Utility Pole Inspection Logger
Offline GPS-tagged inspection log for wood and concrete utility poles — decay, lean, hardware and clearance checks with CSV/GeoJSON export.
New utility pole inspection
Most utilities ground-line inspect wood poles on an 8–12 year cycle, with visual drive-by checks in between.
Field guide: Utility Pole Inspection Logger
Wood poles fail from the ground line down — decay fungi attack the buried section first, which is why a pole can look perfect at eye level and still be condemned. This logger structures a drive-by or walking patrol around the checks linemen actually make: the hammer sound test (a solid pole rings, a decayed shell answers with a dull thud), ground-line probing, lean, hardware and clearance to communication and power conductors.
Each entry is GPS-tagged from your phone, stored offline in the browser, and exports to CSV for your asset system or GeoJSON for the GIS team. Condition uses the reinforce/reject language of NESC-driven programs so the output maps directly to a make-ready or replacement work order.
Field tips
- Sound the pole on at least three faces from ground line to shoulder height — decay pockets are rarely symmetrical.
- Log lean against a plumb reference (door frame of the truck works); anything over ~5° deserves a follow-up measurement.
- Photograph the pole tag with your phone before logging — mistyped pole numbers are the #1 source of orphan records.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Utility Pole Inspection Logger — Offline GPS-tagged inspection log for wood and concrete utility poles — decay, lean, hardware and clearance checks with CSV/GeoJSON export. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Utility Pole Inspection Logger
Wood poles fail from the ground line down — decay fungi attack the buried section first, which is why a pole can look perfect at eye level and still be condemned. This logger structures a drive-by or walking patrol around the checks linemen actually make: the hammer sound test (a solid pole rings, a decayed shell answers with a dull thud), ground-line probing, lean, hardware and clearance to communication and power conductors.
How to use Utility Pole Inspection Logger
- 1Enter the pole number / tag and tap 📍 GPS to pin the utility pole's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the utility pole checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the Serviceable / Monitor / Reinforce / Reject / replace scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Utility Pole Inspection Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with IEEE Std 1217 / NESC pole inspection practice
Frequently asked questions
How often should utility poles be inspected?+
Typical programs combine a ground-line (intrusive) inspection every 8–12 years for wood poles with shorter visual patrol cycles. Climate matters: warm, wet service territories decay poles faster and justify the shorter end of the cycle, while arid regions can stretch it.
What does a dull thud on the hammer test mean?+
A solid pole returns a sharp ring; internal decay deadens the sound to a thud. A thud is a flag, not a verdict — follow up with a probe or increment borer at the ground line before classifying the pole as reject.
When is a pole classified as 'reject'?+
Most standards reject a wood pole when remaining shell thickness drops below roughly 2 inches of sound wood, or when strength falls below two-thirds of the original design value per ANSI O5.1-based assessment. Mechanical damage, severe splits and burn damage can also trigger rejection regardless of decay.
Does this app work without mobile signal?+
Yes. Records save to your device's browser storage instantly, so you can patrol in dead zones all day. Export the CSV or GeoJSON when you're back on a connection — nothing is uploaded anywhere by this tool.
Embed Utility Pole Inspection Logger on your website
Want Utility Pole Inspection Loggeron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/utility-pole-inspection-logger" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Utility Pole Inspection Logger — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related GIS tools
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