Designer Dashboard

One workspace for utility project context, checks, and handoffs.

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Workspace: Local browser copy

Report No report selected Open a saved report from Recent Runs or Saved Packets.

Dashboard

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Home

Quick access to recent work, field conditions, project tools, and design utilities.

Recent projects

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Open or edit a project to pin it here.

Quick launch

Accepts pasted latitude/longitude pairs with commas, spaces, parentheses, or a pole label. Imports accept KML/KMZ Point placemarks or CSV latitude/longitude columns.

Feet/Inches calculator

Open Tool
Enter a measurement expression.

Website Glossary

Everything Designer Dashboard includes

A quick index of the project workspace, coordinate lookups, reports, databases, calculators, field tools, and handoff helpers available across the site.

Tool Guide

My Projects

Project List Track active design work with status, identifiers, pole counts, location context, readiness, and screening flags. Open Map Gallery Scan saved projects on map previews, switch basemaps, search project locations, and export project map context. Open Single Project Map Open one project map at a time with saved poles, project context, marker modes, and quick access back to project detail. Open

Reports

Preliminary Screening Packet Create a coordinate-based permitting review packet with address, city, county, Census geography, road context, ROW cues, environmental screening cues, findings, and KML export. Open Build Location Summary Resolve coordinates or addresses into city, county, township, state, ZIP, Census geography, nearest-road context, and map links. Open Review ROW Flags Screen poles for possible State DOT route inventory proximity, including route name, classification, distance, and source maps. Open Review Railroad Flags Review mapped railroad proximity, nearest rail name, distance, alert level, map link, and source previews. Open Environmental Screening Cues Review environmental screening cues for wetlands, waterways, floodplain, habitat source review, and follow-up source links. Open

Database

GIS County Maps Search the county GIS map database used for project follow-up links and permitting map references. Open Design Terms Search utility design, construction, permitting, PM, material, and field terms in plain designer language. Open Formula Reference Reference common electrical math, conversions, voltage-drop checks, and ruling-span formulas with design-use boundaries. Open Conductor Reference Recognize conductor materials, size families, overhead names, underground cable types, and field-identification limits. Open Training Material Work through distribution-design training modules, terminology coverage, source policy, quizzes, and build notes. Open Relevant Link Database Search standards, utilities, co-ops, mapping, permitting, environmental, locate, public-data, and source links. Open Deliverable Field Mapping Plan which project, pole, user, generated, and missing fields feed each client deliverable. Open Saved Packets Open report packets you intentionally kept, including source project, run date, owner, copy, share, and rerun actions. Open Recent Runs Review recent temporary runs before deciding whether to save, rerun, or discard them. Open

Tools

Field Work Window Review likely work-window conditions for poles or addresses, including weather, wind, precipitation, daylight, and field-hour cues. Open Virtual Walkdown Walk saved or pasted poles from the desk with map, aerial, Street View, route links, pole navigation, and notes. Open Route Planner Plan route order, estimate drive and field time, preview the route, and open the result in Google Maps for review. Open Matting Estimate Calculator Estimate access mat counts and rental cost from drive distance, pole count, optional exit path, requested extras, and construction duration. Open Feet/Inches Calculator Add and subtract feet, inches, decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers such as 32'-11" + 16" or 32' - 18.75" + 3 1/4. Open Ruling Span Calculator Calculate equivalent ruling span from adjacent span lengths using the cubic weighted span formula for sag-tension checks. Open Build Pole Coordinate Set Turn pasted coordinate lines into a downloadable KML set for Google Earth, ArcGIS, field handoff, or map review. Open Email Generator Draft project updates, permitting notes, field requests, and closeout messages from saved project context. Open

Site

About See how Designer Dashboard fits between PM intake, fielding, design tools, review, and client handoff. Open Dashboard Tool Guide Read the practical guide for each workspace, lookup, report, database, calculator, and handoff helper. Open Settings Manage account, display, workflow, route planning, data, and workspace preferences. Open Privacy Policy Review local browser storage, approved workspace sync, report sharing, uploads, and account responsibilities. Open

Settings

Set your saved identity, home screen, project dropdowns, route defaults, and backup options.

Home widgets

Choose which panels are hidden on the Home page.

Display

Choose the color style used when the dashboard is in light mode.

Employee info

Save the name and contact details used in generated emails and future form autofill.

Design stages

Project milestone choices such as Fielding, 30% Design, or IFC Design. Enter one stage per line.

Design statuses

Project progress choices such as Not Started, In Progress, On Hold, or Complete. Enter one status per line.

Project types

Project category choices such as Line Extension, Pole Replacement, or Relocation. Enter one type per line.

