Non-destructive condition assessment of utility wood pole assets, with severity of decay measurement capability, a more reliable enabler for life extension and refurbishment optimisation

There are 130 million wooden poles in service in the USA. The average lifespan of a treated wooden pole in the USA is 45 years, but this can vary significantly due to the inherent variability of wood itself and differences in environmental exposure. This variation drives a requirement for ongoing condition monitoring and remediation to achieve a reliable service over this time. The paper compares traditional sound, bore, and excavate (SBE), and an ultrasound non-destructive evaluation (NDE) inspection technology capable of detecting early stage and incipient decay. 10-20% of pole strength is lost during the incipient decay stage.