System and method for collecting and updating geographical data

• US 7,978,129 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prostar Geocorp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, Llp
• Inventors: Tucker, Page, Beckner, Mark, Jones, Scott Austin, Sawyer, Tom Y. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US11/686,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.48
• US Class Current: 342/357.48
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

A system and method for generating a GIS data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; receiving information about location of each of the utilities; and receiving information about the manner of collecting data. The system and method further include receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a GIS data transaction.

Claims

1. A method for generating a GIS data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region, the method comprising:

providing information about the topography of the region;

receiving information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region;

receiving information about time and date of the collected data;

receiving information about each of the utilities;

receiving information about location of each of the utilities;

receiving information about the manner of collecting data;

receiving information about revisions made to the information about the topography; and

integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a GIS data transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information about each of the utilities includes information about one or more of area, points, lines, and meta data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information about each of the utilities comprises reading information from an RFID affixed to each of the utilities.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generation a precision integrated grid from the GIS data transaction.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising utilizing the precision integrated grid to identify and locate a utility in the region.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying the GIS data transaction with reference to imagery of the area in real time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing current location of the user relative to the location of a utility and displaying the GIS data transaction with reference to the imagery of the area as the user moves in any direction.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising creating a movable map from the precision integrated grid and displaying the movable map in real time for showing the location of the user in relation to a utility.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising pedegreeing the GIS data transaction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting the GIS data transaction into a portal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a plurality of GIS data transactions for a respective plurality of owners and combining the plurality of GIS data transactions to generate a precision integrated grid.

12. A method for generating a precision integrated grid in a utility damage prevention system, the method comprising:

storing information about a map of a geographical region, a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the geographical region, meta data related to each of the utilities, location of each of the utilities, and revisions made to the information about meta data and location of each of the utilities;

generating a precision integrated grid from the stored information; and

utilizing the precision integrated grid to identify and locate a utility in the region.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein meta data related to each of the utilities includes information about one or more of area, points, and lines.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying the precision integrated grid with reference to imagery of the area in real time.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising creating a movable map from the precision integrated grid and displaying the movable map in real time for showing the location of the user in relation to a utility.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising pedegreeing the stored information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein generating a precision integrated grid from the stored information comprises generating a plurality of GIS data transactions for a respective plurality of owners and combining the plurality of GIS data transactions to generate the precision integrated grid.

18. A GIS data transaction record including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region comprising:

a first record for storing information about the topography of the region;

a second record for storing information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region;

a third record for storing information about time and date of the collected data;

a fourth record for storing information about each of the utilities;

a fifth record for storing information about location of each of the utilities;

a sixth record for storing information about the manner of collecting data; and

a seventh record for storing information about revisions made to the information about the topography.

19. A system for generating a precision integrated grid in a utility damage prevention system comprising:

a database for storing information about a map of a geographical region, a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the geographical region, meta data related to each of the utilities, location of each of the utilities, and revisions made to the information about meta data and location of each of the utilities;

means for generating a precision integrated grid from the stored information; and

means for utilizing the precision integrated grid to identify and locate a utility in the region.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a display screen for displaying the precision integrated grid with reference to imagery of the area in real time.