October 2014 Vol. 12 No. 10

View from the Top

• Toshihiko Kumamoto, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT WEST

  

  Overview
  NTT WEST is executing a variety of measures to survive and thrive in many highly competitive areas. It is involved in a series of new projects such as Smart Hikari Town in various regions in Japan having diverse cultural and social needs. We asked Senior Executive Vice President Toshihiko Kumamoto about the frame of mind that NTT WEST must adopt to ensure growth going forward.

Feature Articles: R&D on Maintenance and Management Technologies for Telecommunication Infrastructure

• Maintenance and Management Technology for Safe, Secure, and Economical Operation of Telecommunication Infrastructure Facilities

  

  Abstract
  The conduits, manholes, tunnels, and other telecommunication infrastructure facilities that support optical access networks are aging rapidly, just as roads, bridges, and other elements of the social infrastructure are. The ability of these facilities to withstand large-scale earthquakes is also a major concern. These Feature Articles describe the latest technical trends in facilities management, inspection and diagnosis, repair and reinforcement, and technology for making facilities resistant to earthquake damage as part of efforts to achieve safe and secure telecommunication infrastructure facilities as well as economical maintenance.

• Facilities Management Technology for Optimizing Inspection and Repair Timing

  

  Abstract
  The huge number of telecommunication infrastructure facilities that support information technology services continues to deteriorate from aging, and the number of technicians available to conduct maintenance is decreasing, so maintenance and management methods that are both practical and economical are needed. To meet this need, we are carrying out research and development on facilities management technology for setting inspection and repair criteria according to the state of each facility as determined by degradation prediction. This article describes our work on facilities management technology and our maintenance and management methods for manhole inspection.

• Protecting Telecommunication Services from Earthquake Damage

  

  Abstract
  To protect telecommunication network facilities from damage caused by major earthquakes, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories has been continuously conducting research and development on technology to make the telecommunication infrastructure resistant to earthquakes and to improve the accuracy of evaluating earthquake resistance. This article describes our work to improve the technology for evaluating non-standard private bridges that was introduced in 2013 as a measure to improve the earthquake resistance of important facilities. It also describes the technology currently under development for evaluating the earthquake resistance of conduit.

• Technology for Highly Efficient and High Quality Diagnosis of Infrastructure Facilities

  

  Abstract
  The large number of infrastructure facilities throughout the country must be regularly inspected and diagnosed for possible problems. The NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories is working toward a transition from the current methods involving inspection and diagnosis by humans to automatic methods, which will be essential for carrying out such work efficiently over a wide area. This work involves advancing the existing image processing technology through a fusion of various technologies that include sensor networks, mechatronics, and remote sensing systems that have been developed in other laboratories. This article describes the inspection technology for concrete utility poles and manhole covers as representative of the direction of our most recent research and development.

• Repair and Reinforcement Technology for Safe and Secure Concrete Structures that Have a Long Service Life

  

  Abstract
  A vast number of concrete manhole and tunnel structures managed by NTT are 30−40 years old, and there is obvious degradation in some of those facilities. To address this problem, the NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories has been conducting research and development on the technology needed to extend facility use long into the future, including technology for more efficient and cost-effective maintenance and management, accurate measurement of the durability of existing facilities, and effective and economical repair and reinforcement. This article describes the direction and future development of that work.

• Effective Repair and Reinforcement Technology for Conduit Facilities

  

  Abstract
  Conduit facilities are located in every part of the country. As the huge number of conduit facilities deteriorate because of age, the cost of renovation and repair as well as maintenance and management increases, there is concern that network reliability may decline as a result. The development of conduit renewal techniques that use new technology and new materials will enable us to achieve the most effective use of conduit facilities and will contribute to reducing costs and maintaining a highly reliable network. This article describes newly developed maintenance and management technologies for buried conduit and conduit attached to bridges.

Regular Articles

• Frequency-division-multiplexing Coherent OTDR for Realizing Effective Construction and Maintenance of Submarine Optical Cable Systems

  

  Abstract
  We have developed a novel coherent optical time domain reflectometry (C-OTDR) technique with the highest level of measurement sensitivity yet reported, thus enabling us to achieve the effective construction and maintenance of submarine optical cable systems. Our technique minimizes the operating time required during measurement. This article provides an overview and reports the features of our new technique, which we call frequency-division-multiplexing coherent OTDR (FDM-OTDR).

• Development of Long-span Aerial Cable Installation Technique (Long Hanger Method)

  

  Abstract
  We have developed a technique called the long hanger method for installing a long span aerial cable across, for example, a valley or river without using conventional methods that require special skills or installation tools. Our new method enables us to easily overlay or replace cables.

Global Standardization Activities

• IEC Standardization Trends Related to Energy Infrastructure

  

  Abstract
  The globalization of corporate activities and the expanding markets of emerging economies in recent years has made international standardization more important than ever. This article describes the standardization activities of the International Electrotechnical Commission concerning direct current power supply systems as part of international standardization efforts in the field of energy, which has been the focus of attention in recent years. The main trends in the field of smart grid communities are also introduced.

Global Activities of NTT Group

• NTT Com Security

  

  Abstract
  NTT Com Security, the successor to security specialists Integralis (Germany) and Secode (Sweden), launched its comprehensive risk management service called WideAngle in June 2013. This article introduces the work of NTT Com Security while describing the information security environment surrounding today’s corporations.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Signal Generator for Noise Search Tester to Improve Noise-measurement and Noise-identification Skills

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces recent equipment and methods developed for use in troubleshooting noise faults. This is the twenty-fifth of a bimonthly series on the theme of practical field information on telecommunication technologies. This month’s contribution is from the EMC Engineering Group, Technical Assistance and Support Center, Maintenance and Service Operations Department, Network Business Headquarters, NTT EAST.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

• External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings