Poles & Towers
Add, edit, and manage utility poles and transmission towers
Poles and towers are the foundation of your Digital Grid model. This guide covers how to add, edit, and manage these structures.
Adding Poles
Activate Add Pole Tool
Select Digital Grid → Poles & Towers → Add Pole or press Cmd/Ctrl + P.
The tool settings panel opens in the right sidebar.
Configure Pole Parameters (Optional)
Before placing, you can set default parameters:
- Pole Type - Distribution, Transmission, etc.
- Material - Wood, Concrete, Metal, Other
- Default Height - Override automatic calculation
Click on the Map
Click on the location where you want to place the pole. Click on the base of the pole in the point cloud.
Worker automatically calculates:
- Pole top position
- Pole height
- Lean angle
Verify Placement
The pole appears as a vertical element at the clicked location. Check that:
- The position is correct
- The height matches the actual pole
- The lean angle looks accurate
Continue Adding Poles
The tool remains active. Click to place additional poles, or press Escape to exit.
Automatic Detection: Worker uses the point cloud data around your click to find the pole top and calculate the height. Click as close to the pole base as possible for best results.
Pole Properties
Each pole has these properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Position (Bottom) | Ground-level coordinates |
| Position (Top) | Top of pole coordinates |
| Height | Vertical distance from bottom to top |
| Lean Angle | Deviation from vertical (degrees) |
| Type | Distribution, Transmission, etc. |
| Material | Wood, Concrete, Metal, Other |
| Pole ID | Unique identifier (optional) |
Adding Towers
For transmission towers, use the dedicated tower tool:
Activate Add Tower Tool
Select Digital Grid → Poles & Towers → Add Tower or press Cmd/Ctrl + T.
Click on Tower Location
Click at the base of the tower structure in the point cloud.
Configure Tower Properties
Set properties specific to towers:
- Tower type
- Structure configuration
- Height and dimensions
Editing Poles
To modify an existing pole:
Activate Edit Pole Tool
Select Digital Grid → Poles & Towers → Edit Pole or press Cmd/Ctrl + E.
Select the Pole
Click on the pole you want to edit. It becomes highlighted and selected.
Modify Properties
In the settings panel, you can adjust:
- Top Position - Drag or enter new coordinates
- Bottom Position - Adjust the base location
- Height - Override the calculated height
- Lean - Adjust the lean angle
- Type/Material - Change classification
Save Changes
Click Save to apply changes, or Cancel to discard.
Editing a pole may affect connected spans and wires. Verify related elements after making changes.
Removing Poles
To delete a pole:
Activate Remove Pole Tool
Select Digital Grid → Poles & Towers → Remove Pole or press Shift + P.
Click on the Pole
Click on the pole you want to remove. It will be deleted immediately.
Confirm Removal
The pole and any associated elements (spans, wires) may be affected.
Connected Elements: Removing a pole will also remove any spans that connect to it. Wires on those spans will also be deleted.
Managing Pole IDs
Poles can have unique identifiers for tracking and reporting:
Assigning Pole IDs
- Select a pole using the Edit Pole tool
- Enter the Pole ID in the properties panel
- Save the changes
Importing Pole IDs
To import IDs from a file:
- Select Digital Grid → Import Pole IDs
- Choose a CSV or compatible file with ID mappings
- Match columns to pole properties
- Apply the import
Viewing Pole IDs
Toggle pole ID visibility in the left sidebar:
- Check Pole IDs under Digital Grid layer
- IDs appear as labels near each pole
Best Practices
Accurate Placement
- Zoom in close when placing poles for better accuracy
- Use Classification view to distinguish poles from vegetation
- Click on the pole base, not the middle or top
Consistent Workflow
- Work systematically along your route
- Verify each pole before moving to the next
- Use consistent naming for Pole IDs
Quality Checks
After adding poles:
- Toggle to 3D view and orbit around
- Verify poles align with point cloud data
- Check heights look reasonable
- Confirm lean angles make sense
Point Cloud Quality
For best results, your point cloud should have:
- Pole classification (Class 15 for towers, or dedicated class)
- Dense coverage around pole locations
- Minimal noise in the structure area
Pole Types
Distribution Poles
Standard poles for distribution lines:
- Typical height: 30-50 feet
- Materials: Wood, concrete, steel
- Carry primary and secondary wires
Transmission Towers
Large structures for high-voltage transmission:
- Typical height: 60-200+ feet
- Materials: Steel lattice or monopole
- Carry multiple conductor bundles
Joint-Use Poles
Poles shared by multiple utilities:
- Carry power, telecom, and cable
- Multiple attachment points at different heights
- Require careful clearance management
Troubleshooting
Pole Height Seems Wrong
If automatic height detection is inaccurate:
- Use Edit Pole to manually adjust
- Verify by measuring against point cloud
- Check point cloud classification is correct
Pole Placement Offset
If poles appear offset from their actual location:
- Check coordinate system alignment
- Verify point cloud isn't shifted
- Re-place the pole with more zoom
Can't Select a Pole
If clicking doesn't select a pole:
- Ensure you're in the correct tool mode
- Try zooming in closer
- Check pole visibility is enabled
Next Steps
After adding poles:
- Create spans between poles
- Add wires to the spans
- Add crossarms for attachment points