Checklist detail

Choose how detailed Project Detail readiness checks should be. Customer, operating company, and admin-managed checklist profiles can expand this later.

Standard is the only active template in this version.

Route planner defaults

Optional start and end points prefilled in the route planner. Use addresses, offices, yards, or coordinates.

Export / import

Back up or restore selected dashboard data. Project imports add new projects and update matching project IDs.

Export
Import
Note: Changing these values affects new lookups and refreshed project checks. Previously saved report text is not rewritten.

About

Keep design projects easier to find, check, and hand off.

Designer Dashboard is built for the early and middle parts of electric distribution design work: finding the project, organizing the record, checking obvious context, saving the trail, and keeping handoff information in one place.

Start from the coordinates Paste latitude/longitude points, find the job area, map the poles, and open the source links without rebuilding the same search every time.
Goal

Reduce project hunting

Project numbers, work orders, pole lists, notes, links, reports, and status should not be spread across five places when a designer is trying to move the job forward.

Map lookup

Make coordinates useful fast

Paste pole coordinates to map the job, resolve city/county/ZIP context, review nearby roads, open source maps, and create KML output for field or GIS review.

Reference

Put common lookups nearby

Design terms, formulas, conductor notes, county GIS maps, training material, and useful links should be searchable from the same site as the project work.

Handoff

Keep a readable trail

Saved packets, recent report checks, map outputs, review notes, and email drafts should make it clear what was looked at, what changed, and what still needs follow-up.

What we are trying to do

We want this to be the place a designer opens when they need to understand the job quickly, check the basic project context, keep notes and links with the project, and prepare a better documented handoff. It should make routine project setup and lookup work faster without pretending to replace engineering judgment or client standards.

Where it fits

It sits between project intake, fielding, design review, and delivery.

PM systems, field collection platforms, pole-loading tools, PLS/design tools, and client portals still do the specialized work. Designer Dashboard is for the project record, coordinates, maps, source links, screening packets, notes, and handoff trail around that work.

PM system intake Project is assigned

The project starts in the firm's PM system, such as Deltek or another internal tracker.

Pre-design Create the working record

Paste coordinates, map the job, add links and notes, and run preliminary screening before fielding starts.

Field export Prepare fielding

Move pole lists, maps, notes, and required fields into IKE, Katapult, Survey123, Field Maps, or the client field tool.

Loading handoff Keep returned context visible

Field results move into PLS, SPIDA, O-Calc, PoleForeman, or client loading workflows while the dashboard keeps links, notes, and returned files easy to find.

Design review Use the right design tools

Engineering tools and client standards handle loading review, make-ready decisions, design updates, and technical outputs.

Handoff Package the record

Review saved packets, check deliverables, note scope changes, draft communication, and support client submission.

Help

Dashboard Tool Guide

A practical walkthrough of where each tool fits in the designer workflow, what information it reads, and what to verify before using the output for project work.

Last authored May 10, 2026

How to read results

Treat dashboard output as a preliminary planning packet, not an authoritative record, permit determination, regulatory clearance, engineering approval, or substitute for utility standards, field verification, survey data, agency review, or professional judgment.

Project List

Use this as the work queue for active and completed design jobs. It keeps the project identity, status, location, pole count, readiness, and quick actions in one scannable table.

Information referenced

  • Saved project workspace data for project names, project numbers, work-order address, and pole coordinates.
  • Public location lookup services used by the permitting tools to autofill city, county, state, ZIP, nearest road, Census tract, block, and township when coordinates are saved.

Steps completed

  1. Parse and normalize saved pole coordinate lines.
  2. Resolve location fields from the coordinates.
  3. Store the project in the active workspace and update summary counts.
  4. Expose quick actions for project detail review and deliverable-specific permitting workflows.

Project Detail

Use this as the working page for one saved project. It gathers the project summary, notes, poles, maps, checks, reports, deliverables, and handoff links tied to the saved record.

Information referenced

  • The selected project row, saved property fields, notes, workflow status, and pole coordinates.
  • Generated map links, KML exports, resolved location fields, screening records, saved reports, and deliverable actions tied to the project.

Steps completed

  1. Load the selected project from the active workspace.
  2. Render saved project data, pole tables, map context, readiness checks, and report history.
  3. Offer edit, refresh, report, deliverable, coordinate, and handoff actions using the same saved project context.

Preliminary Screening Packet

Use this to build a preliminary pole-by-pole screening packet from one or more pole coordinates.

Information referenced

  • User-entered latitude/longitude coordinates.
  • U.S. Census geocoding data for county, tract, block, and township clues when available.
  • OpenStreetMap/Nominatim-style map data for address, place, ZIP, and nearby road clues.
  • State DOT road inventory clues, traffic exposure context, railroad proximity, environmental screening, source links, and downloadable KML links.

