METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS WITH IMPROVED VISIBILITY, QUALITY CONTROL AND AUDIT CAPABILITY
First Claim
1. A method for performing 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 identifying the dig area, 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 digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up digital 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) inspecting the dig area based at least in part on the first ticket information received in A), and using at least one piece of locating equipment to determine the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility and/or physically mark the dig area with at least one physical locate mark to indicate the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility; and
C) electronically adding to the marked-up digital image and/or a second digital image at least one of marking information, locate information, and landmark information so as to provide an updated marked-up image relating to the locate operation as performed, the updated marked-up image including the at least one dig area indicator; and
D) generating an electronic manifest relating to the locate operation, the electronic manifest including the updated marked-up image.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
First ticket information relating to one or more locate request tickets identifying a dig area is electronically received, including first image data associated with the dig area. The first image data includes one or both of: i) a marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up digital image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and ii) geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator. The dig area is inspected based at least in part on the first ticket information, and using one or more pieces of locating equipment to determine a presence or an absence of one or more underground facilities and/or physically mark the dig area with one or more physical locate marks. One or more of marking information, locate information, and landmark information is electronically added to the marked-up digital image and/or a second digital image so as to provide an updated marked-up image relating to the locate operation as performed. An electronic manifest is generated relating to the locate operation and including the updated marked-up image.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for performing 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:
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A) electronically receiving first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket identifying the dig area, 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 digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up digital 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) inspecting the dig area based at least in part on the first ticket information received in A), and using at least one piece of locating equipment to determine the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility and/or physically mark the dig area with at least one physical locate mark to indicate the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility; and C) electronically adding to the marked-up digital image and/or a second digital image at least one of marking information, locate information, and landmark information so as to provide an updated marked-up image relating to the locate operation as performed, the updated marked-up image including the at least one dig area indicator; and D) generating an electronic manifest relating to the locate operation, the electronic manifest including the updated marked-up image. - 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, 29)
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30. A system for facilitating performance of 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 system comprising:
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at least one piece of locating equipment to determine the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility and/or physically mark the dig area with at least one physical locate mark to indicate the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility; and at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the at least one piece of locating equipment, the at least one processing unit programmed to; A) electronically receive first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket identifying the dig area, 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 digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up digital 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 add to the at least one marked-up digital image and/or a second digital image at least one of marking information, locate information, and landmark information so as to provide an updated marked-up image relating to the locate operation as performed, the updated marked-up image including the at least one dig area indicator; and C) generate an electronic manifest relating to the locate operation, the electronic manifest including the updated marked-up image. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. At least one computer readable storage medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processing unit, perform a method for facilitating 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:
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A) electronically receiving first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket identifying the dig area, 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 digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up digital 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 adding to the marked-up digital image and/or a second digital image at least one of marking information, locate information, and landmark information so as to provide an updated marked-up image relating to the locate operation as performed, the updated marked-up image including the at least one dig area indicator; and C) generating an electronic manifest relating to the locate operation, the electronic manifest including the updated marked-up image.
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Specification