Management system, and associated methods and apparatus, for dispatching tickets, receiving field information, and performing a quality assessment for underground facility locate and/or marking operations

• US 8,626,571 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• 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): Pats, Justin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goldberg, Ivan R
• Application Number:
  US12/833,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.13, 705/7.38, 705/7.39, 705/7.41, 705/7.42, 702/5, 702/182, 324/326
• US Class Current: 705/7.41
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• 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 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/165 Land development
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

An electronically generated locate request ticket identifying a dig area includes first image data associated with the dig area. The first image data includes one or both of: i) a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, wherein the marked-up image includes at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and ii) geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator. The locate request ticket is electronically transmitted to at least one entity associated with the locate operation. A completed locate request ticket is electronically received including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed. The completed locate request ticket is electronically processed so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation. Information relating to the completed ticket and/or the quality assessment is electronically stored and/or transmitted so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for requesting and assessing a locate operation, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to a locate request ticket, 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 coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit;

A) generates the locate request ticket identifying the dig area, the locate request ticket including or having electronically associated therewith first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of;

a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and

geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator;

B) controls the communication interface to transmit the locate request ticket to at least one entity associated with the locate operation;

C) controls the communication interface to receive a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket comprising marking information including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by a field technician pursuant to the locate request ticket, the locate operation comprising;

identifying the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area using at least one physical locate mark placed by the field technician on ground, pavement or other surface within the dig area;

D) processes the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation by comparing the marking information in the completed locate request ticket to reference information so as to provide the quality assessment of the locate operation, wherein the reference information includes at least one of;

first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;

second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate operations; and

third information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to the dig area; and

E) controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image data includes the marked-up image, and wherein the marked-up image is attached to the locate request ticket as a separate image file.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image data includes the geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator, and the geographic information is included as part of the contents of the locate request ticket.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image data includes the marked-up image and the geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator, wherein the marked-up image is attached to the locate request ticket as a separate image file, and wherein the geographic information is included as metadata in the separate image file.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image data includes the marked-up image and the geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator, wherein the marked-up image is attached to the locate request ticket as a separate image file, and wherein the geographic information is attached to the locate request ticket as a separate data file.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locate request ticket includes a link to a webpage including the first image data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in A), the processing unit further:

A1) assesses the first ticket information to provide assessment information relating to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the locate operation, wherein the locate request ticket includes the assessment information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit:

controls the communication interface so as to transmit to the at least one entity an email and/or a link to a webpage including the locate request ticket.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit:

controls the communication interface so as to transmit to the at least one entity an email and/or a link to a webpage including the first image data.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit the locate request ticket to at least one locate contractor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit the locate request ticket to at least one facility owner of the at least one underground facility.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit the locate request ticket to at least one municipality.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit the locate request ticket to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the field technician to perform the locate operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to receive the completed locate request ticket from at least one locate contractor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to receive the completed locate request ticket from at least one facility owner of the at least one underground facility.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to receive the completed locate request ticket from at least one municipality.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to receive the completed locate request ticket from at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the field technician to perform the locate operation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising the at least one piece of locating equipment, wherein the at least one piece of locating equipment includes at least one of:

at least one intelligent marking device to provide the marking information;

at least one intelligent locate device to provide locate information, wherein the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the locate information; and

at least one intelligent combined locate and marking device to provide the marking information and/or the locate information.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

in C), the marking information in the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and the processing unit processes the non-image data so as to generate at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation, the at least one electronic manifest including the second image data on which at least some of the non-image data is overlaid.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the marking information in the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and wherein the non-image data includes at least one of:

a timestamp for the locate operation;

geographic information associated with the dig area; and

at least one identifier for the field technician and/or a locate company.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the marking information includes at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electronic manifest further includes at least one of locate information and landmark information.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electronic manifest includes an updated marked-up image, and wherein the updated marked-up image includes the at least one dig area indicator.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the electronic manifest includes

at least one electronic locate mark to digitally represent a location of the at least one physical locate mark applied to the dig area during the locate operation.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further:

E1) encrypts at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable, secure and unalterable electronic record of the locate operation.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further:

E1) controls the communication interface and/or the memory so as to allow access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment only for a limited time period.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further:

E1) controls the communication interface and/or the memory so as to allow access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment via a log-in procedure so as to facilitate secure access to the information.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further:

E1) controls the communication interface and/or the memory so as to allow access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further:

E1) controls the communication interface so as to receive one or more search indicia associated with the locate operation; and

E2) implements a search engine so as to provide access to and/or transmit, in response to E1), at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface so as to transmit to at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation at least one notification indicating at least one of

a status of the locate operation;

a disposition of the field technician; and

at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface so as to receive at least one acknowledgement of receipt of the at least one notification.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface so as to transmit to the at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation information relating to a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to:

facilitate submission of a locate request;

generate image information to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site including the dig area; and

/or

facilitate selection of a communication mode and/or a content for the at least one notification.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further electronically marks the completed locate request ticket as approved if the locate operation represented by the completed locate request ticket complies with a predetermined quality standard, so as to provide an approved completed locate request ticket.

