A portable electronic device for assessing an affected area of an aircraft is disclosed. A reference marker having a known size is located on the aircraft. The portable electronic device includes a processor in communication with a structural database, where the structural database includes a template that defines a maximum allowable size of damage to the aircraft. The processor executes instructions for determining an actual size of the affected area based on the known size of the reference marker. The processor also executes instructions for comparing the actual size of the affected area with the maximum allowable size of damage to the aircraft. The processor further executes instructions for determining that the actual size of the affected area exceeds the maximum allowable size of damage to the aircraft.