This guide covers the measurement workflows in Utility Scout, including guy wire collection, pole measurements, attachment annotation, and midspan heights. Make sure you're comfortable with the app basics before diving in. If you haven't already, start with the Utility Scout Field App Onboarding article.
Prefer to watch? Check out the Pole Measurement Tutorial video, or keep scrolling for the written step-by-step.
In This Guide
Guy Wire Collection
To collect guy wire data, tap on a pole to open the options drawer. Tap Add Guy to get started. Long-press the button to choose between three placement methods. For more detail on guy anchor data, see the Add Guy Anchors guide.
Option 1: Augmented Reality (AR)
This is the most precise method. It uses your camera to 3D-map the area around the pole.
Tap Add Guy Anchor AR, then tap it again to begin
Your camera will open and a small white dot will appear. This dot has a range of about 15 feet.
Place a point at the base of the pole
Drag the point over to the guy anchor location on the ground
The app will display the lead length (distance from base of pole to anchor) and the angle relative to true north
Tap to finalize. The guy anchor will appear on the map, automatically scaled to the correct distance and angle.
Option 2: Manual Placement
Use this when you can't physically see the anchor (e.g., it's behind a fence).
Tap Add Guy Anchor Manual
A crosshair appears on the map. Position it at the anchor location using your best judgment.
Tap to confirm placement
Option 3: Current Location
Use this when you're physically standing at the guy anchor.
Tap Add Guy Anchor at My Location
The anchor is placed at your phone's GPS coordinates
Editing Guy Anchors
After placing an anchor, tap the triangle icon on the map to access options:
Edit: Change the direction and lead length. The map will rescale to match.
Delete: Remove the anchor and start over
Custom fields: If configured for your account, you can add details like eye count or strand width
Pole Measurement: Standard Mode
Standard mode uses your phone's camera and sensors to measure poles without the high accuracy stick. To start, tap a pole, then tap Measure Pole. Long-press to confirm you're on Standard mode. To learn how to switch between modes, see Change Measurement Accuracy Modes.
Step 1: Capture Pole Tilt
Walk up to the pole and place your phone flat against it
Tap Start. Hold it steady for a few seconds.
Tap Next, then pull the phone back slightly until you feel a haptic vibration
Place the phone against the pole again to capture a second tilt reading
Important: The two tilt readings must be within 0.5 degrees of each other. If not, the app will ask you to redo the measurement. This double-check is critical for accurate results.
Step 2: Place the AR Marker
After capturing tilt, walk back from the pole. The white AR dot will appear (15 ft range).
Tap Place Marker to anchor it to the pole. This can be anywhere on the pole that's visible.
A digital line will appear on the pole, along with an arrow pointing in the direction you placed the phone during tilt capture. If the arrow is pointing the wrong direction, something went wrong with the tilt step.
Tip: If there's a bush or obstacle at the base, you can place the marker higher on the pole to avoid it.
Step 3: Walk Back and Take the Photo
Walk away from the pole until you can see the entire pole (base to top) in the camera frame
Keep the camera pointed toward the base of the pole as you walk. This gives the AR system ground-level reference points to maintain accuracy.
If the digital line has drifted off the pole, you can use the left-right arrows at the top of the screen to realign it. This recalculates measurements based on the adjustment.
Tap to capture the photo. Make sure the full pole (base and top) is in the shot.
Safety tip: Throw the camera over your shoulder as you walk back so you have a clear path and can watch your footing. Only turn to frame the shot when you're far enough away.
Step 4: Mark the Base and Top
On the photo preview, drag the bottom marker to where the pole meets the ground
Drag the top marker to the tip of the pole
Use the Hide Line button if the digital line is blocking your view
You now have a scaled photo. You can add attachments now in the field or save it and let office staff handle the annotation later.
Note: Standard mode can sometimes experience AR drift, where the digital line shifts away from the pole. This is most noticeable when the line appears several feet off to one side. If this happens, walk back toward the pole. The AR system will typically snap the line back into place. If it doesn't, you may need to re-measure.
