VIRTUAL WHITE LINES FOR DELIMITING PLANNED EXCAVATION SITES

• US 20120274476A1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/853.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

Method and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area, is electronically processed by converting the at least one indicator to a plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area. Information relating to a locate request ticket identifying the dig area to be excavated is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored, wherein the locate request ticket includes image data and non-image data associated with the dig area. The image data includes the at least one marked-up digital image of the geographic area surrounding the dig area, and the non-image data includes the plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

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

processes at least one marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the at least one marked-up digital image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area, the processing unit converting the at least one indicator in the at least one marked-up digital image to a plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area;

generates a locate request ticket identifying the dig area to be excavated, the locate request ticket including image data and non-image data associated with the dig area, wherein;

the image data includes the at least one marked-up digital image of the geographic area surrounding the dig area; and

the non-image data includes the plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area; and

controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the locate request ticket so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein prior to converting the at least one indicator, the processing unit:

electronically receives from a first party non-image information to identify the dig area; and

electronically transmits to the first party at least one digital image of the geographic area including the dig area, based on the non-image information to identify the dig area,

wherein the at least one marked-up digital image is provided by the first party based on the at least one digital image of the geographic area including the dig area.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-image information comprises at least one of:

a text description of the dig area;

an address or a lot number of at least one property within which the dig area is located;

a street intersection in a vicinity of the dig area;

geographic coordinates associated with the dig area; and

a designated geographic work area assigned to a first user at the first user location.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein electronically receiving from a first party non-image information comprises:

retrieving the at least one digital image of the geographic area including the dig area based on the non-image information.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein retrieving the at least one digital image comprises:

converting the non-image information to latitude/longitude or geographic coordinates so as to facilitate an identification of the at least one digital image of the geographic area including the dig area.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein retrieving the at least one digital image comprises:

calculating an image extent based at least in part on the non-image information so as to facilitate an identification of the at least one digital image of the geographic area including the dig area.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein retrieving the at least one digital image comprises:

selecting a source for the at least one digital image based at least in part on one of;

a geographic coverage area of the source;

an availability of the digital image from the source;

a desired resolution for the digital image and an available resolution from the source;

an age of the digital image from the source; and

a cost of the digital image from the source.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein electronically transmitting to the first party at least one digital image comprises:

electronically transmitting to the first party the at least one digital image and at least one electronic marking tool application to facilitate generation of the at least one marked-up digital image by the first party.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator to delimit the dig area is placed on the at least one marked-up digital image by the first party, prior to processing the at least one marked-up digital image, at a first user location remote from the dig area.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator to delimit the dig area is placed on the at least one marked-up digital image by the first party, prior to processing the at least one marked-up digital image, without acquiring the plurality of geographic coordinates to delimit the dig area.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator in the at least one marked-up digital image includes a line around the dig area to delimit the dig area.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one marked-up digital image includes at least one environmental landmark in the geographic area.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one marked-up digital image further includes at least one offset distance between at least one environmental landmark in the geographic area and an edge of the dig area.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one marked-up digital image further includes at least one text annotation.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the locate request ticket comprises:

electronically transmitting the information relating to the locate request ticket to at least one party associated with a facility owner so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one party associated with the facility owner includes at least one locate technician.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one party associated with the facility owner includes the facility owner or a facility operator.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein electronically transmitting the information relating to the locate request ticket to at least one party associated with a facility owner comprises transmitting an email including the information relating to the locate request ticket to the at least one party associated with the facility owner.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein electronically transmitting the information relating to the locate request ticket to at least one party associated with a facility owner comprises transmitting a link to a webpage including the information relating to the locate request ticket to the at least one party associated with the facility owner.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the information relating to the locate request ticket comprises the locate request ticket.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the non-image data of the locate request ticket further includes at least one of:

a text description of the dig area;

an address or a lot number of at least one property within which the dig area is located;

a street intersection in a vicinity of the dig area;

a date and/or time of day for an excavation of the dig area;

a first identifier associated with an excavator to perform the excavation activities;

a second identifier associated with at least one environmental landmark in the vicinity of the dig area;

a time stamp associated with the electronic transmission of the information relating to the locate request ticket; and

a ticket identifier for the locate request ticket.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further:

electronically receives an indication of a completed locate request ticket from at least one party associated with the facility owner.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the locate request ticket comprises:

electronically storing the locate request ticket.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the non-image data of the locate request ticket further includes at least one of:

a text description of the dig area;

an address or a lot number of at least one property within which the dig area is located;

a street intersection in a vicinity of the dig area;

a date and/or time of day for an excavation of the dig area;

a first identifier associated with an excavator to perform the excavation activities;

a second identifier associated with at least one environmental landmark in the vicinity of the dig area;

a time stamp associated with the locate request ticket; and

a ticket identifier for the locate request ticket.

25. A method for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

A) electronically receiving from a first party non-image information to identify the dig area;

B) retrieving at least one digital image of a geographic area including the dig area based on the non-image information;

C) electronically transmitting to the first party the at least one digital image of the geographic area including the dig area and at least one electronic marking tool application to facilitate generation of at least one marked-up digital image by the first party based on the at least one digital image;

D) electronically receiving the at least one marked-up digital image from the first party, the at least one marked-up digital image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area;

E) electronically processing the at least one marked-up digital image by converting the at least one indicator to delimit the dig area in the at least one marked-up digital image to a plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area; and

F) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to a locate request ticket identifying the dig area to be excavated, the locate request ticket including image data and non-image data associated with the dig area, wherein;

the image data includes the at least one marked-up digital image of the geographic area surrounding the dig area; and

the non-image data includes the plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area.

26. A method for indicating a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

A) electronically receiving at least one locate request ticket identifying the dig area, the at least one locate request ticket including image data and non-image data associated with the dig area, wherein;

the image data includes at least one marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the at least one marked-up digital image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area, the at least one indicator being previously placed on the at least one marked-up digital image at a first user location remote from the dig area and/or without acquiring geographic coordinates to delimit the dig area; and

the non-image data includes at least one of;

a text description of the dig area;

a plurality of geographic coordinates associated with the at least one indicator to delimit the dig area in the at least one marked-up digital image;

an address or a lot number of at least one property within which the dig area is located;

a street intersection in a vicinity of the dig area;

a date and/or time of day for an excavation of the dig area;

a first identifier associated with an excavator to perform the excavation activities;

a second identifier associated with at least one environmental landmark in the vicinity of the dig area; and

a ticket identifier for the at least one locate request ticket,

the method further comprising;

B) in response to A), physically inspecting the dig area based at least in part on the at least one indicator to delimit the dig area in the at least one marked-up digital image received in A) so as to determine the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility; and

C) based on B), physically marking ground or other surface in the dig area with paint, flags, or other physical marking system to indicate the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising initiating A) via a webpage.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

D) providing an indication of a completed locate request ticket to at least one party providing the at least one locate request ticket received in A).