Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Introduction to Pole Scan (A high mast light pole inspection Service)

High Mast Light Poles are installed at our busiest intersections as well as on ramps and off ramps of most highway systems. . It is a tall pole at least 30 metres (98 feet) high and the lighting system consists of several lighting fixtures mounted around the luminaries ring at the top of it. The pole itself is built in sections with each section inserted into the other and ground at the base with anchor bolts that go 3-4 feet into the ground.  The HMLP “High mast light pole” needs to remain sturdy and withstand gale force winds for years without rusting apart or falling.

Maintenance inspections of the high mast light pole are conducted every 5 years and typically done by lowering the luminaries ring from the mast head to its base by using a motor and winch but inspection of the pole surface and seams is a difficult task. Traditional pole inspection involves a visual inspection of the pole from the ground by an inspector.

Infrastructure Preservation Conservation (IPC) has developed a unique High Mast Light Pole inspection service named Pole Scan® which helps the inspector in assessing the light pole and its various components like seams and luminaries for any imperfections from the comfort of his office.

What it is?

It is a robotic high mast light pole inspection system which is remote controlled from a monitoring station. This system offers 100 percent coverage of the entire light pole including the pole surface, seams, luminaries and other components. This advanced system exceeds all FHWA and state requirements for assessment. The inspections are conducted by experienced professionals who are trained to use the technology to provide the department of transportation with much more quantitative data than the traditional manual inspection

Why was it built?

High Mast light Pole inspection from conventional methods is subjective because an inspector examines the pole visually. If two inspectors examine the same pole at the same time then the two outcomes will be different. Moreover, other components of the HMLP like seams and surface are neglected and the potential defects or deteriorations are not properly monitored Some of the components or anomaly’s can be occurring 50-90 feet up or underground and not visible to the human eye. Pole Scan® was built to make subjecting testing a thing of the past and to inspect all the components of the HMLP from every angle providing quantitative data to the department of transportation in order for them to properly allocate their resources to maintain them and extend their service life.

How is it used?

Pole Scan® utilizes Non Destructive Testing methods and robotics technology. A self propelled robotic system is mounted on the pole and it is remotely controlled from the base station. It moves along the length of the pole and records all the details of the surface, seams and other components in form of a high definition video. The recorded data can be analyzed in real time for later analysis. The history is also used for monitoring of the advancement of the any deterioration.

What problem does it solve?

PoleScan® has improved the inspection service of high mast light pole and enhanced the quality of the results. The collected data is used for monitoring of rate of deterioration over time as well as reporting any imperfections in order to properly maintain them.

For more information about IPC and its road and bridge inspection services, you can visit our site https://www.infrastructurepc.com or email us at info@infrastructurepc.com.

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