Utility pole computerized maintenance management systems

Effective management of the outside plant is a key component of survival for today's utilities. Managing a major asset incorporates design considerations, quality of new purchases and effective in-service inspection and maintenance. Simultaneously, accurate data and information about the pole plant are necessary for good operational, maintenance and planning decisions. This paper briefly introduces several aspects of managing wood poles for maximum life and lowest cost life cycles. A more in-depth discussion focuses on how accurate data and a geographic information system (GIS) play an important role in reducing the cost of pole ownership.