SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING ACCESS TO INFORMATION RELATING TO LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS

• US 20100318465A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/833,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/165 Land development
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

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.

Claims

1. A system for managing information relating to locate and/or marking operations, the system comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a plurality of electronic data records relating to the locate and/or marking operations, wherein at least a first electronic data record of the plurality of electronic data records includes first quality assessment information regarding a first locate and/or marking operation; and

at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the at least one processing unit, the at least one processing unit;

A) controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to at least one of the plurality of electronic data records pursuant to at least one information access criterion to facilitate access to the information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes an encryption of the information, and wherein in A), the at least one processing unit further:

A1) encrypts the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processing unit controls the at least one memory to electronically store the information, and wherein the at least one processing unit encrypts the information prior to storage in the memory.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processing unit controls the at least one communication interface to electronically transmit the information, and wherein the at least one processing unit encrypts the information prior to transmission of the information.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processing unit implements the TripleDES/TDEA encryption algorithm to encrypt the information.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processing unit implements the Blowfish keyed symmetric block cipher to encrypt the information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes an access time limit, and wherein in A), the at least one processing unit further:

controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory so as to allow access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records only for a limited time period.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes at least one user identification criterion, and wherein in A), the at least one processing unit further:

controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory so as to allow access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records via a log-in procedure so as to facilitate secure access to the information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further stores at least one user information profile including at least one user name and at least one password.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one user information profile further includes at least one of:

user fee information for access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records;

user preference information for access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records; and

user permission and/or user restriction information for access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes an access fee, and wherein in A), the at least one processing unit further:

controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory so as to allow access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records for a fee.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes one or more search indicia, and wherein in A), the at least one processing unit further:

A1) controls the at least one communication interface so as to receive the one or more search indicia; and

A2) implements a search engine so as to provide access to and/or transmit, in response to A1), the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein in A), the at least one processing unit:

controls the at least one communication interface so as to electronically communicate to at least one first party at least one notification indicating at least one of;

a status of one or more locate and/or marking operations;

a disposition of one or more locate technicians; and

at least some of the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one first party includes at least one of:

a requesting party that requests the locate operation;

a facility owner;

a locate service provider/contractor

a regulator;

an auditor;

an insurer;

a damage investigator; and

an assessor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one notification is communicated to the at least one first party on behalf of at least one second party associated with the locate operation; and

the at least one notification includes reporting requirements for the at least one second party, the reporting requirements regarding at least one of;

activities of the at least one second party;

facilities under a jurisdiction of the at least one second party; and

geographic areas under the jurisdiction of the at least one second party.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one second party includes at least one of:

an excavator;

a one-call center;

a locate service provider/contractor; and

a facility owner.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one first party includes at least one of:

a requesting party that requests the locate operation;

a regulator;

an auditor;

an insurer;

a damage investigator; and

an assessor.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processing unit further controls the at least one communication interface so as to receive at least one acknowledgement of receipt of the at least one notification.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic data record further includes at least one of:

a marked-up image of a geographic area including a dig area in which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed, 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.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic data record further includes ticket assessment information relating to a locate request ticket pursuant to which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the ticket assessment information relates to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the first locate and/or marking operation.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic data record further includes technician allocation and/or technician scheduling information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic data record further includes process guide information relating to at least one process guide for performing the first locate and/or marking operation.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic data record further includes at least one of:

field information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation as at least partially performed; and

environmental information relating to a dig area and/or a work site at which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the field information includes at least one of:

locate information relating to detecting a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility;

marking information relating to marking the presence of the absence of the at least one underground facility; and

landmark information relating to at least one landmark present in or proximate to the dig area or the work site.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the field information includes at least one of:

a timestamp for the first locate and/or marking operation;

geographic information associated with the dig area and/or the work site; and

at least one identifier for a locate technician and or a locate company.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the field information includes at least one electronic manifest for the first locate and/or marking operation.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the electronic manifest includes at least one digital image of at least a portion of the dig area or the work site.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one digital image includes at least one dig area indicator.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the first electronic data record further includes at least one completed locate request ticket relating to the first locate and/or marking operation.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the environmental information comprises weather conditions or traffic conditions relating to the dig area or work site and/or access to the dig area or work site.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the first quality assessment information relates to at least one of a completeness, an accuracy, and an efficiency of the first locate and/or marking operation.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the first quality assessment information includes an indication of approval if the first locate and/or marking operation complies with a predetermined quality standard.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the first quality assessment information includes comparison results from comparing field information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation as at least partially performed to reference information, wherein the reference information includes at least one of:

first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;

second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate and/or marking operations; and

third information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to a dig area and/or work site at which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the first electronic data record further includes the field information, and wherein the field information includes at least one of:

locate information relating to detecting a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility;

marking information relating to marking the presence of the absence of the at least one underground facility; and

landmark information relating to at least one landmark present in or proximate to the dig area or the work site.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first electronic data record further includes the reference information.