Steps completed

  1. Parse coordinate lines and reject invalid points.
  2. Resolve location, Census, road inventory, traffic, railroad, environmental, and weather inputs.
  3. Build a structured report brief, findings register, overview map, and pole-by-pole details.
  4. Flag likely ROW, railroad, permit, and source-review follow-up items.
  5. Create a temporary report link for the current run; use Save & share to keep it in Saved Packets.

Build Location Summary

Use this when the main deliverable is location context from coordinates or address-style input.

Information referenced

  • Coordinates or address/city/state/ZIP lines entered by the user.
  • Public geocoding/map data for address, city/place, state, ZIP, and coordinate resolution.
  • U.S. Census Geocoder data for county, township, Census tract, and Census block where available.

Steps completed

  1. Resolve each line into a usable coordinate.
  2. Resolve public map and Census attributes for each result.
  3. Render a comparison table with source details and map links.
  4. Create a temporary report link for the current run; use Save & share to keep it in Saved Packets.

Review ROW Flags

Use this to screen pole coordinates for possible State DOT road inventory proximity and decide what needs ROW or permit follow-up.

Information referenced

  • User-entered pole coordinates.
  • Possible State DOT road inventory proximity and related route attributes returned by the lookup.
  • Google Maps and State DOT map links for visual source review.

Steps completed

  1. Parse coordinate lines.
  2. Query nearby road inventory features.
  3. Rank nearby hits by distance and route clues.
  4. Call out state-controlled candidates separately from local, county, or city inventory hits.
  5. Provide source map links and create a temporary report link for the current run; use Save & share to keep it in Saved Packets.

Review Railroad Flags

Use this to identify possible mapped railroad proximity near poles before deeper ROW or crossing research.

Information referenced

  • User-entered pole coordinates.
  • OpenStreetMap railroad geometry returned by the backend lookup.
  • Map views and external map links for source review.

Steps completed

  1. Parse coordinate lines.
  2. Query nearby mapped rail features.
  3. Calculate approximate distance from each pole to the nearest returned rail geometry.
  4. Render proximity alerts, map links, and source review links.
  5. Create a temporary report link for the current run; use Save & share to keep it in Saved Packets.

Environmental Screening Cues

Use this to review environmental screening cues for wetlands, waterways, floodplain, and habitat source review before deeper agency, desktop, or field review.

Information referenced

  • User-entered pole coordinates with the configured permitting buffer around each pole.
  • USFWS National Wetlands Inventory, USGS hydrography, FEMA NFHL, USFWS critical habitat/IPaC, and EPA NEPAssist follow-up links.
  • Coordinate-centered map links, source database links, and copy-ready latitude/longitude values for manual review.

Steps completed

  1. Parse coordinate lines.
  2. Query mapped environmental resources within the pole buffer where public services support it.
  3. Flag clear, watch, review, or unavailable rows by resource category.
  4. Provide source links and exact coordinates so results can be double-checked in the original public databases.

Build Pole Coordinate Set

Use this to turn a pasted coordinate list into a local KML deliverable for Google Earth, ArcGIS, or map review.

Information referenced

  • The KML name, coordinate lines, optional point labels, and path checkbox supplied by the user.
  • No external source is required for the generated file.

Steps completed

  1. Parse labeled and unlabeled coordinate lines.
  2. Create KML placemarks for each valid point.
  3. Optionally connect the points with a line path.
  4. Generate a downloadable local KML file and create a temporary report link for the current run; use Save & share to keep it in Saved Packets.

GIS County Maps

Use this database page to review known county GIS map links before falling back to a broader web search.

Information referenced

  • The dashboard's built-in county GIS map list.
  • County, state, provider, URL, and last reviewed date fields for each known map.

Steps completed

  1. Load the known GIS map database.
  2. Filter rows by county, state, provider, or URL as the user searches.
  3. Provide direct map links where known.
  4. Use fallback search links for counties not yet in the database.

Saved Packets

Use this page for report runs that should remain part of the project trail. Saved Packets are the outputs you intentionally kept for history, review, handoff, or rerun work.

Information referenced

  • Saved packet records from the active workspace report store.
  • Report type, title, run date, source project metadata, saved input fields, and rendered result snapshots.

Steps completed

  1. Load saved report metadata from the backend.
  2. Display report number, run date, source project, and action buttons.
  3. Open packets by restoring saved fields and snapshots.
  4. Rerun packets using the saved inputs when the original workflow supports it.

Recent Runs

Use this page for temporary report runs that have not been kept yet. It is useful for reopening, comparing, rerunning, or deciding whether an output should become a Saved Packet.

