Methods and systems for managing underground assets
First Claim
1. A method executed by one or more computing devices for managing underground assets, said method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a request for clearance to excavate, the request including a location identifier provided by an excavator;
resolving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a location based on the location identifier by selecting the location from a plurality of potential locations received from a plurality of map service providers based at least in part on an accuracy value corresponding to each of the plurality of potential locations;
retrieving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database, wherein the asset location database includes location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets owned by a plurality of asset owners, wherein the asset location database is maintained by receiving a plurality of updates regarding the positions of the plurality of assets from a plurality of computing devices managed by the plurality of asset owners, wherein the location data is periodically updated by one or more of the plurality of asset owners;
generating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a buffer zone around the resolved location;
querying, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the buffer zone using the retrieved asset data to determine whether any assets are buried within the buffer zone;
transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, map data related to the determination of assets buried within the buffer zone, wherein the map data integrates land based data provided by at least one of the plurality of map service providers;
generating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a locate ticket for a locator when assets exist within the buffer zone that cannot be cleared based on automatic screening, the locate ticket including data which specifies at least the excavation location, the locate ticket being configured to direct the locator to travel to the excavation location to at least manually determine if underground assets are present or mark the location of underground assets; and
receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, information from the locator regarding at least one of confirmation of assets in the buffer zone and one or more additional assets in the buffer zone not identified in the asset data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for managing underground assets are disclosed. One or more computing devices may be used to receive a request for clearance to excavate including a location identifier, resolve a location based on the location identifier, and retrieve asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database. The asset location database can include location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets associated with a plurality of different asset owners and may be maintained by one or more updates regarding the positions of assets from computing devices associated with the different asset owners. The systems and methods can include determining if one or more assets are buried proximate the location based on the retrieved data and transmitting data related to the determination of assets buried proximate the location.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method executed by one or more computing devices for managing underground assets, said method comprising:
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receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a request for clearance to excavate, the request including a location identifier provided by an excavator; resolving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a location based on the location identifier by selecting the location from a plurality of potential locations received from a plurality of map service providers based at least in part on an accuracy value corresponding to each of the plurality of potential locations; retrieving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database, wherein the asset location database includes location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets owned by a plurality of asset owners, wherein the asset location database is maintained by receiving a plurality of updates regarding the positions of the plurality of assets from a plurality of computing devices managed by the plurality of asset owners, wherein the location data is periodically updated by one or more of the plurality of asset owners; generating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a buffer zone around the resolved location; querying, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the buffer zone using the retrieved asset data to determine whether any assets are buried within the buffer zone; transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, map data related to the determination of assets buried within the buffer zone, wherein the map data integrates land based data provided by at least one of the plurality of map service providers; generating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a locate ticket for a locator when assets exist within the buffer zone that cannot be cleared based on automatic screening, the locate ticket including data which specifies at least the excavation location, the locate ticket being configured to direct the locator to travel to the excavation location to at least manually determine if underground assets are present or mark the location of underground assets; and receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, information from the locator regarding at least one of confirmation of assets in the buffer zone and one or more additional assets in the buffer zone not identified in the asset data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for managing underground assets, said system comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to; receive a request for clearance to excavate, the request including a location identifier provided by an excavator; resolve a location based on the location identifier by selecting the location from a plurality of potential locations received from a plurality of map service providers based at least in part on an accuracy value corresponding to each of the plurality of potential locations; retrieve asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database, wherein the asset location database includes location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets owned by a plurality of asset owners, wherein the asset location database is maintained by receiving a plurality of updates regarding the positions of the plurality of assets from a plurality of computing devices managed by the plurality of asset owners, wherein the location data is periodically updated by one or more of the plurality of asset owners; generate a buffer zone around the resolved location; query the buffer zone using the retrieved asset data to determine whether any assets are buried within the buffer zone; transmit map data related to the determination of assets buried within the buffer zone, wherein the map data integrates land based data provided by at least one of the plurality of map service providers; generate a locate ticket for a locator when assets exist within the buffer zone that cannot be cleared based on automatic screening, the locate ticket including data which specifies at least the excavation location, the locate ticket being configured to direct the locator to travel to the excavation location to at least manually determine if underground assets are present or mark the location of underground assets; and receive information from the locator regarding at least one of confirmation of assets in the buffer zone and one or more additional assets in the buffer zone not identified in the asset data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:
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receive a request for clearance to excavate, the request including a location identifier provided by an excavator; resolve a location based on the location identifier by selecting the location from a plurality of potential locations received from a plurality of map service providers based at least in part on an accuracy value corresponding to each of the plurality of potential locations; retrieve asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database, wherein the asset location database includes location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets owned by a plurality of asset owners, wherein the asset location database is maintained by receiving a plurality of updates regarding the positions of the plurality of assets from a plurality of computing devices managed by the plurality of asset owners, wherein the location data is periodically updated by one or more of the plurality of asset owners; generate a buffer zone around the resolved location; query the buffer zone using the retrieved asset data to determine whether any assets are buried within the buffer zone; transmit map data related to the determination of assets buried within the buffer zone, wherein the map data integrates land based data provided by at least one of the plurality of map service providers; generate a locate ticket au for a locator when assets exist within the buffer zone that cannot be cleared based on automatic screening, the locate ticket including data which specifies at least the excavation location, the locate ticket being configured to direct the locator to travel to the excavation location to at least manually determine if underground assets are present or mark the location of underground assets; and receive information from the locator regarding at least one of confirmation of assets in the buffer zone and one or more additional assets in the buffer zone not identified in the asset data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification