From Records to Reality: The Engineering Behind Every Business Turn-Up

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 Everyday Work Matters

At Geosolv, we know that network reliability and clean deployments aren’t just about grand plans or big projects. They’re built on consistent, accurate, everyday work.

For engineers like Greg, a typical day starts with a notification in SightTracker — a shared project-tracking platform used by clients, field teams, and engineers alike. When a milestone is marked complete, the baton passes to the next person: often Greg, his eyes on the GIS data, fiber maps, and proposed design.

It’s his job to connect that design to reality: to verify that records are complete, trace existing fiber, and plan the most efficient route from the splice point to the customer’s equipment. When everything checks out, he generates a splice doc, uploads it back to SightTracker, and closes the loop.

In short: turn design records into actionable instructions and, ultimately, a live customer connection.

The Tools & Workflow Behind the Scenes

Just like all of Geosolv's services, this work is a blend of human judgment and trusted tools. Greg’s daily toolbox includes:

• GIS systems such as ESRI ArcGIS and IQGeo

• Mapping tools and satellite or aerial imagery (e.g., Google Earth)

• Internal tracking and documentation systems (SightTracker, spreadsheets, etc.)

Here’s a simplified version of his workflow:

1. Receive a turn-up request in SightTracker

2. Review the proposed design against GIS data and fiber maps

3. Perform a fiber trace, tracing “as-built” paths from A to Z

4. Cross-check against existing field data / as-builts to confirm accuracy

5. Create splice instructions and upload splice documentation

6. Finalize milestone and hand off to field teams

Accuracy isn’t optional. It’s critical. If records are wrong, it undermines network integrity and complicates future deployments.

When Records and Reality Don’t Match: Hidden Challenges

No system is perfect. In Greg’s experience, mismatches between GIS data and field conditions aren’t rare — they happen often enough to matter. About 20% of the time, he encounters undocumented changes, missing as-builts, or splices done outside of the expected workflow.

When that happens, the result is a scramble: field technicians, splicers, and network operations staff must communicate, re-trace fiber paths, and sometimes re-do work. That’s time lost, customer turn-ups delayed, and a creeping erosion of data quality.

Left unchecked, this becomes a “snowball effect.” One missing document or incorrect splice can sabotage the next job in the area. That’s why thorough data stewardship matters — for today’s build, and for every future connection.

Why Data Quality Matters

At Geosolv, we believe infrastructure data deserves the same respect as physical infrastructure itself. Inaccurate data isn’t a minor annoyance, it’s a structural liability. It makes the network harder to leverage, harder to expand, and less reliable over time.

That’s why engineers maintain manual backup records when data systems are read-only. It’s also why we believe in solutions like automated GIS updates, reality-capture review tools, and the potential of AI-driven validation in the future.

Accurate data builds trust, scalability, and reliability for every turn-up today and long after.

The Human Side: Why This Work Matters

For many, this kind of engineering looks dry — just data and maps. But for Greg (and the rest of us at Geosolv), it’s deeply meaningful.

“The most rewarding part is when everything lines up — the design works, the records match, and the customer turns up without a hitch.”

That moment isn’t about cable or fiber — it’s about reliability, service, and trust. It’s about knowing that someone at the other end of the line depends on you.

The hardest part? The invisible work most people don’t see. The hours spent double-checking records, talking to field crews, reconciling discrepancies. But that work is the difference between “network deployed” — and “network that works, and stays working.”

If you’re new to this world, Greg’s advice is simple: treat your data like it matters, because it does.

Looking Forward: What BAU Engineering Could Become

As geospatial tools, reality-capture tech, and automation improve, the promise of BAU engineering is evolving.

Imagine a world where:

• Every splice, every fiber path, every change is captured in real time

• Field data automatically syncs with GIS databases

• As-builts are live, accurate, and accessible across teams

• Customer turn-ups are clean, fast, and nearly invisible in how seamless they feel to the end user

That’s the future we believe in at Geosolv. Because turning records into reality isn’t just about building — it’s about building smarter.

If your organization is wrestling with mismatched records, slow turn-ups, or the hidden costs of poor data, let’s have a conversation. At Geosolv we build trust in your data, so your network can scale, adapt, and perform.