will know that I’m often the first to turn to various AI tools to complete a job, dependent on the need to gain “efficiency” and maximize my time. I’ll tell myself that these tools help me get more done in a shorter timeframe, thus allowing me to spend more time interacting with colleagues, clients, and even... not working. The convenience that AI markets is true. It does give us more time back – but at what cost? As a new year begins, people us

In fiber-network buildouts, the big headlines often go to new builds, expansions, or upgrades. But for every customer that gets service, there’s a careful, behind-the-scenes process making it possible. Welcome to the BAU — Business As Usual — engineering workflow that quietly turns design records into real-world connections. Let’s walk through what that actually looks like from first request to final turn-up with Greg, Geosolv's OSP Engineering Lead. The Heart of BAU: Why Eve