Electronically documenting locate operations for underground utilities
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- A) performing a locate operation of at least one underground facility in a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities by applying to ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area at least one physical colored marker to indicate a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility below the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area;
B) displaying on a display device at least one digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area;
C) adding to the displayed digital image at least one electronic colored marker corresponding to the at least one physical colored marker applied to the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area so as to generate a marked-up image including the at least one electronic colored marker; and
D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the marked-up image to document the locate operation performed in A).
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Abstract
A technician performs a locate operation of an underground utility in a dig area of proposed excavation by applying one or more physical colored markers (e.g., paint, flags, other colored markers) to ground, pavement or other surface to indicate a presence or an absence of the underground utility in the dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is displayed on a display device, and one or more electronic colored markers corresponding to the physical colored marker(s) are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to document the locate operation.
383 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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A) performing a locate operation of at least one underground facility in a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities by applying to ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area at least one physical colored marker to indicate a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility below the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area; B) displaying on a display device at least one digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area; C) adding to the displayed digital image at least one electronic colored marker corresponding to the at least one physical colored marker applied to the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area so as to generate a marked-up image including the at least one electronic colored marker; and D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the marked-up image to document the locate operation performed in A). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method comprising:
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A) documenting a performance of a locate operation of at least one underground facility in a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate operation comprising applying to ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area at least one physical colored marker to indicate a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility below the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area, wherein A) comprises; B) displaying on a display device at least one digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area; C) adding to the displayed digital image at least one electronic colored marker corresponding to the at least one physical colored marker applied to the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area so as to generate a marked-up image including the at least one electronic colored marker; and D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the marked-up image.
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a communication interface; a display device; a user input device; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the display device, the user input device, and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit; A) documents a performance of a locate operation of at least one underground facility in a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate operation comprising applying to ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area at least one physical colored marker to indicate a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility below the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area, wherein in A), the processing unit; B) displays on the display device at least one digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area; C) adds to the displayed digital image at least one electronic colored marker corresponding to the at least one physical colored marker applied to the ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area so as to generate a marked-up image including the at least one electronic colored marker; and D) electronically transmits and/or electronically stores information relating to the marked-up image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification