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VIRTUAL WHITE LINES (VWL) FOR DELIMITING PLANNED EXCAVATION SITES OF STAGED EXCAVATION PROJECTS

  • US 20100201706A1
  • Filed: 06/01/2009
  • Published: 08/12/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:

  • a communication interface;

    a display device;

    at least one user input device;

    a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

    a processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the display device, the at least one user input device, and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit;

    controls the communication interface to electronically receive source data representing at least one input image of a geographic area including the first dig area and the at least one additional dig area, wherein the first dig area corresponds to a first stage of an staged excavation project and the at least one additional dig area corresponds to at least one subsequent stage of the staged excavation project;

    controls the display device to display at least a portion of the at least one input image;

    acquires at least one first user input from the at least one user input device;

    generates a first generation marked-up digital image including at least one first indicator overlaid on the at least one input image to provide at least one indication of the first dig area;

    acquires at least one second user input from the at least one user input device;

    generates a multi-generational marked-up digital image including at least one additional indicator overlaid on the first generation marked-up digital image to provide at least one indication of the at least one additional dig area; and

    further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the multi-generational marked-up digital image so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the plurality of dig areas.

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