Methods, apparatus and systems for requesting underground facility locate and marking operations and managing associated notifications

• US 8,280,969 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/824,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709217-219
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one notification indicating a status of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to inform at least one party associated with requesting the operation (a “requesting party,” e.g., an excavator, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, a damage investigator, etc.) of the status of the operation. In one aspect, a requesting party may designate a preferred format, content, and/or method of receiving notifications regarding the locate and/or marking operation. In another aspect, a computer-generated GUI is provided to facilitate submission of requests, generation of “virtual white line” images to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site, and/or selection of notifications and preferences for same. In yet another aspect, a requesting party may provide an acknowledgement of receipt (e.g., a “return receipt”) for one or more received notifications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking 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 apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit;

electronically receives locate request information via the communication interface;

based at least in part on the locate request information, generates a locate request ticket;

controls the communication interface to receive input regarding a notification type and/or a notification communication method for at least one notification indicating a status and/or providing information relating to the performance of the locate and/or marking operation;

generates the at least one notification based at least in part on the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and

further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one notification so as to inform at least one party associated with providing the locate request information of the status and/or performance of the locate and/or marking operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit the locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate operation and/or marking operation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically store the locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate operation and/or marking operation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

electronically receives, via the communication interface, second input relating to the dig area;

based on the second input, renders a digital virtual white line image including at least one dig area indicator to provide at least one indication of the dig area with respect to a geographic area;

controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the digital virtual white line image.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit:

controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the information relating to the digital virtual white line image as part of the locate request ticket.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit:

electronically receives source data representing at least one input image of the geographic area including the dig area; and

renders the digital virtual white line image such that the at least one dig area indicator is overlaid on at least a portion of the at least one input image.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one input image comprises at least one map of the geographic area.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one map of the geographic area includes one or more of:

a street/road map, a topographical map, a military map, a parcel map, a tax map, a town or county planning map, a polygon map, a facilities map, and a virtual map.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the source data comprises geo-encoded information relating to the geographical area.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one input image comprises at least one photographic image.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification comprises status information about the locate and/or marking operation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the status information relates to at least one event occurring during and/or after the detecting and/or marking.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

controls the communication interface to receive the input relating to the status of the locate and/or marking operation at least once after dispatch of at least one locate technician to the dig area but before completion of the locate and/or marking operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one notification in real time so as to inform the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request information of a current status of the locate and/or marking operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that a locate technician has been dispatched to the dig area.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates a location of a locate technician assigned to the locate and/or marking operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation has been certified to meet a quality standard and/or approved.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that certification and/or approval of the locate and/or marking operation is pending.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation has been delayed.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates an expiration time of the locate request ticket with respect to a current time.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that excavation may begin within the dig area.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the detecting and/or marking is in progress.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation is complete.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one notification comprises performance information about the locate and/or marking operation.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises a digital virtual white line image indicating the dig area.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic copy of a completed locate request ticket.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an assessment of a risk of excavation in the dig area.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises a description of conditions in and/or around the dig area.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic manifest image showing details of the locate and/or marking operation.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the electronic manifest image of the locate and/or marking operation is stored and/or transmitted as a limited access file.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

generates the at least one notification based at least in part on data from a data-enabled marking device.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the memory to store in a user profile the notification type and/or the notification communication method.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the user profile defines default preferences for the notification type and/or the notification communication method with respect to a user associated with the user profile.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second input includes the notification communication method, and the notification communication method includes one or more of an email, an SMS text message, an instant message, a phone call, a pager message, and a rich site summary (RSS) feed.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input is based at least in part on at least one regulation that mandates the notification type and/or the notification communication method in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input is based at least in part on at least one contract that requires the notification type and/or the notification communication method in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a user interface comprising a display, and wherein the processing unit:

controls the communication interface to render a graphical user interface on the display to facilitate receiving the input regarding the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and

controls the user interface to receive the input.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a notification type menu comprising a menu option corresponding to the notification type.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a notification communication method menu comprising a menu option corresponding to the notification communication method.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface to electronically transmit the at least one notification, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one notification is transmitted as a limited access file.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one notification such that the at least one notification is accessible via a web site.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the web site comprises a map showing a location of the at least one locate technician.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the web site comprises an electronic manifest showing details of the locate and/or marking operation and/or an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the electronic manifest and/or the electronic representation comprises aggregated information from a plurality of sources.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a plurality of locate technicians.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the web site comprises aggregated information relating to a plurality of locate and/or marking operations.

48. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface to electronically transmit the at least one notification, and wherein the at least one notification includes a link to a web site.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the web site comprises a map showing a location of the at least one locate technician.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the web site comprises an electronic manifest showing details of the locate and/or marking operation and/or an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the electronic manifest and/or the electronic representation comprises aggregated information from a plurality of sources.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a plurality of locate technicians.

53. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the web site comprises aggregated information relating to a plurality of locate and/or marking operations.

54. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

further controls the communication interface to transmit a message soliciting confirmation that the at least one notification was received and/or accessed by the at least one party associated with providing the locate request information.

55. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one party associated with providing the locate request information includes one or more of an excavator, an excavation company, a one-call center, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, and a damage investigator.

56. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking 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) electronically receiving locate request information;

B) based at least in part on the locate request information, generating a locate request ticket;

C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate and/or marking operation;

D) electronically receiving input regarding a notification type and/or a notification communication method for at least one notification indicating a status and/or providing information relating to the performance of the locate and/or marking operation;

E) generating the at least one notification based at least in part on the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and

F) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one notification so as to inform at least one party associated with providing the locate request information of the status and/or performance of the locate and/or marking operation.

