Wooden utility pole structures are nondestructively tested while in
service, in particular utility pole cross-arms. A helicopter or boom
truck brings an operator to the cross-arm. Manually striking the
cross-arm using a hammer or other weight with an attached accelerometer
senses and sends a shock wave through the cross-arm. The shock wave also
is sensed using a second accelerometer sensor in a temporarily affixed
sensor pod at the other end of the cross-arm, or alternatively, a
non-contact radar vibration sensor is trained on a fastener in the
cross-arm, to sense vibration from the shock wave. Practical aspects
include mounting particulars for affixing the sensor pod against the
cross-arm, manipulating the sensor pod at an elevation below the
helicopter working platform, measurements for dimensions and density,
etc. The data is received at a processor and correlated with structural
strength or used to rank the relative strength of cross-arms.