Information referenced

  • Temporary report records from the active workspace report store.
  • Report type, title, run date, source project metadata, saved input fields, and rendered result snapshots.

Steps completed

  1. Load generated report metadata from the backend.
  2. Display report number, run date, source project, and action buttons.
  3. Open runs by restoring saved fields and snapshots.
  4. Rerun outputs using the saved inputs when the original workflow supports it.

Field Work Window

Use this for field planning around weather, daylight, wind, precipitation, and work-window context.

Information referenced

  • Coordinates or address/city/state/ZIP lines entered by the user.
  • Public geocoding/map data to resolve address-style lines into coordinates.
  • Backend field forecast data for the center point of all resolved locations.

Steps completed

  1. Resolve all entered locations into coordinates.
  2. Calculate the center point for the work area.
  3. Request the work-window forecast from the backend weather service.
  4. Summarize 7 AM-6 PM field conditions using temperature, wind, precipitation, and daylight windows.
  5. Render a forecast table for the resolved forecast center.

Virtual Walkdown

Use this for visual desktop review after coordinates are known. It keeps interactive map and Street View previews out of the formal ROW & Permit Check report.

Information referenced

  • User-entered pole coordinates.
  • Public map, aerial imagery, Street View, address, road, and Census lookup clues.

Steps completed

  1. Resolve coordinates through the local lookup API.
  2. Render route-level map handoff links.
  3. Render pole-by-pole Google Maps and Street View previews for desktop review.

Route Planner

Use this to plan route order, estimate drive and stop time, and hand off the route to Google Maps for review.

Information referenced

  • User-entered start, end, and stop coordinates.
  • User-entered stop duration, start time, break duration, and break-after-stop setting.
  • Local distance estimates and Google Maps route links.

Steps completed

  1. Parse required stops and optional start/end points.
  2. Plan stop order with a local nearest-distance approach.
  3. Estimate route distance, driving time, stop time, and break time.
  4. Render the ordered stop list, schedule estimates, preview map links, and Google Maps handoff.
  5. Create a temporary report link for the current run; use Save & share to keep it in Saved Packets.

Feet/Inches Calculator

Use this to add or subtract measurements in feet, inches, decimals, fractions, and mixed-number formats.

Information referenced

  • The expression typed by the user.
  • Local calculator parsing rules. Unitless values are treated as inches, and display fractions round to the nearest 1/16 inch.

Steps completed

  1. Parse feet marks, inch marks, decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, signs, and parentheses.
  2. Convert all terms into inches for calculation.
  3. Evaluate addition and subtraction.
  4. Display feet/inches, decimal feet, total inches, rounded fraction output, and calculation history.

Relevant Link Database

Use this page for external standards, utilities, co-ops, mapping, permitting, environmental, locate, public data, and reference sources. These links do not process project or coordinate data inside the dashboard.

Information referenced

  • External websites grouped by design workflow category.
  • No project, pole, report, or local dashboard data is sent by the dashboard before opening these links.

Steps completed

  1. Open the selected reference website in a new browser tab.
  2. Leave searches, forms, accounts, standards access, and playback controls to the external site.

Search

Search

Find tools, saved projects, reference pages, and project records from one search.

Dashboard Search Search project names, WBS/work order numbers, tool names, and reference pages from one field.
Enter a search term to find matching dashboard tools and saved projects.

My Projects

Project List

Your project control table. Track project identity, status, location, pole count, screening flags, readiness, and handoff links from one scannable list.

Project List Map Gallery Single Map
No projects selected.

Showing all projects.

Saved projects with location, pole count, screening flags, and project actions.
Selection Project Name Project # WO # Design Status Stage Location Poles State DOT RR Env Readiness

My Projects

Map Gallery

Browse saved projects as map cards so you can quickly spot route shape, pole spread, and project location before opening the full record.

Project List Map Gallery Single Map

My Projects

Single Map

See saved project locations together on one map. Use it to compare active work, spot nearby projects, and open the project record from a marker.

Project List Map Gallery Single Map

Map has not loaded yet.

My Projects

Project detail

The project workspace. Review status, notes, poles, maps, permitting signals, reports, deliverables, and links tied to this saved project record.

Back to Project List

My Projects

Pole information database

Review and edit the selected project's pole table in a wider workspace built for coordinate, address, and screening-field cleanup.

Back to Project Detail Back to Project List

My Projects

Map Editor

Loading map editor.

Back to Project

My Projects

Add project

Run after creation

Choose saved project checks to run immediately after the project opens. These can update saved project fields.

Imports Placemark name as Pole # and Point coordinates as lat/long.
Imports General Info and Points from the work order template.

