METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING SEARCHABLE ELECTRONIC RECORDS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITY MARKING OPERATIONS AND ASSESSING ASPECTS OF SAME
First Claim
1. A method for assessing at least one aspect relating to a marking operation performed by a locate technician, the method based on an electronic representation of the marking operation, the method comprising:
- A) digitally representing, on a display device, at least one physical locate mark so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the marking operation, wherein;
the at least one physical locate mark includes at least one of non-white paint and a non-white flag; and
the at least one physical locate mark is applied during the marking operation, the marking operation being performed after generation of and pursuant to a locate request ticket relating to a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during prospective excavation activities, the marking operation comprising, in response to the locate request ticket, providing at least one visible warning to an excavator performing the prospective excavation activities, using the at least one physical locate mark, of a presence or an affirmative absence of at least one underground facility at the dig area specified in the locate request ticket;
B) determining a length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented at least one physical locate mark; and
C) based at least in part on the length determined in B), automatically assessing the at least one aspect relating to the marking operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Assessing at least one aspect relating to a marking operation performed by a locate technician, based on an electronic representation of the marking operation. The marking operation comprises identifying, using at least one physical locate mark, 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 physical locate mark(s) is/are digitally represented on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the marking operation. A length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented physical locate mark(s) is determined and, based on the determined length, one or more aspects relating to the marking operation is/are automatically assessed. Exemplary aspects include a cost of the marking operation, a productivity of the locate technician, and/or a competence of the locate technician.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for assessing at least one aspect relating to a marking operation performed by a locate technician, the method based on an electronic representation of the marking operation, the method comprising:
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A) digitally representing, on a display device, at least one physical locate mark so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the marking operation, wherein; the at least one physical locate mark includes at least one of non-white paint and a non-white flag; and the at least one physical locate mark is applied during the marking operation, the marking operation being performed after generation of and pursuant to a locate request ticket relating to a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during prospective excavation activities, the marking operation comprising, in response to the locate request ticket, providing at least one visible warning to an excavator performing the prospective excavation activities, using the at least one physical locate mark, of a presence or an affirmative absence of at least one underground facility at the dig area specified in the locate request ticket; B) determining a length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented at least one physical locate mark; and C) based at least in part on the length determined in B), automatically assessing the at least one aspect relating to the marking operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for assessing an aspect relating to a marking operation performed by a locate technician, the method based on an electronic representation of the marking operation, the method comprising:
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A) digitally representing, on a display device, at least one physical locate mark so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the marking operation, wherein; the at least one physical locate mark includes at least one of non-white paint and a non-white flag; and the at least one physical locate mark is applied during the marking operation, the marking operation being performed after generation of and pursuant to a locate request ticket relating to a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during prospective excavation activities, the marking operation comprising, in response to the locate request ticket, providing at least one visible warning to an excavator performing the prospective excavation activities, using the at least one physical locate mark, of a presence or an affirmative absence of at least one underground facility at the dig area specified in the locate request ticket; B) determining a length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented at least one physical locate mark; and C) based at least in part on the length determined in B), automatically assessing the at least one aspect relating to the marking operation.
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24. An apparatus for making an assessment of at least one aspect relating to a marking operation performed by a locate technician, the assessment based on an electronic representation of the marking operation, the apparatus comprising:
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a display device; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit coupled to the display device and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit; A) controls the display device to display at least one physical locate mark so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the marking operation, wherein; the at least one physical locate mark includes at least one of non-white paint and a non-white flag; and the at least one physical locate mark is applied during the marking operation, the marking operation being performed after generation of and pursuant to a locate request ticket relating to a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during prospective excavation activities, the marking operation comprising, in response to the locate request ticket, providing at least one visible warning to an excavator performing the prospective excavation activities, using the at least one physical locate mark, of a presence or an affirmative absence of at least one underground facility at the dig area specified in the locate request ticket; B) determines a length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented at least one physical locate mark; and C) based at least in part on the length determined in B), automatically assesses the at least one aspect relating to the marking operation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification