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MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND APPARATUS, FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED VISIBILITY, QUALITY CONTROL AND AUDIT CAPABILITY FOR UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS

  • US 20100228588A1
  • Filed: 02/11/2010
  • Published: 09/09/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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