METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING TECHNICIAN WORKFLOWS FOR LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS

• US 20110035245A1
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/837,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/203 comprising an extension rod located between the aerosol container and the hand grip setting-out line markings on playing courts A63C19/065; marking-out on finished paving by spraying from aerosol containers E01C23/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

Processing a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A workflow for the locate and/or marking operation is acquired, wherein the workflow comprises a series of tasks to be performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation. One or more workflow outputs are displayed on a display device in accordance with the workflow, wherein each workflow output is generated based at least in part on at least one of the series of tasks in the workflow. A status of at least one task of the series of tasks is determined based on at least one input received in connection with the locate and/or marking operation, and an updated workflow is generated based at least in part on the determined status.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed by at least one processor for processing a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

A) acquiring the workflow for the locate and/or marking operation, the workflow comprising a series of tasks to be performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation;

B) displaying, on a display device, one or more workflow outputs in accordance with the workflow, each workflow output being generated based at least in part on at least one of the series of tasks in the workflow;

C) determining a status of at least one task of the series of tasks based on at least one input received in connection with the locate and/or marking operation; and

D) generating an updated workflow based at least in part on the status determined in C).

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one task comprises detecting and/or marking a first type of underground facilities, and wherein C) comprises:

determining whether at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining whether at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked comprises:

determining whether at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked electronically.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked electronically by logging a geo-location of detected facilities in response to an activation of an actuator.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one task comprises verifying an actual performance location at which the locate and/or marking operation is performed, and wherein C) comprises:

comparing first location information provided by a location tracking system and indicative of the actual performance location, against second location information derived from the acquired ticket information and indicative of a designated work site and/or dig area.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input used in C) to determine the status of the at least one task comprises a user input received via a user input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the user input is received from a locate technician dispatched to perform the locate and/or marking operation, the user input indicating that the locate technician has completed the at least one task or is unable to complete the at least one task.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user input indicates that the locate technician is unable to complete the at least one task, and wherein C) further comprises:

prompting the locate technician to provide an explanation as to why the locate technician is unable to complete the at least one task.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input used in C) to determine the status of the at least one task is provided by a piece of locating equipment used by a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation, the at least one input comprising locating equipment data collected using at least one input device associated with the piece of locating equipment.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the locate equipment data comprises locate signal information provided by detection electronics of the piece of locating equipment.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the locating equipment data comprises marking material information provided by a marking material detection mechanism of the piece of locating equipment.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the locating equipment data comprises landmark information indicating a location of a selected landmark, the landmark information provided by a location tracking system of the piece of locating equipment.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the locating equipment data comprises timing information provided by a timing system of the piece of locating equipment.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the locating equipment data comprises environmental information provided by at least one environmental sensor of the piece of locating equipment.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the locating equipment data comprises operational information provided by at least one operational sensor of the piece of locating equipment.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

modifying the workflow based at least in part on the locating equipment data

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein modifying the workflow comprises:

inserting to the workflow an additional task; and

/or

modifying an existing task in the workflow.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more workflow outputs comprises a popup window that provides to a locate technician one or more instructions regarding the at least one task.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more workflow outputs comprises a plurality of checklist items to be completed by a locate technician in connection with the at least one task.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) generating, based on the updated workflow, a summary report of tasks performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) generating, based on the updated workflow, an invoice or receipt for the locate and/or marking operation.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) providing information relating to the updated workflow to at least one business application of at least one party associated with the locate and/or marking operation, wherein the information is analyzed and/or used by the at least one business application.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the at least one business application is implemented on a remote computer, and wherein E) comprises:

transmitting the information relating to the updated workflow to the remote computer.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the at least one business application includes at least one of:

a technician scheduling and dispatch application;

an employee evaluation application;

a quality assessment application;

a data analysis application;

an excavator notification application;

a risk assessment application;

a ticket approval application; and

a billing application.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) prior to completion of the locate and/or marking operation, providing, via at least one user interface, at least one indication to a locate technician with regard to the at least one task.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a visual indicator, and wherein providing the at least one indication comprises providing the at least one indication as a visual indication via the visual indicator.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the at least one user interface comprises an audible indicator, and wherein providing the at least one indication comprises providing the at least one indication as an audible indication via the audible indicator.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a tactile indicator, and wherein providing the at least one indication comprises providing the at least one indication as a tactile indication via the tactile indicator.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) analyzing the updated workflow to determine whether there is a discrepancy between expected and actual outcomes of the locate and/or marking operation; and

F) when it is determined that there is a discrepancy, notifying the locate technician of the discrepancy.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

G) logging information regarding the discrepancy in a summary report associated with the workflow.

