Patent ID: 8630813

Claim:
A method of non-invasively and automatically assessing global structural characteristics of a supporting pole sunk in the ground, the method comprising the following operational steps: acquiring data on the supporting pole being assessed, the acquiring comprising establishing an overall height and diameter of a cross-section of the pole, the diameter being measured at a pre-established height of the pole above ground; striking at least one blow against said pole to generate pole oscillations; detecting the pole oscillations generated by said at least one blow; analyzing detected pole oscillations to determine at least one significant parameter in an oscillation trend; and comparing said at least one significant parameter with pre-established threshold values to obtain a conformity-non-conformity index related to pole characteristics, wherein said at least one significant parameter is a modulus of elasticity of said pole and said threshold values are calculated based on a model linking said modulus of elasticity to a breaking point of said pole, starting from said overall height of said pole.