What is the validation framework?
The validation framework is a content management system (CMS) that shows all of the source material used in the map, the research, production and validation status of each piece of network infrastructure, and facilitates the interaction between network operators and other stakeholders in validating the ITU Interactive Transmission Map. The framework records and authenticates all information and correspondence related to the information shown in the ITU Interactive Transmission Map.
The validation framework contains a homepage for each network operator. In the main map, click your mouse over any piece of network infrastructure and information for that link is shown in the panel on the left hand side. Click the source material used, and this links through to the homepage for that network operator in the validation framework.
Each network operator homepage contains the source material, if available hyperlinks through to the original source material, and a record of all feedback and correspondence related to the accuracy of the transmission links in question. This system is an easy to use feedback loop designed to ensure that the information for each network operator is shown correctly.
Map application usage and navigation
The ITU Interactive Transmission Map application is designed to run in contemporary web browsers, including Internet Exporer (version 8 and above), Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Performance may not be optimal in old versions of the above or other browsers. It is only accessible to users with a valid TIES username and password. A publicly available version will be published containing information which has been validated and cleared for publication.
On the left-hand side of the main map page are collapsible panels with content describing the map layers and data. Each map panel is adjustable in size according to user preference. The map window contains the ‘slippy’ map itself and two toolbars for interrogating the map. The ‘+’ and ‘-‘ signs on the top left-hand corner are for zooming in and out respectively, whilst the toolbar on the top right hand side contains buttons for more detailed zooming. The pan tool (hand symbol) allows the user to revert back to panning around the map. Map layers can be toggled on or off as required, allowing for the visual comparison of contextual information.
By hovering your mouse over an individual network link on the map, key information for this link will be returned in the layers panel on the left hand side, below the heading ‘Line Data’. This contains the operator name, from and to locations, line distance, as well as a thumbnail image of the original source material. The thumbnail image links through to the operator homepage in the validation framework where the source material, updates, correspondence and any other information for this network operator is stored and may be accessed.
We welcome your feedback and contributions to make the interactive transmission map as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
To comment on an existing network operator
1. Submit a comment. In the Validation Framework, navigate to the homepage for the network operator for which you wish to leave a comment. At the top of the homepage for each network operator is a called Leave a Reply. Click this in order to open a form through which to submit feedback and Validation information. If there is not already a homepage, see To submit a new post below to set up a new homepage.
2. Authentication. The only users with access to the ITU Interactive Transmission Map are registered ITU User Account. In order to authenticate your comment, please identify yourself with your name, title and affiliation.
3. Moderation. Once you have finished writing your comment, click the Post Comment button. All comments will be moderated by our GIS team, who will change the validation status of this network operator as instructed by you. This change will appear in the map and its underlying database.
To Submit a new post
1. Registration. You may wish to submit additional information, such as information for a network operator which is not already shown in the map, a new document showing the latest transmission network of an operator, or a relevant news article. To set up and submit a new post, please register by going to this link here: Registration. You will only need to register once. In addition to making comments, registering enables you to start a new post.
2. Choose validation status. Once you are logged in to the administration area, you will see that you are able to choose a category for the post (Validation Status: Red, Amber, Green or Public).
3. Sending documents. Please note there is no facility to directly upload documents to the validation framework. This is a security measure put in place to restrict and control the documents which are stored on the server. Please therefore submit documents (which may be in PDF, PPT, Word or other format) to our GIS experts who will process the images sent for inclusion in your post.
To add or correct a line shown on the map.
The ITU Interactive Transmission Map application contains the ability for an operator viewing their network to draw on top of the map using the sketch tool. This means that users can add a line which is missing, a correct the routing of an existing line, by using the sketch tool to draw these lines on the map. NB: Please note that any lines which are drawn are not automatically entered into the database and are not stored anywhere, these sketches are only held temporarily in the users browser. Once you have drawn a line, click the Print Screen button on your computer, paste the image into an email, PowerPoint or Word document, and send this information by email to the ITU experts, who will make the amendments in the underlying GIS map and dataset. Please note, this tool is only designed for minor additions or corrections. To send information for the whole network with detailed information, please send an email to the ITU experts who will make these additions to the underlying GIS database and map.