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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS

  • US 20150339607A1
  • Filed: 07/31/2015
  • Published: 11/26/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for assessing risk associated with a locate and/or marking operation specified by a locate request ticket generated by a one-call center, the locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area at a work site, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities at the work site, the apparatus comprising:

  • at least one communication interface;

    at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

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

    A) controls the at least one communication interface so as to receive the locate request ticket generated by the one-call center;

    B) parses the locate request ticket received in A) so as to extract ticket information obtained from the locate request ticket;

    C) performs a statistical analysis of historical information, the historical information being selected based at least in part on the ticket information extracted in B) and including at least one of;

    historical damage reports for underground facility infrastructure; and

    historical records of previously completed locate request tickets;

    D) automatically assigns at least one risk designation to the locate request ticket based at least in part on the statistical analysis of the historical information performed in C); and

    E) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit, and/or controls the at least one memory to store, the at least one risk designation so as to facilitate clearing the locate request ticket and/or dispatching at least one locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation, based at least in part on the at least one risk designation automatically assigned in D).

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