37. A computer-implemented method for managing information relating to locate and/or marking operations, the information comprising a plurality of electronic data records relating to the locate and/or marking operations, wherein at least a first electronic data record of the plurality of electronic data records includes first quality assessment information regarding a first locate and/or marking operation, the method comprising:

A) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to at least the first electronic data record pursuant to at least one information access criterion to facilitate secure access to the information.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes an encryption of the information, and wherein A) comprises:

A1) encrypting the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein A) comprises electronically storing the information, and wherein encrypting the information occurs before storing the information.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein A) comprises electronically transmitting the information, and wherein encrypting the information occurs before transmitting the information.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein A1) comprises:

implementing the TripleDES/TDEA encryption algorithm to encrypt the information.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein A1) comprises:

implementing the Blowfish keyed symmetric block cipher to encrypt the information.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes an access time limit, and wherein A) comprises:

allowing access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records only for a limited time period.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes at least one user identification criterion, and wherein A) comprises:

allowing access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records via a log-in procedure so as to facilitate secure access to the information.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

storing at least one user information profile including at least one user name and at least one password.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the at least one user information profile further includes at least one of:

user fee information for access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records;

user preference information for access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records; and

user permission and/or user restriction information for access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes an access fee, and wherein A) comprises:

allowing access to the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records for a fee.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one information access criterion includes one or more search indicia, and wherein A) comprises:

A1) receiving the one or more search indicia; and

A2) implementing a search engine so as to provide access to and/or transmit, in response to A1), the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

49. The method of claim 37, wherein A) comprises:

electronically communicating to at least one first party at least one notification indicating at least one of;

a status of one or more locate and/or marking operations;

a disposition of one or more locate technicians; and

at least some of the information relating to the at least one of the plurality of electronic data records.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the at least one first party includes at least one of:

a requesting party that requests the locate operation;

a facility owner;

a locate service provider/contractor

a regulator;

an auditor;

an insurer;

a damage investigator; and

an assessor.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein:

the at least one notification is communicated to the at least one first party on behalf of at least one second party associated with the locate operation; and

the at least one notification includes reporting requirements for the at least one second party, the reporting requirements regarding at least one of;

activities of the at least one second party;

facilities under a jurisdiction of the at least one second party; and

geographic areas under the jurisdiction of the at least one second party.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one second party includes at least one of:

an excavator;

a one-call center;

a locate service provider/contractor; and

a facility owner.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one first party includes at least one of:

a requesting party that requests the locate operation;

a regulator;

an auditor;

an insurer;

a damage investigator; and

an assessor.

54. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

receiving at least one acknowledgement of receipt of the at least one notification.

55. The method of claim 37, wherein the first electronic data record further includes at least one of:

a marked-up image of a geographic area including a dig area in which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed, 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.

56. The method of claim 37, wherein the first electronic data record further includes ticket assessment information relating to a locate request ticket pursuant to which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the ticket assessment information relates to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the first locate and/or marking operation.

58. The method of claim 37, wherein the first electronic data record further includes technician allocation and/or technician scheduling information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation.

59. The method of claim 37, wherein the first electronic data record further includes process guide information relating to at least one process guide for performing the first locate and/or marking operation.

60. The method of claim 37, wherein the first electronic data record further includes at least one of:

field information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation as at least partially performed; and

environmental information relating to a dig area and/or a work site at which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the field information includes at least one of:

locate information relating to detecting a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility;

marking information relating to marking the presence of the absence of the at least one underground facility; and

landmark information relating to at least one landmark present in or proximate to the dig area or the work site.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the field information includes at least one of:

a timestamp for the first locate and/or marking operation;

geographic information associated with the dig area and/or the work site; and

at least one identifier for a locate technician and or a locate company.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the field information includes at least one electronic manifest for the first locate and/or marking operation.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the electronic manifest includes at least one digital image of at least a portion of the dig area or the work site.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the at least one digital image includes at least one dig area indicator.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein the first electronic data record further includes at least one completed locate request ticket relating to the first locate and/or marking operation.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein the environmental information comprises weather conditions or traffic conditions relating to the dig area or work site and/or access to the dig area or work site.

68. The method of claim 37, wherein the first quality assessment information relates to at least one of a completeness, an accuracy, and an efficiency of the first locate and/or marking operation.

69. The method of claim 37, wherein the first quality assessment information includes an indication of approval if the first locate and/or marking operation complies with a predetermined quality standard.

70. The method of claim 37, wherein the first quality assessment information includes comparison results from comparing field information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation as at least partially performed to reference information, wherein the reference information includes at least one of:

first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;

second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate and/or marking operations; and

third information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to a dig area and/or work site at which the first locate and/or marking operation is at least partially performed.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the first electronic data record further includes the field information, and wherein the field information includes at least one of:

locate information relating to detecting a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility;

marking information relating to marking the presence of the absence of the at least one underground facility; and

landmark information relating to at least one landmark present in or proximate to the dig area or the work site.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the first electronic data record further includes the reference information.

73. 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 information relating to locate and/or marking operations, the information comprising a plurality of electronic data records relating to the locate and/or marking operations, wherein at least a first electronic data record of the plurality of electronic data records includes first quality assessment information regarding a first locate and/or marking operation, the method comprising:

A) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to at least one of the plurality of electronic data records pursuant to at least one information access criterion to facilitate secure access to the information.