Spans

Spans are the connections between poles that define the structure of your utility network. They provide the path along which wires are placed and determine the geometry for sag calculations.

What is a Span?

A span represents the section of a line between two adjacent poles:

• Starts at one pole - The "from" pole
• Ends at another pole - The "to" pole
• Carries wires - Wires are attached to spans
• Has geometry - Length, direction, and elevation change

Spans are essential because:

• They define network topology (what connects to what)
• They provide the basis for wire sag calculations
• They enable clearance analysis along the route

Adding Spans

Single Span Mode

Span Mode Explained

When adding spans, the tool operates in "span mode":

1. First click - Selects the starting pole
2. Second click - Creates span to this pole; this pole becomes the new "from"
3. Third click - Creates span from previous pole to this pole
4. Continue - Each click extends the chain

This allows you to quickly trace along a line:

Pole A → (click) → Pole B → (click) → Pole C → (click) → Pole D
        span 1           span 2           span 3

Starting a New Chain

To start a new span chain from a different pole:

1. Press Escape to clear the current selection
2. Click on the new starting pole
3. Continue creating spans from there

Span Properties

Each span has these properties:

Removing Spans

Viewing Spans

Visibility Controls

In the left sidebar under Digital Grid:

• Toggle Spans - Show or hide all spans
• Span Color - Click the color picker to change span color
• Opacity - Adjust with the Digital Grid opacity slider

Span Visualization

Spans appear as lines between pole tops:

• Line connects the top of one pole to the top of the next
• Direction indicated by arrow (if enabled)
• Color can be customized

Best Practices

Work Sequentially

For the most efficient workflow:

1. Start at one end of your line
2. Add spans in sequence along the route
3. Complete one section before moving to another

Verify Connections

After adding spans:

1. Check that all poles are connected as intended
2. Look for any missed connections
3. Verify spans don't cross incorrectly

Multiple Circuits

When poles carry multiple circuits:

• All circuits on the same poles share the same spans
• Wires differentiate the circuits
• Add spans once, then add multiple wire sets

Span Geometry

Length Calculation

Span length is calculated as the 3D distance between pole tops:

Length = √[(x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)² + (z₂-z₁)²]

This accounts for:

• Horizontal distance
• Vertical elevation change
• True line-of-sight distance

Direction

Span direction is the compass bearing from the "from" pole to the "to" pole:

• 0° = North
• 90° = East
• 180° = South
• 270° = West

Impact on Wires

Span geometry affects wire calculations:

• Longer spans have more wire sag
• Elevation changes affect sag asymmetry
• Span length determines clearance requirements

Common Patterns

Linear Route

Poles in a straight line:

O---O---O---O---O
   span span span span

Corner

Route with a turn:

O---O---O
        |
        O
        |
        O

Tap

Main line with a side tap:

O---O---O---O
    |
    O
    |
    O

Loop

Returning to a previous pole:

O---O
|   |
O---O

Troubleshooting

Can't Create Span

If clicking doesn't create a span:

1. Verify you have at least 2 poles
2. Check both poles are visible
3. Ensure Worker is connected
4. Try zooming in closer

Span Appears Wrong

If span looks incorrect:

1. Verify poles are in correct positions
2. Check pole heights are accurate
3. Remove and recreate the span

Missing Spans

If spans aren't visible:

1. Check span visibility is enabled
2. Verify spans exist (try creating one)
3. Zoom out to see the full extent

Exporting Spans

Spans can be exported for use in other systems:

Create Alignment

Use Digital Grid → Export Span to create alignment files:

1. Select the spans to include
2. Choose export format
3. Configure options
4. Save the alignment file

This is useful for:

• Engineering analysis in other software
• Sharing network topology
• Documentation and reporting

Next Steps

After creating spans:

1. Add wires to model the conductors
2. Add crossarms for attachment points
3. Run analysis to calculate clearances