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Methods, apparatus and systems for generating location-corrected searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations

  • US 9,159,107 B2
  • Filed: 07/25/2011
  • Issued: 10/13/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for generating a corrected electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician, the locate and/or marking operation comprising locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate mark, a presence or an affirmative absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, the method comprising:

  • A) electronically receiving first information relating to a location of the at least one physical locate mark, the at least one physical locate mark including at least one of non-white paint and a non-white flag and the at least one physical locate mark is applied during the locate and/or marking operation, the locate and/or marking operation being performed after generation of and pursuant to a locate request ticket relating to the dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during prospective excavation activities, the locate and/or marking operation further comprising, in response to the locate request ticket, providing at least one visible warning to an excavator performing the prospective excavation activities, using the at least one physical locate mark, of the presence or the affirmative absence of the at least one underground facility at the dig area as indicated in the locate request ticket;

    B) based at least in part on the first information received in A), digitally representing, on a display device, the location of the at least one physical locate mark so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation;

    C) receiving second information relating to a corrected location of the at least one physical locate mark;

    D) based at least in part on the second information received in C), digitally representing, on the display device, the corrected location so as to generate a corrected electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and

    E) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing third information relating to the corrected representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the corrected electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.

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