Pole Measurement: High Accuracy Mode
High accuracy mode uses the physical high accuracy stick with two targets to lock down precise measurements. This is the preferred method for production work.
Key difference from standard mode: High accuracy mode does not require the two-pass tilt capture against the pole. The stick's targets physically contact the pole, capturing the forward-back tilt directly. The tilt zeroing calibration in Settings only applies to standard mode.
Stick Setup
Assemble the stick using 2-ft rod sections. The standard configuration uses three sections (6 ft total). For thick or tall grass, use four sections (8 ft total) to keep targets visible above the vegetation. Thread from the bottom up; male ends point upward.
Attach the bottom target first, then the top target. The text printed on each target goes on top.
Screw the cap onto the top, but don't fully tighten yet
Lay the stick on a flat surface and make sure both targets are aligned on the same plane (not rotated relative to each other)
Tighten the cap to lock them in place
Important: The numbered markings on the stick sections do not matter. All sections are identical 2-ft rods. They can go in any order.
Remember: If you switch to the four-section (8 ft) configuration, change the Bottom Pole Length setting in the app to 2 before measuring. Switch it back to 1 when you return to the standard three-section setup. See Measurement Calibration and Stick Settings for details.
Placing the Stick on the Pole
Strap or hold the stick at the base of the pole
Make sure the flat backs of both targets are touching the pole. This is how the app reads the forward-back tilt of the pole.
If your phone has a camera bump, position it so the bump hangs over the top edge of the target, keeping the flat surfaces flush
Important: Both target backs must be touching the pole. If the stick is strapped loosely and only one target is making contact, the tilt reading will be inaccurate. Even if the pole leans 12 degrees, the stick should lean with it.
Tip: If you have a bipod, you may not need a strap at all. The bipod's legs create pressure against the pole to hold the stick in place, and it stays connected to the stick between measurements.
Taking the Photo
Walk back from the pole (you do not need to cross the road; 15 feet at an angle works)
A guide box will appear on screen covering about 70-80% of the frame. Position the pole and targets inside this box.
Capture the photo. The app uses an object detection model to automatically find the targets and calculate measurements based on the known distance between them.
If the targets aren't detected, you can manually drag them into position on the photo
Use the left-right arrows at the top of the screen to align the measurement line with the pole. The stick captures forward-back tilt; these arrows let you adjust the left-right alignment, and the app recalculates results accordingly.
Mark the base and top of the pole, then add attachments in the field or save for office annotation
Tip: You don't need to take the photo perfectly perpendicular to the pole. The app accounts for camera lens distortion, so you can shoot from an angle and stay on the same side of the road for safety.
Adding & Classifying Attachments
After capturing a scaled pole photo (standard or high accuracy), you can add attachment markers to identify equipment on the pole.
Tap + Attachment to add a marker along the measurement line
Drag the marker to the correct position (look for bolts as reference points)
Tap the marker to classify it from your account's configured pick list (e.g., neutral, comms, transformer)
Attachment Types
At the top of the annotation screen, you'll see tabs for different categories:
Tab | What It Contains |
Attachments | Equipment bolted or mounted to the pole (neutrals, transformers, comms bolts, etc.) |
Wires | Wire connections attached to the pole |
Guy Wires | Guy wire attachment points on the pole. Use the compass tool to associate the correct guy anchor. |
Attachment Heading (Compass Tool)
For directional equipment (transformers, antennas) or guy wire associations, use the compass tool:
Tap on a placed attachment and select Add Attachment Heading
A top-down view of the pole appears with a direction indicator
Adjust the heading using the slider, or physically face the same direction as the equipment and let the phone's compass align it automatically
All headings are recorded relative to true north
Note: For guy wires, the compass tool associates the on-pole attachment point with the specific guy anchor you already collected on the map. This creates a complete triangle: base of pole, lead length to anchor, and attachment height on the pole.