36. The system of claim 1, further comprising a location tracking system, wherein the at least one task comprises verifying an actual performance location at which the locate and/or marking operation is performed, and wherein in C), the at least one processor further:

compares first location information provided by the location tracking system and indicative of the actual performance location, against second location information derived from the acquired ticket information and indicative of a designated work site and/or dig area.

37. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one input used in C) to determine the status of the at least one task comprises a user input received via the user input device.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the user input is received from a locate technician dispatched to perform the locate and/or marking operation, the user input indicating that the locate technician has completed the at least one task or is unable to complete the at least one task.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the user input indicates that the locate technician is unable to complete the at least one task, and wherein C) further comprises:

prompting the locate technician to provide an explanation as to why the locate technician is unable to complete the at least one task.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input used in C) to determine the status of the at least one task is provided by a piece of locating equipment used by a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation, the at least one input comprising locating equipment data collected using at least one input device associated with the piece of locating equipment.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the locate equipment data comprises locate signal information provided by detection electronics of the piece of locating equipment.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the locating equipment data comprises marking material information provided by a marking material detection mechanism of the piece of locating equipment.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the locating equipment data comprises landmark information indicating a location of a selected landmark, the landmark information provided by a location tracking system of the piece of locating equipment.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the locating equipment data comprises timing information provided by a timing system of the piece of locating equipment.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the locating equipment data comprises environmental information provided by at least one environmental sensor of the piece of locating equipment.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the locating equipment data comprises operational information provided by at least one operational sensor of the piece of locating equipment.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor further:

E) modifies the workflow based at least in part on the locating equipment data.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein in E), the at least one processor:

inserts to the workflow an additional task; and

/or

modifies an existing task in the workflow.

49. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more workflow outputs comprises a popup window that provides to a locate technician one or more instructions regarding the at least one task.

50. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more workflow outputs comprises a plurality of checklist items to be completed by a locate technician in connection with the at least one task.

51. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further:

E) generates, based on the updated workflow, a summary report of tasks performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

52. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further:

E) generates, based on the updated workflow, an invoice or receipt for the locate and/or marking operation.

53. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further:

E) provides information relating to the updated workflow to at least one business application of at least one party associated with the locate and/or marking operation, wherein the information is analyzed and/or used by the at least one business application.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the at least one business application is implemented on a remote computer, and wherein the processor controls the at least one communication interface so as to transmit to the remote computer the information relating to the updated workflow.

55. The system of claim 54, further including the remote computer, wherein the at least one business application includes at least one of:

a technician scheduling and dispatch application;

an employee evaluation application;

a quality assessment application;

a data analysis application;

an excavator notification application;

a risk assessment application;

a ticket approval application; and

a billing application.

56. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further:

E) prior to completion of the locate and/or marking operation, provides, via at least one user interface, at least one indication to a locate technician with regard to the at least one task.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a visual indicator, and wherein in E), the at least one processor provides the at least one indication as a visual indication via the visual indicator.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one user interface comprises an audible indicator, and wherein in E), the at least one processor provides the at least one indication as an audible indication via the audible indicator.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a tactile indicator, and wherein in E), the at least one processor provides the at least one indication as a tactile indication via the tactile indicator.

60. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further:

E) analyzes the updated workflow to determine whether there is a discrepancy between expected and actual outcomes of the locate and/or marking operation; and

F) when it is determined that there is a discrepancy, notifies the locate technician of the discrepancy.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the at least one processor further:

G) logs information regarding the discrepancy in a summary report associated with the workflow.

31. At least one computer-readable medium encoded with processor executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for processing a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

A) acquiring the workflow for the locate and/or marking operation, the workflow comprising a series of tasks to be performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation;

B) displaying, on a display device, one or more workflow outputs in accordance with the workflow, each workflow output being generated based at least in part on at least one of the series of tasks in the workflow;

C) determining a status of at least one task of the series of tasks based on at least one input received in connection with the locate and/or marking operation; and

D) generating an updated workflow based at least in part on the status determined in C).

32. A system for processing a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the system comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions;

a display device; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface, the at least one memory, and the display device, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processor;

A) controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory so as to acquire the workflow for the locate and/or marking operation, the workflow comprising a series of tasks to be performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation;

B) controls the display device so as to display one or more workflow outputs in accordance with the workflow, each workflow output being generated based at least in part on at least one of the series of tasks in the workflow;

C) determines a status of at least one task of the series of tasks based on at least one input received in connection with the locate and/or marking operation; and

D) generates an updated workflow based at least in part on the status determined in C).

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one task comprises detecting and/or marking a first type of underground facilities, and wherein in C), the at least one processor further:

determines whether at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein in C), the at least one processor :

determines whether at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked electronically.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one facility of the first type of underground facilities has been marked electronically by logging a geo-location of detected facilities in response to an activation of an actuator.