SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF SIMULATING FACILITIES FOR USE IN LOCATE OPERATIONS TRAINING EXERCISES
First Claim
1. A simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising:
- a floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; and
a system controller including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated facilities.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for and methods of simulating facilities for use in locate operations training exercises are disclosed. Embodiments of the simulated facilities systems include a floor system in which one or more concealed wires may be energized to simulate underground facilities for the purpose of performing, for example, locate operations training, updating, and/or certification exercises for locate technicians. Embodiments of the simulated facilities systems include configurable pedestals by which either non-electric power line type of facilities and/or electric power line types of facility may be simulated. In some embodiments, simulated facilities systems may be configured manually and/or by use of a system controller.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising:
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a floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; and a system controller including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated facilities. - 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, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for simulating underground facilities, comprising:
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providing a floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; controlling the configuration and operation of the simulated facilities to define a facility locate routine; and performing location and marking of the simulated facilities according to the defined facility locate routine. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method for facility locate training comprising:
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providing a floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; configuring the simulated facilities to define a facility locate routine; performing, by a user, simulated location and marking operations in accordance with the defined facility locate routine; evaluating the simulated location and marking operations; and coaching the user based on the evaluation of the simulated location and marking operations.
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44. A floor system to simulate underground facilities in a simulated dig area, comprising:
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a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities in the simulated dig area; and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface.
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45. A mobile simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising:
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a floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle and to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; and a system controller including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated facilities.
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46. A method for simulating underground facilities, comprising:
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providing a floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle and to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; transporting the floor system in the vehicle; controlling the configuration and operation of the simulated facilities to define a facility locate routine; and performing location and marking of the simulated facilities according to the defined facility locate routine.
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47. A method for facility locate training comprising:
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providing a floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle and to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; transporting the floor system in the vehicle; configuring the simulated facilities to define a facility locate routine; performing, by a user, simulated location and marking operations in accordance with the defined facility locate routine; evaluating the simulated location and marking operations; and coaching the user based on the evaluation of the simulated location and marking operations.
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48. A mobile floor system to simulate underground facilities in a simulated dig area, comprising:
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a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities in the simulated dig area; and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the mobile floor system below the marking surface, the mobile floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle.
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49. A mobile simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising:
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a vehicle including a trailer; a floor system configured to be carried in the trailer and to define a simulated dig area, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; and a system controller including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated facilities.
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Specification