The new method of detecting decay in poles

IRG/WP 2229

A Ammer, B Svedberg

In 1982 the Swedish Telecoms Administration in corporation with the Swedish Dog Training Centre started to investigate the possibility of using dogs for detecting decay in poles. At present two German Sheppheards and two Labrador Retrievers are in operation and the results have up to now well fulfilled our expectations. The following results have been obtained: 1.) The dogs can with high reliability indicate salt-treated poles with a diameter reduction of 40 millimeters ore more (Soft Rot). 2.) The method is usable in all seasons. We believe that we during 1984 can develope a method to discover inside decay in salt-treated poles, decay in Creosoted poles and storage-decay in "white" (untreated) poles. The pole route is divided into sections containing 6-8 poles. A pole record is compiled and "search" is performed at one section at the time. If the dog indicates (strong, weak or no indication) a pole, this is noted in the record. Then the dog is resting while the inspector completes inspection of the section. Normally, indicated poles are directly exposed and decay damages measured, but if poles are frozen this is performed by an other inspector at a more suitable season. The advantages of this method are: i) This method is faster than the ordinary as you are spared from exposing those poles the dog indicates as acceptable (e.g. no indication). ii) Poles with decay damages (as a defind limit value) are indicated more accuratly than with other methods. iii) Better accuracy of pole replacement time (e.g. less per centage replaced poles).


Keywords: POLES; SNIFFER DOGS; DECAY DETECTION; SOFT ROT; SALT-TREATED POLES; SWEDEN; DOG TRAINING CENTRE

Conference: 84-05-28...06-01 Ronneby Brunn, Sweden


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