An In-Situ Assessment of Wood-in-Service Using Microwave Technologies, with a Focus on Assessing Hardwood Power Poles

Graham Brodie; Deepan Babu Thanigasalam; Peter Farrell; Allison Kealy; John R J French; Berhan Ahmed Shiday

doi:10.3390/insects11090568

An In-Situ Assessment of Wood-in-Service Using Microwave Technologies, with a Focus on Assessing Hardwood Power Poles

Insects. 2020 Aug 25;11(9):568. doi: 10.3390/insects11090568.

Authors

Graham Brodie¹, Deepan Babu Thanigasalam¹, Peter Farrell¹, Allison Kealy², John R J French³, Berhan Ahmed Shiday¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
² Geospatial Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
³ Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, DC, QLD 4558, Australia.

Abstract

Wooden power poles and their ongoing inspection represent a significant investment for most electrical power utilities. This study explored the potential for using microwave fields to non-invasively assess the state of hardwood power poles in a field experiment. Two strategies were assessed: 2.4 GHz microwave field transmission through the pole; and mutual coupling between antennae using a 10.525 GHz radar module applied to the surface of the pole. Both systems distinguished between sound hardwood poles and those which were compromised by decay and subterranean termite attack and infestation.

Keywords: decay; microwave; poles; radar; termites; wood; wooden.

Grants and funding

LP0776778/Australian Research Council