Award Winning Project
Sinclair Knight Merz provided a diverse range of design and project management services to the South Australian Broadband Research and Education Network (SABRENet) project. This pioneering information sharing network required the construction of more than 90km of dark fibre optic cable and links Adelaide’s major research, medical and education facilities.
The network allows data transfer with virtually limitless capacity and will significantly improve information flow for these institutions.
SKM developed the final detailed technical specifications, planned and managed the installation of the main backbone network on behalf of the SABRENet consortium and verified delivery of the project by the contractor.
This required SKM to provide optical fibre network design expertise in the areas of fibre selection, conduit technologies, splicing and termination arrangements, conduit burying techniques, and testing methodologies.
Planning of the network required SKM to negotiate interruption planning with transport authorities and utilities. SKM’s survey, mapping and geo-spatial analysis expertise enabled the identification of all the affected parties and provided a basis for interactive and iterative discussions with multiple organisations.
SKM’s experience in a wide range of design and construct projects was invaluable in selecting preferred tenderers capable of delivering a complex project with value added services. Preparation and analysis of the competitive RFT phase also drew upon SKM’s global experience and enabled the SABRENet stakeholders to proceed, confident that the process had been carried out with integrity and due diligence.
The SABRENet project represents a significant practical progression in the world of information transfer and provides an exciting demonstration of the potential for information exchange across Australia and internationally.