AI

Project AI

Select a saved project, generate project insights, and ask follow-up questions using the same project context without opening Project Detail.

Select a saved project to load project insights and ask follow-up questions.
Disclaimer: Generated output is preliminary planning context only. Cross-check every recommendation against authoritative records, field conditions, standards, permits, and qualified professional judgment.

Reports

AI-Assisted Comparison

Upload project forms and drawings, then compare them against saved project properties and pole information as an AI-assisted comparison report.

PDF, PNG, JPG, and WebP files are sent with the selected project's properties and pole list for comparison.
Select a saved project to preview the properties used for the document review.
Select a project and upload project forms or drawings to create a mismatch register.
Disclaimer: Document comparison is an informal designer aid only. Cross-check every finding against authoritative records, field conditions, standards, permits, and qualified professional judgment. By uploading documents, you confirm you have permission to share them with this dashboard and the configured review provider, and you accept that uploaded files and generated review records may be stored by the server for report history.

Reports

AI Map Review

Test Google Maps-derived pole data before promoting it into project or pole fields. Required values include address, nearest road, nearest cross street or intersection, and snapped road distance.

Uses the Google Maps API key from Settings or the server environment. Generated summaries use the configured provider key from Settings or the server environment.
Enter pole coordinates to review Google address, nearest road, nearest cross street, snapped road data, and raw source payloads.
Disclaimer: Google Maps and generated results are planning clues only. Cross-check addresses, cross streets, ROW, access, and construction constraints with authoritative records and field review before design or permit decisions.

Reports

Preliminary Screening Packet

Build a preliminary pole-by-pole screening packet from coordinates. The packet combines location context, road/ROW cues, traffic exposure, railroad proximity, environmental screening cues, maps, sources, and follow-up actions.

Optional permitting checks
Manual report distances
Paste pole coordinates to generate a screening report with address, city, county, Census geography, nearby road, ROW, traffic, railroad, and environmental clues.
Previous runs
No previous runs yet.

Field

Virtual Walkdown

Desktop walkdown workspace for known pole coordinates. Review map and Street View clues, flag visible issues, and capture field follow-up before sending crews or updating the project record.

Enter pole coordinates to review map evidence, Street View clues, and pole-level review statuses.
Disclaimer: Virtual walkdown is a desktop planning aid only. Cross-check field conditions, access, ROW, safety, construction constraints, and permit requirements with authoritative records and qualified professional judgment.

Reports

Review ROW Flags

Screen pasted pole coordinates for possible State DOT road inventory proximity. Treat hits as ROW cues, then cross-check state-controlled routes with permits, plans, survey, or district review.

Paste coordinates to review ROW clues, possible State DOT inventory proximity, distance details, and source maps.
Previous runs
No previous runs yet.

Reports

Build Location Summary

Resolve coordinates or address lines into the location fields designers usually need first: city, county, township, state, ZIP, Census geography, nearest road, and map links.

Enter locations to build a city, county, township, ZIP, Census geography, nearest-road, source-detail, and map-link summary.
Previous runs
No previous runs yet.

Reports

Review Railroad Flags

Check pasted pole coordinates against mapped railroad geometry. Use the result to spot possible railroad ROW or crossing review needs before confirming with owner records and field review.

Paste coordinates to review railroad proximity flags, nearest mapped rail, distance details, and source maps.
Previous runs
No previous runs yet.

Reports

Environmental Screening Cues

Screen the configured buffer around each pole against mapped wetlands, waterways, floodplain, critical habitat, and environmental source links before permitting review.

Paste coordinates to review environmental screening cues, source layers, and source review links.
Previous runs
No previous runs yet.

Field

Field Work Window

Review likely field windows for a project area. The tool resolves the location, uses the project center point, and summarizes 7 AM-6 PM field hours from the returned forecast.

Enter coordinates or addresses to review weather, daylight, and field-hour conditions.

Field

Build Pole Coordinate Set

Paste one point per line as pole #, latitude, longitude, pole #, longitude, latitude, or just a coordinate pair. Then choose the point labels, symbol, and color before downloading a KML coordinate set.

Point labels
Point symbol
Point color
Paste coordinates to build a downloadable KML coordinate set.

Database

GIS County Maps

Search the Indiana county GIS map database used by project permitting links, including provider names, review status, and county map URLs.

Loading known county GIS maps.
Loading Indiana GIS provider coverage.

Database

Distribution Design Terms

Search electric distribution design, construction, permitting, PM, material, and field vocabulary with aliases and designer-use notes.

Loading distribution design terms.

Database

Formula Reference

Quick reference for common field math, electrical conversions, voltage-drop checks, and span formulas. Use it to orient the work, then cross-check final values against approved standards and tools.

