Research into the vulnerability of data cables during manual digging
The energy transition is leading to a growing need for excavation work in the Netherlands. The installation, replacement and reinforcement of cables and pipelines increasingly requires work to be carried out underground. Careful excavation is essential, as damage to data cables can disrupt internet, television and telephone services, causing inconvenience for users and costs for companies and society.
Commissioned by the Dutch National Inspectorate for Digital Infrastructure (RDI), Kiwa investigated the physical vulnerability of underground data cables during manual probing with a shovel or spade. This manual probing is part of careful excavation and helps verify the exact location of cables and pipelines.
Kiwa carried out the study in a reproducible test setup. Manual digging motions were simulated under controlled conditions, with variations including sand cover, drop height and impact angle. The tests show that data cables can be damaged under specific conditions.
The study did not focus on certification or product approval and does not address the functional performance of cables after damage. However, it does provide a factual basis for better understanding the risks. Especially now that underground activity is increasing, collaboration between network operators, contractors, and other stakeholders in the supply chain is important to further minimize damage caused by excavation.
Discover more:
- Press release ‘Onderzoek: datakabels kwetsbaar bij handmatig graven’ of the RDI (Dutch, RDI.nl)
- Frequently asked questions on the Research Impact resistance of data cables (Dutch, RDI.nl)
- Research report ‘Impact resistance of data cables’ (Dutch, RDI.nl)
