Geospatial Services

Through our Geospatial Division, Windrose and its partners provide a complete GIS, GPS, Pole Testing and Mapping capability. Our teams are armed with the latest sub-foot accurate GPS and Laser equipment and have years of experience in small and large GIS or Mapping projects. Our Pole Testing Service relies on Polux advanced pole testing technology that has achieved far higher correlation with actual pole strength than the traditional sound & bore measurement technique Our teams have domestic and international experience. Our Engineering Services team has extensive experience in multiple GIS platforms, including; AutoCAD, Bentley, ESRI, Smallworld, Intergraph, etc.

The main categories of geospatial services include:

Utility Landbase Mapping

Detailed and accurate preparation of landbase maps including USGS surveys, aerial photography, topographic surveys, road centerline, GPS information, field data and associated attribute data.

Database Building and Integration

Aided by sub-foot accurate hand-held GPS units and highly customized software, technicians can quickly build databases in the field regardless of whether your system is electric, gas, water, cable, telecom, etc.

Field Inventory and Facilities Data Collection

Again, using pole-mounted, GPS units and specialized software, technicians can quickly and accurately verify, edit and GPS exiting facilities. Lasers range finders and differential correction technology built into our software allow us to accurately inventory and locate even hard-to-get-to assets.

GPS existing or planned assets

Often utilities look to us to GPS their existing assets. We can download information directly from in-house GIS systems, modify the records and directly upload the modified information to the database. Our experience includes numerous GIS systems, ie. Smallworld, AutoCAD, Bentley, ESRI, Intergraph, etc.

Updating and Maintaining Maps

Many small utilities have limited manpower to maintain GIS updates. Often backlogs of field changes don’t get entered in a timely fashion and as a result, quality and efficiency suffer. We can help synchronize GIS map data and on-the-ground reality.

Pole Testing

Our professionals use the Polux® system to test wood poles for the remaining service life.  The test consists of two tests, taken at the ground line 180° apart from each other.  The pole is sounded, checked for cracks, animal, insect, or mechanical damage.  Our inspectors look for loose hardware, broken grounds, and insulators.  The strength test is compiled by software that takes into consideration the insertion force of two insulated probes, and the humidity between the tips of the probes two inches inside the pole.

The inspector enters the characteristics of the individual pole, such as species, height, circumference, number of knots, and any mechanical or animal damage found.  All of the data collected is compiled and each pole has a remaining strength reading calculated.  The National Electric Safety Code (NESC), specifies that the minimum allowable strength a pole can have before it is considered dangerous and has to be replaced is 33%.

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