57. A method for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking 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) electronically receiving locate request information;

B) based at least in part on the locate request information, generating a locate request ticket;

C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate and/or marking operation;

D) electronically receiving input regarding a notification type and/or a notification communication method for at least one notification indicating a status and/or providing information relating to the performance of the locate and/or marking operation;

E) generating the at least one notification based at least in part on the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and

F) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one notification so as to inform at least one party associated with providing the locate request information of the status and/or performance of the locate and/or marking operation.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein F) comprises electronically transmitting the at least one notification to the at least one party associated with providing the locate request information.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the at least one party associated with providing the locate request information includes one or more of an excavator, an excavation company, a one-call center, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, and a damage investigator.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

electronically transmitting the locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate operation and/or marking operation.

61. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

electronically storing the locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate operation and/or marking operation.

62. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

electronically receiving second input relating to the dig area;

based on the second input, rendering a digital virtual white line image including at least one dig area indicator to provide at least one indication of the dig area with respect to a geographic area; and

electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the digital virtual white line image.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the information relating to the digital virtual white line image as part of the locate request ticket.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

electronically receiving source data representing at least one input image of the geographic area including the dig area; and

rendering the digital virtual white line image such that the at least one dig area indicator is overlaid on at least a portion of the at least one input image.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one input image comprises at least one map of the geographic area.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the at least one map of the geographic area includes one or more of:

a street/road map, a topographical map, a military map, a parcel map, a tax map, a town or county planning map, a polygon map, a facilities map, and a virtual map.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the source data comprises geo-encoded information relating to the geographical area.

68. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one input image comprises at least one photographic image.

69. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification comprises status information about the locate and/or marking operation.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the status information relates to at least one event occurring during and/or after the detecting and/or marking.

71. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

receiving the input relating to the status of the locate and/or marking operation at least once after dispatch of at least one locate technician to the dig area but before completion of the locate and/or marking operation.

72. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one notification in real time so as to inform the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request information of a current status of the locate and/or marking operation.

73. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that a locate technician has been dispatched to the dig area.

74. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates a location of a locate technician assigned to the locate and/or marking operation.

75. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation has been certified to meet a quality standard and/or approved.

76. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that certification and/or approval of the locate and/or marking operation is pending.

77. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation has been delayed.

78. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates an expiration time of the locate request ticket with respect to a current time.

79. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that excavation may begin within the dig area.

80. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the detecting and/or marking is in progress.

81. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation is complete.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the at least one notification comprises performance information about the locate and/or marking operation.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises a digital virtual white line image indicating the dig area.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic copy of a completed locate request ticket.

85. The method of claim 82, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an assessment of a risk of excavation in the dig area.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises a description of conditions in and/or around the dig area.

87. The method of claim 82, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation.

88. The method of claim 82, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic manifest image showing details of the locate and/or marking operation.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the electronic manifest image of the locate and/or marking operation is stored and/or transmitted as a limited access file.

90. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

generating the at least one notification based at least in part on data from a data-enabled marking device.

91. The method of claim 57, further comprising storing, in a user profile, the notification type and/or the notification communication method.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the user profile defines default preferences for the notification type and/or the notification communication method with respect to a user associated with the user profile.

93. The method of claim 57, wherein the second input includes the notification communication method, and the notification communication method includes one or more of an email, an SMS text message, an instant message, a phone call, a pager message, and a rich site summary (RSS) feed.

94. The method of claim 57, wherein the input is based at least in part on at least one regulation that mandates the notification type and/or the notification communication method in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

95. The method of claim 57, wherein the input is based at least in part on at least one contract that requires the notification type and/or the notification communication method in connection with the locate and/or marking operation.

96. The method of claim 57, wherein C), D) and E) are performed via a user interface comprising a display, the method further comprising:

rendering a graphical user interface on the display to facilitate receiving the input regarding the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and

controls the user interface to receive the input.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a notification type menu comprising a menu option corresponding to the notification type.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a notification communication method menu comprising a menu option corresponding to the notification communication method.

99. The method of claim 57, further comprising electronically transmitting the at least one notification, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one notification is transmitted as a limited access file.

100. The method of claim 57, further comprising electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one notification such that the at least one notification is accessible via a web site.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the web site comprises a map showing a location of the at least one locate technician.

102. The method of claim 100, wherein the web site comprises an electronic manifest showing details of the locate and/or marking operation and/or an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the electronic manifest and/or the electronic representation comprises aggregated information from a plurality of sources.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a plurality of locate technicians.

105. The method of claim 100, wherein the web site comprises aggregated information relating to a plurality of locate and/or marking operations.

106. The method of claim 57, further comprising electronically transmitting the at least one notification, and wherein the at least one notification includes a link to a web site.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the web site comprises a map showing a location of the at least one locate technician.

108. The method of claim 106, wherein the web site comprises an electronic manifest showing details of the locate and/or marking operation and/or an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the electronic manifest and/or the electronic representation comprises aggregated information from a plurality of sources.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a plurality of locate technicians.

111. The method of claim 106, wherein the web site comprises aggregated information relating to a plurality of locate and/or marking operations.

112. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

transmitting a message soliciting confirmation that the at least one notification was received and/or accessed by the at least one party associated with providing the locate request information.

113. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one party associated with providing the locate request information includes one or more of an excavator, an excavation company, a one-call center, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, and a damage investigator.