34. A method for requesting and assessing a locate operation, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to a locate request ticket, 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) using at least one processing unit, electronically generating the locate request ticket identifying the dig area, the locate request ticket including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of;

a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and

geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator;

B) using at least one communication interface, electronically transmitting the locate request ticket to at least one entity associated with the locate operation;

C) using the at least one communication interface, electronically receiving a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket comprising marking information including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by a field technician pursuant to the locate request ticket, the locate operation comprising;

identifying the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area using at least one physical locate mark placed by the field technician on ground, pavement or other surface within the dig area;

D) using the at least one processing unit, electronically processing the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation by comparing the marking information in the completed locate request ticket to reference information so as to provide the quality assessment of the locate operation, wherein the reference information includes at least one of;

first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;

second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate operations; and

third information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to the dig area; and

E) using the at least one communication interface and/or at least one memory, electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first image data includes the marked-up image, and wherein A) comprises:

attaching the marked-up image to the locate request ticket as a separate image file.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the first image data includes the geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator, and wherein A) comprises:

including the geographic information as part of the contents of the locate request ticket.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the first image data includes the marked-up image and the geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator, and wherein A) comprises:

attaching the marked-up image to the locate request ticket as a separate image file; and

including the geographic information as metadata in the separate image file.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the first image data includes the marked-up image and the geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator, and wherein A) comprises:

attaching the marked-up image to the locate request ticket as a separate image file; and

attaching the geographic information to the locate request ticket as a separate data file.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein in A), the locate request ticket includes a link to a webpage including the first image data.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein A) comprises:

A1) assessing the first ticket information to provide assessment information relating to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the locate operation, wherein the locate request ticket includes the assessment information.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein B) comprises:

transmitting to the at least one entity an email and/or a link to a webpage including the locate request ticket.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein B) comprises:

transmitting to the at least one entity an email and/or a link to a webpage including the first image data.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein B) comprises:

transmitting the locate request ticket to at least one locate contractor.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein B) comprises:

transmitting the locate request ticket to at least one facility owner of the at least one underground facility.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein B) comprises:

transmitting the locate request ticket to at least one municipality.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein B) comprises:

transmitting the locate request ticket to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the field technician to perform the locate operation.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein C) comprises:

receiving the completed locate request ticket from at least one locate contractor.

48. The method of claim 34, wherein C) comprises:

receiving the completed locate request ticket from at least one facility owner of the at least one underground facility.

49. The method of claim 34, wherein C) comprises:

receiving the completed locate request ticket from at least one municipality.

50. The method of claim 34, wherein C) comprises:

receiving the completed locate request ticket from at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the field technician to perform the locate operation.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein in C), the completed locate request ticket is electronically received from the at least one piece of locating equipment, and wherein the at least one piece of locating equipment includes at least one of:

at least one intelligent marking device to provide the marking information;

at least one intelligent locate device to provide locate information, wherein the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the locate information; and

at least one intelligent combined locate and marking device to provide the marking information and/or the locate information.

52. The method of claim 34, wherein in C), the marking information in the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and wherein the non-image data includes at least one of:

a timestamp for the locate operation;

geographic information associated with the dig area; and

at least one identifier for the field technician and/or a locate company.

53. The method of claim 34, wherein in C), the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and wherein C) further comprises:

processing the non-image data so as to generate at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation, the at least one electronic manifest including the second image data on which at least some of the non-image data is overlaid.

54. The method of claim 34, wherein in C), the marking information includes at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the electronic manifest further includes at least one of locate information and landmark information provided by the at least one piece of locating equipment and/or the at least one locate personnel device.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the electronic manifest includes an updated marked-up image, and wherein the updated marked-up image includes the at least one dig area indicator.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the electronic manifest includes

at least one electronic locate mark to digitally represent a location of the at least one physical locate mark applied to the dig area during the locate operation.

58. The method of claim 34, wherein E) further comprises:

E1) encrypting at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable, secure and unalterable electronic record of the locate operation.

59. The method of claim 34, wherein E) further comprises:

E1) allowing electronic access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment only for a limited time period.

60. The method of claim 34, wherein E) further comprises:

E1) allowing electronic access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment via a log-in procedure so as to facilitate secure access to the information.

61. The method of claim 34, wherein E) further comprises:

E1) allowing electronic access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee.

62. The method of claim 34, wherein E) further comprises:

E1) electronically receiving one or more search indicia associated with the locate operation; and

E2) implementing a search engine so as to provide access to and/or transmit, in response to E1), at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee.

63. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

electronically transmitting to at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation at least one notification indicating at least one of

a status of the locate operation;

a disposition of the field technician; and

at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

electronically receiving at least one acknowledgement of receipt of the at least one notification.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

electronically transmitting to the at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation information relating to a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to;

facilitate submission of a locate request;

generate image information to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site including the dig area; and

/or

facilitate selection of a communication mode and/or a content for the at least one notification.

66. The method of claim 34, further comprising electronically marking the completed locate request ticket as approved if the locate operation represented by the completed locate request ticket complies with a predetermined quality standard, so as to provide an approved completed locate request ticket.

67. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for requesting and assessing a locate operation, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to a locate request ticket, 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 generating the locate request ticket identifying the dig area, the locate request ticket including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of;

a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and

geographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator;

B) electronically transmitting the locate request ticket to at least one entity associated with the locate operation;

C) electronically receiving a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket comprising marking information including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by a field technician pursuant to the locate request ticket, the locate operation comprising;

identifying the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area using at least one physical locate mark placed by the field technician on ground, pavement or other surface within the dig area;

D) electronically processing the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation by comparing the marking information in the completed locate request ticket to reference information so as to provide the quality assessment of the locate operation, wherein the reference information includes at least one of;

first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;

second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate operations; and

third information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to the dig area; and

E) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.