qPole is a fast, accurate, and efficient way to turn the captures on a site into pole models ready for pole loading analysis. It finds the poles in the point cloud and measures them. You confirm the geometry of each pole, add its crossarms, wires, guys and equipment, and export the model to SPIDAcalc, O-Calc Pro or a CSV file.

qPole builds the model. It doesn't run the loading analysis: that happens in another tool such as SPIDAcalc, O-Calc Pro, or PLS-CADD after you export.

Working through a run of poles: accept the pole, let qPole connect the next one, then Done and Next pole.

Before you start

You need the Admin, Manager, Editor or Analyst role. Other roles don't see the qPole tab. See Roles and Permissions.

The site needs at least one processed capture. qPole finds poles in processed captures.

To place components you need a component library: a SPIDAcalc client file (.client) or an O-Calc Pro catalog (.pplc). You can start a project without one and add it later.

How the work runs

A qPole project belongs to a site, not to one capture, so a single project covers every capture on the site, including captures uploaded later. Most projects follow the same order:

Choose where to start. In the Captures tab, turn on the capture you want to begin with.

Start a project. In the qPole tab, create a project, pick your client file and the default pole spec, and import a pole list if you have one.

Poles. Go through the detected poles one by one: lock in each pole's geometry, check its class and length, give it the right name, and connect it to the next pole.

Components. Add crossarm assemblies to many poles at once, detect the wires along the run, then add guys, anchors, service drops, and equipment.

Review. Check the poles on the 2D map and in 3D, and fix anything flagged.

Export. Download the model for SPIDAcalc, O-Calc Pro, or as a CSV.

The steps aren't a wizard. You can move between them at any time.

The qPole workspace: the project and its steps on the left, the pole in 3D in the middle, the 2D map, and the pole strip along the bottom.

Where things are on screen

Left panel: the project picker, then the Poles, Components and Spans steps, and the panel for the step you're on.

Centre: the 3D point cloud. When you go to a pole, qPole centres the view on it and clips away the points around it.

2D map: a card over the 3D view showing every pole and connection in the project. Expand it, minimize it, or close it.

Pole strip: along the bottom. It lists every pole in the project with its status, a search box, and a filter. Click a pole to go to it.

Images: the IMAGES tab on the right edge opens the photos and panoramas from the captures. Press V to open or close it, then double-click the point cloud to see the photos of that spot.

The image viewer open next to the 3D view. Use it to read pole tags and check components against the photos.

Saving

There's no Save button. qPole saves the project automatically within a second of each change, and again when you switch projects, leave qPole, or close the tab. Everyone on the site sees the same projects.

Articles in this section

Choosing where to start: the Captures tab

Starting a qPole project

Poles: reviewing detected poles

Poles: geometry, species, class and length

Poles: connecting poles and the 2D map

Components: adding a crossarm and insulators

Components: assemblies and wires

Detecting wires along a run

Guys, anchors and service drops

Components: equipment and other components

Spans

Reviewing a project before export

Exporting qPole projects

qPole keyboard shortcuts

qPole: coming soon