Electrical Basics

Ohm's law
V = I x R, I = V / R, R = V / I
Single-phase power
kW = V x I x PF / 1000; kVA = V x I / 1000
Three-phase power
kW = sqrt(3) x VLL x I x PF / 1000; kVA = sqrt(3) x VLL x I / 1000
Transformer loading
% loading = demand kVA / nameplate kVA x 100

Voltage Drop

Two-wire single-phase shortcut
VD = 2 x K x I x D / CM
Three-phase shortcut
VD = sqrt(3) x K x I x D / CM
Resistance/reactance form
VD1ph = 2 x I x D x (R cos theta + X sin theta)
VD3ph = sqrt(3) x I x D x (R cos theta + X sin theta)
Percent voltage drop
%VD = VD / source voltage x 100
Variables
K = conductor constant, I = amps, D = one-way distance, CM = circular mil area. In the R/X form, match distance to the impedance table units: if R and X are ohms/1000 ft, use D / 1000.
Common K values at 75 C
CopperK = 12.9
AluminumK = 21.2

Use one-way feet for the circular-mil shortcut and line-to-line voltage for three-phase percent drop. Use utility-approved conductor impedance tables for final distribution design, especially on long primary runs, mixed conductor, or non-unity power factor loads.

Span And Pole Line

Ruling span
RS = sqrt(sum L^3 / sum L)
Average span
Avg = sum span lengths / span count
Line angle from bearings
angle = abs(bearing 2 - bearing 1); if over 180 degrees, use 360 - angle.
Guy lead ratio
lead ratio = guy lead / attachment height. Check the utility standard for acceptable ranges.
Open Ruling Span Calculator

Common Conversions

Feet to inchesin = ft x 12
Inches to feetft = in / 12
Feet to milesmi = ft / 5280
Miles to feetft = mi x 5280
Meters to feetft = m x 3.28084
Feet to metersm = ft x 0.3048
Open Feet/Inches Calculator

Coordinate Conversions

DMS to decimal degrees
DD = degrees + minutes / 60 + seconds / 3600
Decimal degrees to DMS
Degrees = integer part. Minutes = integer part of (DD - degrees) x 60. Seconds = remainder x 60.
Hemisphere signs
Use negative decimal degrees for south latitude or west longitude.

Field Math

Percent grade
% grade = rise / run x 100
Map scale
actual distance = measured map distance x scale factor
Area rectangle
area = length x width
Circle area
area = pi x radius^2
Note: Formula results are planning aids. Use current utility standards, approved design software, and qualified engineering review for final values.

Database

Conductor Reference

Recognition notes for conductor materials, size labels, overhead code words, underground cable types, and field identification. Use it to understand records and photos, not to approve final design values.

Use Boundary

Safe use
Use this page to recognize conductor terms, read old drawings more confidently, and know what data to verify next.
Do not use for final values
Do not use this page to approve ampacity, sag/tension, clearances, fault duty, voltage drop, connector selection, or material substitutions.
Required source for design
Final design values must come from the serving utility standard, approved material list, manufacturer spec sheet, NESC/NEC basis where applicable, or qualified engineering review.

Size System

Label Meaning Field note
AWGAmerican Wire Gauge. Smaller number means larger conductor.Examples seen in distribution records include #6, #4, #2, #1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0.
kcmilThousands of circular mils. Older drawings may say MCM.Examples seen in conductor catalogs and utility records include 250, 336.4, 397.5, 477, 556.5, 750, and 1000 kcmil.
Circular milArea of a circle with 1 mil diameter.Useful for voltage-drop shortcut formulas that use CM.

Material And Construction

AAC
All-aluminum conductor. Conductive aluminum strands with no steel core.
AAAC
All-aluminum alloy conductor. Stronger aluminum alloy strands without a steel core.
ACSR
Aluminum conductor steel reinforced. Aluminum strands carry current; steel core adds strength.
Copper
Often seen on older lines, grounds, jumpers, or specific utility standards. Do not assume copper and aluminum are interchangeable.

Overhead Primary Examples

These are recognition examples for ACSR. Code words are tied to size and construction; do not infer an exact conductor from size alone.

Size Example ACSR code word Typical stranding Recognition note
#6Turkey6/1Small ACSR example; verify utility use before design.
#4Swan6/1Small ACSR example; verify utility use before design.
#2Sparrow6/1Distribution ACSR example; verify utility use before design.
1/0Raven6/1ACSR example; verify code word, stranding, and standard.
2/0Quail6/1ACSR example; verify code word, stranding, and standard.
4/0Penguin6/1ACSR example; verify code word, stranding, and standard.
336.4 kcmilMerlin / Linnet / Oriole18/1, 26/7, 30/7Feeder-size conductor; code word changes with strand class.
397.5 kcmilChickadee / Brant / Ibis / Lark18/1, 24/7, 25/7, 30/7Feeder-size conductor; do not identify by size only.
477 kcmilPelican / Flicker / Hawk / Hen18/1, 24/7, 26/7, 30/7Large feeder conductor; verify stranding and utility standard.
556.5 kcmilOsprey / Parakeet / Dove / Eagle18/1, 24/7, 26/7, 30/7Large feeder conductor; code word depends on construction.

