MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND APPARATUS, FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED VISIBILITY, QUALITY CONTROL AND AUDIT CAPABILITY FOR UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface;
a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and
a processing unit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit;
A) controls the communication interface to electronically receive first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of;
a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and
geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator;
B) controls the communication interface to transmit second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information;
C) controls the communication interface to receive from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician;
D) processes the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation; and
E) controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A holistic approach to management and oversight of locate and marking operations is provided. Initial requests to perform such operations are improved, and such requests are intelligently assessed to appropriately allocate resources to perform operations. Technicians are effectively dispatched and may be provided with process guides to facilitate performance. A host of information regarding the performance of locate operations and their environs is acquired (e.g., via improved intelligent instrumentation employed by technicians). A quality of operations (e.g., completeness, accuracy, efficiency) is assessed, corrective actions may be taken in essentially real-time as necessary, and information regarding operations and their quality assessments is archived for auditing purposes. Relevant information is communicated to one or more parties associated with the operations; in particular, requesting parties are apprised of the status of ongoing operations, and given confirmation that operations have been performed and are completed. Requesting parties and/or other interested parties (e.g., excavators, facility owners, locate contractors, municipalities, regulators, auditors, damage investigators, insurance companies, etc.) also may be provided with detailed information regarding the performance of operations and quality assessment of same.
-
Citations
61 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
-
a communication interface; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit; A) controls the communication interface to electronically receive first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of; a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator; B) controls the communication interface to transmit second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information; C) controls the communication interface to receive from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician; D) processes the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation; and E) controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32)
-
-
29. A method for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:
-
A) electronically receiving first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of; a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator; B) electronically transmitting second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information; C) electronically receiving from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician; D) electronically processing the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation; and E) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
-
-
30. At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for managing a locate operation, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:
-
A) electronically receiving first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of; a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator; B) electronically transmitting second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information; C) electronically receiving from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician; D) electronically processing the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation; and E) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
-
Specification