Utility mapping and data distribution system and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of disparate sensors configured for above-ground travel within a survey region and to evaluate a volume of earth of a subsurface;
at least a first sensor of the plurality of disparate sensors configured to generate a first probe signal at a first frequency or first range of frequencies and to receive a first return signal from the subsurface in response to the first probe signal;
at least a second sensor of the plurality of disparate sensors configured to generate a second probe signal at a second frequency or second range of frequencies and to receive a second return signal from the subsurface in response to the second probe signal;
a positioning system configured to produce position data associated with a geographic position of each of the sensors;
memory for storing the position data and sensor data associated with at least the first and second return signals;
a soil sensor configured to measure a soil parameter within the volume of earth that influences a measurement of subsurface depth; and
a processor coupled to the sensors, positioning system, and memory, the processor configured to detect underground utilities within the volume of earth using the sensor data, associate the sensor data with the position data for each of the detected underground utilities, determine a depth of each of the detected underground utilities using the sensor data and soil sensor data; and
store the associated sensor, position, and depth data for each of the detected underground utilities in the memory.
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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.
143 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of disparate sensors configured for above-ground travel within a survey region and to evaluate a volume of earth of a subsurface; at least a first sensor of the plurality of disparate sensors configured to generate a first probe signal at a first frequency or first range of frequencies and to receive a first return signal from the subsurface in response to the first probe signal; at least a second sensor of the plurality of disparate sensors configured to generate a second probe signal at a second frequency or second range of frequencies and to receive a second return signal from the subsurface in response to the second probe signal; a positioning system configured to produce position data associated with a geographic position of each of the sensors; memory for storing the position data and sensor data associated with at least the first and second return signals; a soil sensor configured to measure a soil parameter within the volume of earth that influences a measurement of subsurface depth; and a processor coupled to the sensors, positioning system, and memory, the processor configured to detect underground utilities within the volume of earth using the sensor data, associate the sensor data with the position data for each of the detected underground utilities, determine a depth of each of the detected underground utilities using the sensor data and soil sensor data; and
store the associated sensor, position, and depth data for each of the detected underground utilities in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of disparate sensors configured for above-ground travel within a survey region, each of the sensors configured to communicate a probe signal into the subsurface; a positioning system configured to produce position data associated with a position of each of the sensors; a soil sensor configured to measure a soil parameter within a volume of earth that influences measurement of subsurface depth at the survey region; memory configured for storing position data and sensor data associated with each of the sensors; and a processor coupled to the sensors, positioning system, and memory, the processor configured to detect underground utilities within the volume of earth, determine a position and a depth of each of the detected underground utilities, and store data for each of the detected underground utilities in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A processor-implemented method, comprising:
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directing probe signals into a subsurface from each of a plurality of at- or above-ground locations defining a survey region; producing position data at each of the at- or above-ground locations; measuring a soil parameter within a volume of earth that influences measurement of subsurface depth for the survey region; detecting underground utilities within the volume of earth of the subsurface for the survey region; associating position and depth data for each of the detected underground utilities using a processor; and storing underground utility detection data in a memory.
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Specification