Manual Height Entry
Sometimes you can't get close enough to a pole to use the standard or high accuracy workflow. In those cases, you can manually enter heights measured with other tools (Hastings stick, laser rangefinder, etc.). For a detailed walkthrough, see Set Attachment Heights Manually.
Add an attachment to the scaled photo as usual
Drag it to the approximate position
Tap the green Set Manual Height button at the bottom of the screen
Enter the measured height (e.g., 20 ft 5 in)
The entered height overrides the scaled measurement for that attachment
Note: You can mix manual and app-measured heights on the same pole. Manual heights lock to your entered value while other attachments use the scaled photo.
AI Attachment Detection
Utility Scout includes a built-in computer vision model that can detect common attachment types on pole photos. It runs entirely offline, so no internet is needed.
On any scaled pole photo, tap the magic wand icon (bottom left)
If you already have manual attachments, the app will ask if you want to start over or add to existing
The model processes the photo and displays detections with a confidence slider
Adjust the slider to filter results. At low confidence (e.g., 10%), you'll see many detections. At higher confidence (e.g., 70%+), only the most certain detections appear.
Tap on a detection box to confirm and add it as an attachment
After adding, you can further classify it from your account's pick list
Tip: AI detections are a starting point, not a final answer. The model can save time by finding obvious attachment bolts and equipment, but always review and confirm before finalizing. Nothing is saved until you approve it.
Midspan Measurement: Standard Mode
Midspan points are used to measure wire heights at crossing points (roads, railroads, etc.) between two poles. On the map, they appear as red diamonds. If you run into issues with midspan measurements, see Troubleshooting Midspan Measurement Issues.
Tap the red diamond and tap Measure Midspan. Long-press to confirm you're on Standard mode.
The camera opens and begins building a 3D map of the ground
Walk up to the point directly underneath the lines you want to measure
Place the white AR dot at the drop point under the lines
Walk back until you can see the lines in the camera frame
Capture the photo
Add attachments where the digital vertical line crosses each wire to record their heights
Tap Finalize
After capturing the midspan photo, a ground reference line will appear on the image. You can drag this line up or down to align it with the actual ground level. This ensures the measurement baseline is accurate, even if the AR calculation was slightly off. A reset button is available to return the line to its default position.
Important: The vertical measurement line is calculated using gravity and the 3D ground mesh. If it shifts off your intended drop point, walk back toward it to let the AR system snap it back. For better drift detection, place a bright-colored disc or marker on the ground at the drop point before starting. This gives you (and office QA) a visual reference to confirm the measurement point didn't move.
Tip: Midspan measurements in standard mode typically take about 30 seconds total. You don't need to stand in the road. You can place the dot from an angle; the app still calculates a true vertical from that point.
Note: Standard mode is the practical choice for most midspan measurements. Since you can't strap the stick to anything at a midspan, High Accuracy mode requires the bipod. Use Standard for routine midspans and High Accuracy with the bipod when higher precision is needed at a specific crossing.
Adding Extra Midspan Points
If you need to measure at additional crossing points beyond the auto-generated midspan:
Tap the midspan diamond on the map
Tap Add Midspan
Drag the new point to the crossing location (e.g., a railroad crossing nearby)
Midspan Measurement: High Accuracy Mode
High accuracy midspan uses the high accuracy stick with a bipod attachment for precise measurements at crossing points. The bipod stays connected to the stick and deploys quickly using two quick-release buttons that drop the legs down, providing stability without needing straps or a separate tripod setup.
Setting Up and Positioning
Long-press Measure Midspan and select High Accuracy
Deploy the bipod legs using the two quick-release buttons
Position the bottom of the stick at the drop point directly under the lines you want to measure. This is the critical reference; all measurements are calculated from where the bottom of the stick sits.
The stick will lean forward or backward on the bipod. This is expected. It may look off, but the app accounts for the lean in its math.
The app uses the stick's tilt reading to zero out the base position (rather than measuring pole lean, since there is no pole)
Walk back and capture the photo following the same process as pole measurement (guide box, target detection, left-right alignment)
Add attachment heights where the lines cross the measurement line
Tap Finalize
Note: The bipod is a newer accessory that replaces the tripod included in earlier kits. It connects directly to the stick and provides significantly better stability. For poles, the bipod can often replace straps entirely; its legs create pressure against the pole to hold the stick in place. If your kit still has the older tripod, contact the Cloneable team about getting a bipod.
Re-Measuring & Editing
After you've collected a pole or midspan, the options drawer will show updated buttons:
Button | What It Does |
Re-Measure | Starts a new measurement from scratch. You'll be asked to confirm because this overwrites your previous data. |
Edit HOA | Opens your previously captured photo so you can review, adjust, or add attachments without re-collecting. |
Tip: Use Edit HOA (Height of Attachments) to double-check your work before moving on. It's a quick way to verify that you captured what you intended, especially when collecting many poles in a row.
Required Fields & Finalizing
Before a pole or midspan is considered complete, you may need to fill in required fields configured by your organization.
Tap the pole and swipe up on the drawer
Any field with a red asterisk is required (e.g., pole tag photo, inspection photo)
Fill in text fields, select from dropdowns, or capture photos as needed
Once all required fields are complete and measurements are finalized, the pole's status will update on the map
All data syncs automatically to the web portal when you have internet. Office staff and project managers can see completed work in real time.
Field vs. Office Workflow
You don't have to do everything in the field. Here's how the work can be split:
In the Field | Back in the Office |
Capture tilt and scaled photo | Add or adjust attachment markers on scaled photos |
Mark base and top of pole | Classify attachments from the pick list |
Collect guy wire anchors | Run AI detection on captured photos |
Take required photos | Review and finalize annotation |
Fill in required data fields | Export to Katapult or other systems |
Tip: For projects where GPS precision matters (engineering and design work), consider using an RTK GPS Receiver for centimeter-level pole location accuracy.
Tips & Reminders
Topic | Reminder |
Tilt is everything | For standard mode, make sure the phone is flat against the pole. For high accuracy, both target backs must be touching the pole. |
Stay on your side | You don't need to cross the road. The app handles lens distortion, so angled photos from 15 feet away are fine. |
Watch for drift | In standard mode, if the digital line drifts off the pole, walk back toward it to re-anchor. Use a disc for midspan reference. |
Full pole in frame | Make sure the base and top of the pole are both visible in the photo. |
Use the guide box | In high accuracy mode, keep the pole inside the on-screen box for best results. |
Align the line | Use the left-right arrows after photo capture to align the measurement line with the pole. |
AI is a starting point | Always confirm AI detections before finalizing. It saves time, but it's not perfect. |
Re-measure overwrites | Use Edit HOA to review without losing data. Only re-measure when you need a fresh capture. |
Stick care | Disassemble the stick at the end of each day. Heat in vehicles warps the targets. |
Check before you leave | Review your photos before moving to the next pole. Blurry birthmarks, unreadable cable tags, and bad upshots are the most common issues that require retakes. |
Cable tags matter | Zoom in close enough to actually read them. That ownership data is critical and a blurry tag is useless. |
Can't reach the base? | If you can't get the stick to the base of the pole (e.g., pole mounted off a bridge), switch to Standard mode and manually set the bottom marker where the base actually is. |
Related Articles
Measurement Calibration and Stick Settings - Configure tilt zeroing, stick target version, and bottom pole length
Change Measurement Accuracy Modes - How to switch between Standard and High Accuracy modes
Troubleshooting Midspan Measurement Issues - Common midspan problems and how to resolve them
Pole Measurement Tutorial - Video walkthrough of the full measurement process
Using an RTK GPS Receiver with Utility Scout - Set up centimeter-level GPS positioning
Set Attachment Heights Manually - Enter heights from external measuring tools