Smith, Fause & McDonald, Inc.

 U.C. Davis Net2 (UCDNet2)

Clients:

U.C. Davis, Information Technology/Communications Resources

U.C. Davis Architects & Engineers

U.C. Davis Facilities Services

Project Description

In 1998, SFMI was retained by U.C. Davis Information Technology/Communications Resources to prepare a Feasibility Study for the proposed build out of their Network 21 project, dubbed UCDNet2. The project scope is to extend data network services to existing academic and administrative buildings, and provide infrastructure to support all future projects presently defined under the U.C. Davis Campus Long Range Development Plan.

The Feasibility Study task included conceptual design and cost estimating for all project components, including approximately 10.8 miles of dry utility alignment, interior remodeling of the Central Office and 74 ADF/BDF/IDF locations, 30 million strand-feet of outside plant fiber, inside wiring retrofit for 253 existing buildings, and data electronics, including ATM core and Ethernet edge devices, Digital Subscriber Line services, wireless 802.11 LAN, and microwave systems. 

Guiding principles for expansion of Network 21 were defined in the Network 21 Budget and Policy Oversight Committee Final Report. This document required Information Technology/ Communications Resources to evaluate alternative technologies for delivery of network services in specific campus zones characterized by isolated geography, sparse density of users, and non-permanent structures. 

To comply with this policy mandate, SFMI developed a comprehensive data base estimating tool which allowed SFMI to rapidly and accurately generate the fully burdened cost of various reasonable technology options for a single building, a cluster of buildings, a Development Zone, or the entire Project. We presented this scenario information at a granularity that permitted the Building Committee, the Oversight Committee, the Departments, and finally the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors to make highly informed evaluations of alternative technology system life cycle costs versus function. We submitted the Feasibility Study report within 9 weeks against the University's original 17 week schedule.

SFMI presented a digest of this report to the Network 21 Oversight Committee, and at their request, to the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors. The Feasibility Study  report was then used as the basis for the Campus approval and funding process, including preparation of the Detailed Project Plan (DPP) and Capital Improvement Budget (CIB).  Pursuant to action of the Oversight Committee and the CODVC, the project scope is now defined in the DPP as serving 239 existing buildings, and has been funded for $12,136,796. The Campus has selected Smith, Fause & McDonald, Inc. as Executive Engineer for implementation of the Project.