Overhead Secondary And Service

Duplex
One insulated phase conductor plus one neutral messenger, commonly used for 120 V service drops.
Triplex
Two insulated phase conductors plus one neutral messenger, commonly used for 120/240 V single-phase service.
Quadruplex
Three insulated phase conductors plus one neutral messenger, commonly used for three-phase secondary/service.
Common sizes
#6, #4, #2, 1/0, 2/0, 4/0, and larger assemblies may appear in service or secondary records. Treat size selection as utility-standard work, not a visual lookup.

Underground Distribution

URD cable construction is utility and catalog specific. Use these rows to recognize labels, then check the exact cable specification.

Type Example labels Design note
Primary URDExamples may include #2, 1/0, 2/0, 4/0, 250, 350, 500, 750, or 1000 kcmil aluminumUsually shielded medium-voltage cable with concentric neutral, tape shield, or utility-specific neutral design.
Secondary URDExamples may include #2, 1/0, 2/0, 4/0, 350, or 500 kcmil aluminumUsually 600 V underground secondary or service cable. Keep this distinct from overhead triplex service-drop cable.
InsulationTR-XLPE, XLPE, EPRVoltage class, insulation level, jacket, and neutral design are utility-specific.
Voltage class15 kV, 25 kV, 35 kVMatch system voltage, insulation level, and equipment ratings.

Field Identification

Do not size from appearance alone
Conductor diameter, strand count, sag, corrosion, lighting, and camera angle can mislead. Use records, standards, tags, or field review.
Check construction context
Primary, neutral, secondary, service, messenger, communication, and guy strands can look similar in photos.
Covered conductor
Tree wire or covered spacer cable is not the same as insulated secondary or underground cable. Treat it as utility-specific covered primary.
Final checks
Cross-check ampacity, voltage drop, fault duty, sag/tension, clearances, connector compatibility, and approved material list before issuing design.
Note: This page is a recognition reference. It is not an ampacity table, construction standard, or approved material list.

Database

Training Material

Browse the training source library for electric distribution design: modules, lessons, quizzes, terminology coverage, source policy, and build progress.

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Database

Deliverable Field Mapping

Search which saved values, generated values, and missing fields are needed for client deliverables before promoting anything into the project schema.

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Database

Saved Packets

Saved Packets are the report runs you intentionally keep for project history, handoff, or rerun work. Temporary runs stay out of this list until you save/share them.

Packets come from the current workspace. Approved cloud accounts use the server workspace; local-only users keep packets in this browser.

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Database

Recent Runs

Recent Runs shows temporary report outputs that have not been kept yet. Use this page to reopen, compare, rerun, or decide what should become a Saved Packet.

Runs come from the current workspace. Approved cloud accounts use the server workspace; local-only users keep runs in this browser.

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Database

Admin

Admin workspace for runtime health, users, audit events, release notes, research, feature availability, request traffic, caches, and stored data counts.

Open the admin dashboard to build the admin action queue.

Open the admin dashboard to load server insights.

Field

Route Planner

Build a field route from pasted coordinates. Keep optional start/end points fixed, add stop time and breaks, then verify the route in Google Maps before sending it to the field.

Enter stops to optimize route order, estimate travel time, and build a field-day plan.

Tools

Feet/Inches Calculator

Add and subtract field measurements without converting everything by hand. Supports feet, inches, decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, and parentheses.

Enter a measurement expression to get decimal feet, inches, and rounded field-format output.
Previous calculations
No previous calculations yet.

Tools

Matting Estimate Calculator

Estimate temporary access mat needs for a simple single-line work path. The calculator separates travel-path mats, pole work pads, reviewer-requested extras, and rental cost so the assumptions are easy to review before a field or client handoff.

Step 1 Measure the access path

Enter the one-way approach distance from the driveable surface to the work area. The workbook rule gives paths at 25 ft or less zero approach mats; paths over 25 ft are divided by 4 ft and rounded up.

Step 2 Add pole work pads

Each replaced pole adds 4 mats for the work location. Use the additional-mats field for landowner, utility, reviewer, turning, staging, or soft-ground requests that are not covered by the distance rule.

