System and method for collecting and updating geographical data

• US 8,144,058 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prostar Geocorp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, Llp
• Inventors: Beckner, Mark, Tucker, Page, Jones, Scott Austin, Sawyer, Jr., Tom Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/099,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 342/459
• US Class Current: 342/459
• 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 geographical 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 from 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; and receiving information about location of each of the utilities. 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 geographical data transaction.

Claims

1. A method executed on one or more computers for generating a geographical data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region, the method comprising:

electronically receiving information about the topography of the region;

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

electronically receiving information about time and date of the collected data;

electronically receiving information about each of the utilities;

electronically receiving information about location of each of the utilities;

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

electronically integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a geographical data transaction, wherein the geographical data transaction is utilized to manage said utilities within said region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein electronically 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 electronically receiving information about each of the utilities comprises reading information from an RFID associated with each of the utilities.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising electronically generating a geographical grid from the geographical data transaction.

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

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying the geographical data transaction with reference to imagery of the area in real time on a display device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising electronically receiving current location of the user relative to the location of a utility and displaying the geographical 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 electronically receiving creating a moving map from the precision integrated grid in real time and displaying the moving map for showing the location of the user in relation to a utility.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising electronically receiving pedigreeing the geographical data transaction.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a sixth record for electronically storing information about revisions made to the information about the topography, wherein the geographical data transaction record is electronically utilized to manage said utilities within said region.

13. The geographical data transaction record of claim 12, wherein the fourth record for storing information about each of the utilities includes information about one or more of area, points, lines, and meta data.

14. The geographical data transaction record of claim 12, wherein the information about each of the utilities comprises information from an RFID associated with each of the utilities.

15. The geographical data transaction record of claim 12, further comprising a geographical grid electronically receiving generated from the geographical data transaction.

16. The geographical data transaction record of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of geographical data transactions for a respective plurality of owners and a precision integrated grid electronically receiving generated from combining the plurality of geographical data transactions.