A device for applying a method for examination of the condition of column-shaped or cylindrical objects, the device having - a drilling apparatus comprising a drill needle, - signal detection means for drilling resistance measuring and pulse time delay measuring signals which can be generated or recorded by a drill needle that can be inserted into an object to be examined, wherein the signal detection means for the pulse time delay measuring signals have a plurality of pressure sensors configured to be arranged on the object, characterised in that the drilling apparatus has - a location determining device, - a compass, and - an indicating device for an insertion angle (α) for a drilling resistance and pulse time delay measurement that is intended to be taken, and comprises a computing unit that can be handled separately from the drilling apparatus, wherein the location determining device, the compass, the indicating device for the insertion angle (α) and/or the means are operatively coupled to control electronics of the drilling apparatus, and wherein the computing unit and the signal detection means each have a communication interface for establishing a communication connection for transmitting the signals generated or recorded by the drill needle from the signal detection means to the computing unit, wherein the computing unit has - at least one interface for entering identification data of the object to be examined, said data comprising at least one location of the object that can be determined by means of the location determining device, - a processor and storage unit that comprises a data processing programme and is configured to process the identification data of the object to be examined and to predetermine for a user an examination mode for the object to be examined and to evaluate the signals generated or recorded by the drill needle, wherein the examination mode comprises predetermining a type of how to take the measurements, and - an output unit for outputting the predetermined examination mode for the object to be examined and for outputting evaluation results to the user. - a drilling apparatus comprising a drill needle, - signal detection means for drilling resistance measuring and pulse time delay measuring signals which can be generated or recorded by a drill needle that can be inserted into an object to be examined, wherein the signal detection means for the pulse time delay measuring signals have a plurality of pressure sensors configured to be arranged on the object, - a location determining device, - a compass, and - an indicating device for an insertion angle (α) for a drilling resistance and pulse time delay measurement that is intended to be taken, - at least one interface for entering identification data of the object to be examined, said data comprising at least one location of the object that can be determined by means of the location determining device, - a processor and storage unit that comprises a data processing programme and is configured to process the identification data of the object to be examined and to predetermine for a user an examination mode for the object to be examined and to evaluate the signals generated or recorded by the drill needle, wherein the examination mode comprises predetermining a type of how to take the measurements, and - an output unit for outputting the predetermined examination mode for the object to be examined and for outputting evaluation results to the user.