Step 3 Price the rental window

Total mats are multiplied by rental days and the per-mat daily rate. The estimate does not include delivery, labor, minimum rental periods, damage, tax, restoration, or permit-specific matting.

Enter path distance, pole count, requested extras, and duration to estimate mat count and rental cost.
Estimator boundary: This mirrors the supplied workbook logic. Cross-check actual mat size, access width, delivery, labor, minimum rentals, ground conditions, permit restrictions, and reviewer direction before issuing a cost.

Tools

Ruling Span Calculator

Calculate equivalent ruling span from adjacent span lengths for quick sag-tension context. Enter one span per line or separate values with commas, spaces, or semicolons.

Enter span lengths to calculate the ruling span.

Privacy

Privacy Policy

How Designer Dashboard handles project information, lookup inputs, saved reports, and optional account or AI features.

Summary

Designer Dashboard is a planning and permitting aid. Do not enter private, confidential, regulated, export-controlled, customer-private, or legally sensitive information unless your organization has approved this deployment and its privacy policy.

The dashboard is designed to keep unapproved users in a local browser workspace. Project records, saved packets, generated runs, uploads, and share links are not saved to the server for signed-out users or signed-in users who have not been approved for cloud storage.

Information You Enter

The dashboard may process project names, project numbers, work-order references, addresses, pole coordinates, notes, uploaded lookup files, generated reports, and settings you choose to save.

Some tools also use browser preferences, recent-project history, report inputs, generated result snapshots, and optional account details such as name and email address. Do not paste credentials, private customer information, contract-restricted material, or regulated data into project notes, lookup inputs, uploaded files, or AI prompts unless your organization has authorized that use.

Local Browser Workspace

When you are signed out, or when your signed-in account is not approved for cloud storage, project lists, project detail data, saved reports, generated runs, and report snapshots are stored only in this browser's local storage on this device. The app labels this state as a local browser copy.

Local browser data is not a server backup. It may be cleared by browser settings, private browsing modes, device cleanup, profile resets, or manual site-data deletion. Export important local work before clearing browser data or switching devices.

Server Storage Approval

Server workspace sync is available only after an account is approved for cloud storage by an administrator. Until that approval is granted, the app does not upload project state, saved packets, generated runs, report share links, or project/report history to the server.

Approved accounts may store project data, reports, generated run history, uploaded review files, share links, account settings, and related metadata in the configured server workspace or database. Administrators may revoke approval, which returns the account to local-only project and report storage for future work.

Temporary Server Processing

Some lookup, map, weather, reporting, account, admin, and AI features still call the dashboard server to perform calculations, proxy third-party requests, check login status, or return generated results. For unapproved users, those requests are used to produce the response and are not saved as project records, saved packets, generated runs, or report share links in the server workspace.

The server may keep operational logs, health metrics, error details, request counts, cache entries, or security records needed to run and troubleshoot the deployment. Those operational records are separate from approved cloud project/report storage.

Third-Party Services

Lookup tools may send coordinates, addresses, or related query text to public mapping, geocoding, weather, Census, GIS, AI, or similar services. Those services may process requests under their own terms and privacy practices.

Opening external map, GIS, reference, email, or route links leaves Designer Dashboard and may disclose the linked query or location to the external service. Review third-party terms before using external links with sensitive locations or customer data.

AI and File Review

AI features require an approved cloud-storage account and backend API keys configured by an admin. Prompts, project context, uploaded files, map-derived context, and generated review records may be sent to the configured AI provider and stored by the dashboard server for history, audit, or report workflows.

Do not upload drawings, forms, photos, customer records, confidential documents, regulated information, or contract-restricted files unless you have permission to share them with this dashboard deployment and the configured AI provider.

Exports, Imports, and Sharing

JSON, CSV, KML, KMZ, PDF, workbook, and report exports are created for the user to download or handle outside the dashboard. Once exported, copied, emailed, uploaded elsewhere, or shared through another system, those files are controlled by that destination and by your organization's handling rules.

Cloud report share links are available only for approved server workspaces. Local-only reports cannot be shared through dashboard server links until the account is approved for cloud storage and the report is saved to that workspace.

Your Responsibilities

Use the dashboard only with data you are authorized to process. Cross-check outputs against authoritative records, field conditions, utility standards, permits, contracts, and qualified professional judgment before using them for engineering, ROW, safety, construction, scheduling, or legal decisions.

Before using this dashboard

Attention

This dashboard is a preliminary planning and screening aid only. Outputs may be incomplete, outdated, inaccurate, or based on third-party data.

Do not treat outputs as an authoritative record, permit determination, regulatory clearance, engineering approval, or substitute for utility standards, field verification, survey data, agency review, or professional judgment.