Saint Catherine City Surveillance, Phase 2
Overview
Challenge
A turnkey, city-wide surveillance and security network for a government security client in a remote desert mountain city, run with a lean site team through utility, permit and supply constraints.
Approach
- Produced the network low-level design and throughput analysis, fiber design and schedule, and data center rack layouts.
- Produced the electrical design, including power cable and UPS sizing, and verified the 8 m tapered steel poles structurally.
- Drafted the control room and data center design for Phase 2 and the upcoming Phase 3, taking the control room layout through 4 revisions.
- Led 3 subcontractors (civil, steel structures, active network) with 1 site engineer and 2 technicians.
- Built the MS Project time plan, cost baseline and budget-to-date tracking, and the risk and issue register.
- Coordinated the client, consultant, local government, utility and development authority.
- Held monthly meetings with the client and end user, presenting site facts and progress, and raising obstacles together with proposed solutions.
- Held on-site meetings with other companies' subcontractors working on the same roads, aligning works to protect our routes and paths.
Outcome
Substantially complete. All civil works, poles, pole components (UPS and outdoor enclosures) and conventional cameras are done, and 2 security checkpoints are operational. Remaining scope is 26 specialist cameras on one road segment and fiber splicing, with final completion targeted for December 2026 pending utility power. Under budget, with a complementary contract secured.
Key metrics
Cost savings
- For the client: reused passive components from the client's warehouses, covering part of the fiber bill of quantities.
- For Helmets: controlled operating costs, including moving part of the travel costs to subcontractors.
- Used site resources and heavy machinery for several tasks at once.
- Forecast budget and costs quarterly to anticipate upcoming expenses.
Deliverables produced
- Network low-level design and throughput analysis
- Electrical design: power cable and UPS sizing
- Data center rack layouts (4 × 42U)
- Fiber design and fiber schedule
- Control room layout (4 revisions)
- Structural verification of 8 m tapered poles
- Manhole schedule and site-readiness tracker
- Cost baseline and budget-to-date tracking
- Risk and issue register
- Time plan (MS Project)
Lesson learned
Map every external dependency at kickoff and log it as a risk with an owner. Utility power was outside our scope, yet it set the finish date.
Identify stakeholders thoroughly and build a strong communication plan around them. Several influential parties only surfaced during implementation, such as the utility's subcontractors and the local development and housing authority. They had no interest in our project, yet their work directly affected our routes and schedule.