Utility mapping and data distribution system and method
First Claim
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1. An above-ground system for evaluating a subsurface, comprising:
- a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system configured to produce GPR measurements about subsurface features to depths of up to at least 8 feet for a survey area;
an electromagnetic sensor (EM) system configured to produce EM measurements about subsurface features to depths of up to at least 8 feet for the survey area;
at least one additional sensor configured for subsurface sensing in a manner differing from the GPR and EM systems, the at least one additional sensor comprising a seismic sensor, and radar waves and seismic waves associated with the GPR system and the seismic sensor, respectively, are of about the same wavelength;
a positioning system associated with the GPR system and EM system, the positioning system configured to produce positioning measurements indicative of GPR and EM system position within the survey area; and
a processor configured to receive the respective measurements from the GPR system, EM system, and positioning system, the processor configured to execute program instructions for associating the GPR and EM measurements and data from the at least one additional sensor with respective positioning measurements and producing data indicative of presence and location of the subsurface features using the position-associated GPR and EM measurements and the at least one additional sensor data.
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Abstract
A system and method of mapping underground utilities and other subsurface objects involves one or more of acquiring utility location data using a number of different detectors and sensors, processing the multiple detector/sensor output data to produce mapping data, storing the mapping data in a database, and providing access to and use of the stored mapping data by subscribing users on a usage fee basis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An above-ground system for evaluating a subsurface, comprising:
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a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system configured to produce GPR measurements about subsurface features to depths of up to at least 8 feet for a survey area; an electromagnetic sensor (EM) system configured to produce EM measurements about subsurface features to depths of up to at least 8 feet for the survey area; at least one additional sensor configured for subsurface sensing in a manner differing from the GPR and EM systems, the at least one additional sensor comprising a seismic sensor, and radar waves and seismic waves associated with the GPR system and the seismic sensor, respectively, are of about the same wavelength; a positioning system associated with the GPR system and EM system, the positioning system configured to produce positioning measurements indicative of GPR and EM system position within the survey area; and a processor configured to receive the respective measurements from the GPR system, EM system, and positioning system, the processor configured to execute program instructions for associating the GPR and EM measurements and data from the at least one additional sensor with respective positioning measurements and producing data indicative of presence and location of the subsurface features using the position-associated GPR and EM measurements and the at least one additional sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An above-ground system for evaluating a subsurface, comprising:
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a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system configured to produce GPR measurements about subsurface features for a survey area; an electromagnetic sensor (EM) system configured to produce EM measurements about subsurface features for the survey area; at least one additional sensor configured for subsurface sensing in a manner differing from the GPR and EM systems, the at least one additional sensor comprising a seismic sensor, and radar waves and seismic waves associated with the GPR system and the seismic sensor, respectively, are of about the same wavelength; a positioning system associated with the GPR system and EM system, the positioning system configured to produce positioning measurements indicative of GPR and EM system position within the survey area; memory configured to store at least information about the survey area obtained from a source other than the GPR and EM systems; and a processor configured to receive the respective measurements from the GPR system, EM system, the at least one additional sensor, and positioning system, the processor configured to execute program instructions for associating the GPR and EM measurements and data from the at least one additional sensor with respective positioning measurements and producing data indicative of position-associated survey area information and presence, location, and depth of the subsurface features using the position-associated GPR and EM measurements and the at least one additional sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An above-ground system for evaluating a subsurface, comprising:
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a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system configured to produce GPR measurements about subsurface features for a survey area; an electromagnetic sensor (EM) system configured to produce EM measurements about subsurface features for the survey area; a seismic sensor, wherein radar waves and seismic waves associated with the GPR system and the seismic sensor, respectively, are of about the same wavelength; a positioning system associated with the GPR system, EM system, and seismic sensor respectively, the respective positioning system configured to produce positioning measurements indicative of GPR and EM system position and seismic sensor position within the survey area; and a processor configured to receive the respective measurements from the GPR system, EM system, seismic sensor, and positioning system, the processor configured to execute program instructions for associating the GPR, EM, and seismic sensor measurements with respective positioning measurements and producing data indicative of presence, location, and depth of the subsurface features using the position-associated GPR, EM, and seismic sensor measurements; wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions for computing tolerance factor data associated with at least some of the subsurface features, the tolerance factor data indicative of relative quality or reliability of at least one of the presence, location, and depth data associated with the at least some of the subsurface features. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification