QR codes on the power pole

APG's high voltage grid is based on around 12,000 pylons. These have been labelled with pylon number plates for decades. They show: The pylon number, line numbers and an emergency telephone number. This information is essential so that imminent danger can be reported and to support the emergency services.

Since the end of 2018, all of these poles have also been equipped with an additional QR code on the existing pole number plate. Scanned with a smartphone, an emergency message can be sent (Demo Masten (apg.at)). A telephone connection is established with the APG safety centre and the data of the deployment location (mast coordinates, line data, etc.) is also sent to the safety centre by email. Messages and images can also be transmitted digitally in this way. When emergency services scan the QR code, they are taken to APG's digital safety platform.

In addition to reporting emergencies, the QR code can be used to find relevant information, such as the information sheet with the safety distances to be maintained in the area of live installations. In order to enable the reporting of emergencies in the future without an internet-enabled smartphone, the previous information on the pylon number plate will be retained.

In autumn 2021, the "QR codes on power poles" project was awarded the TÜV Science Prize: