Methods, apparatus and systems for generating digital-media-enhanced searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations

• US 9,189,821 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• 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, Block, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/194,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

Generating a digital-media-enhanced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician. The locate and/or marking operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate 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 may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark is electronically rendered on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation. At least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area is also electronically rendered on the display device, so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.

Claims

1. A method for generating a digital-media-enhanced 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 applied by the locate technician on ground, pavement, or other surface, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, the method comprising:

A) receiving a locate request ticket identifying the dig area;

B) electronically rendering, on a display device, a location of the at least one underground facility that was located and/or identified during performance of the locate and/or marking operation and/or the at least one physical locate mark that was applied during performance of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the locate and/or marking operation is performed after generation of and pursuant to the 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 absence of the at least one underground facility at the dig area as indicated in the locate request ticket;

C) electronically rendering, on the display device, at least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and

D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the at least one digital media file representation includes at least one of;

a photograph or image representing the corresponding digital media file;

an icon representing a digital media source that generated the corresponding digital media file; and

a label identifying a time and/or a date at which the corresponding digital media file was captured or generated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

electronically receiving location information regarding the location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark from at least one user input device associated with the display device;

wherein B) comprises electronically rendering the location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark based at least in part on the received location information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one user input device comprises a stylus.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one user input device comprises a touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) electronically receiving location information regarding the location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark from a locating and/or marking device used in connection with the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein C) comprises electronically rendering the location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark based at least in part on the location information received in E).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the locating and/or marking device is a GPS-enabled locating and/or marking device, and wherein the location information received in E) comprises geographic coordinates.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the GPS-enabled device is a marking device configured to apply the at least one physical locate mark to the dig area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the marking device is a paint wand.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the GPS-enabled device is a locating device configured to identify an underground facility in the dig area.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the GPS-enabled device is a combined locating/marking device configured to both identify an underground facility in the dig area and apply the at least one physical locate mark to the dig area.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) electronically receiving the corresponding digital media file from an external digital media source,

wherein C) comprises electronically rendering, on the display device, the at least one digital media file representation based on the corresponding digital media file received in E).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein D) further comprises:

electronically storing the corresponding digital media file and the information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the corresponding digital media file includes at least one of:

at least one photograph or image;

at least one movie; and

at least one sound clip.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) electronically receiving a digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area,

wherein B) comprises electronically rendering the location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical mark overlaid on at least a portion of the digital image; and

wherein C) comprises electronically rendering the at least one digital medial file representation overlaid on the at least a portion of the digital image.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the corresponding digital media file includes at least one of;

at least one photograph or image;

at least one movie; and

at least one sound clip.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein C) comprises:

C1) electronically rendering, on the display device, the at least one digital media file representation at a display position corresponding to a media source location at which the corresponding digital media file was captured and/or generated.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein C1) comprises:

C1a) manually selecting the display position using at least one user input device associated with the display device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

E) displaying on the display device a window or folder containing the corresponding digital media file,

wherein C1a) comprises;

dragging the corresponding digital media file from the displayed window or folder to the display position using the at least one user input device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the corresponding digital media file includes geo-location metadata representing the media source location at which the corresponding digital media file was captured and/or generated, and wherein C1) comprises:

automatically determining the display position based on the geo-location metadata.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the corresponding digital media file includes a photograph, and wherein C1) comprises:

automatically determining the display position and an orientation of the at least one digital media file representation based on the geo-location metadata.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein:

B) comprises digitally representing, as part of at least one first display layer, the location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark;

C) comprises digitally representing, as part of at least one second display layer, the at least one digital media file representation; and

the method further comprises;

E) providing for independent enabling and disabling for display of the at least one first display layer and/or the at least one second display layer.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

E) selecting the at least one digital media file representation, using at least one user input device associated with the display device, so as to enlarge the at least one digital media file representation or open the corresponding digital media file.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the corresponding digital media file is a movie or a sound clip; and

in response to E), the method opens the movie or the sound clip, and further comprises displaying on the display device playback controls for the movie or the sound clip.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium device encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for generating a digital-media-enhanced 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 applied by the locate technician on ground, pavement, or other surface, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, the method comprising:

A) receiving a locate request ticket identifying the dig area;

B) digitally representing, on a display device, a location of the at least one underground facility that was located and/or identified during performance of the locate and/or marking operation and/or the at least one physical locate mark that was applied during performance of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the locate and/or marking operation is performed after generation of and pursuant to the 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 absence of the at least one underground facility at the dig area as indicated in the locate request ticket;

C) digitally representing, on the display device, at least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and

D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the at least one digital media file representation includes at least one of;

a photograph or image representing the corresponding digital media file;

an icon representing a digital media source that generated the corresponding digital media file; and

a label identifying a time and/or a date at which the corresponding digital media file was captured or generated.

25. An apparatus for generating a digital-media-enhanced 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 applied by the locate technician on ground, pavement, or other surface, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

a display device;

a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

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

A) receives a locate request ticket identifying the dig area;

B) controls the display device to display a base image of a geographic area surrounding and including the dig area, and a location of the at least one underground facility that was located and/or identified during performance of the locate and/or marking operation and/or the at least one physical locate mark that was applied during performance of the locate and/or marking operation overlaid on the base image, so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the locate and/or marking operation is performed after generation of and pursuant to the 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 absence of the at least one underground facility at the dig area as indicated in the locate request ticket;

C) controls the display device to display on the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation at least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and

D) controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the at least one digital media file representation includes at least one of;

a photograph or image representing the corresponding digital media file;

an icon representing a digital media source that generated the corresponding digital media file; and

a label identifying a time and/or a date at which the corresponding digital media file was captured or generated.

26. A method for generating a digital-media-enhanced 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 applied by the locate technician on ground, pavement, or other surface, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, the method comprising:

A) receiving a locate request ticket identifying the dig area;

B) electronically receiving a digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area;

C) electronically rendering, on a display device, the digital image received in B) and a location of the at least one underground facility that was located and/or identified during performance of the locate and/or marking operation and/or the at least one physical locate mark that was applied during performance of the locate and/or marking operation, overlaid on at least a portion of the digital image, so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation,

wherein the locate and/or marking operation is performed after generation of and pursuant to the 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 absence of the at least one underground facility at the dig area as indicated in the locate request ticket;

D) electronically receiving at least one digital media file from an external digital media source, wherein the at least one digital media file relates to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area, and wherein the at least one digital media file includes at least one of at least one photograph, at least one movie, and at least one sound clip;

E) electronically rendering, on the display device, at least one digital media file representation corresponding to the at least one digital media file, wherein the at least one digital media file representation is overlaid on the digital image, so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and

F) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one digital media file and information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation;

wherein the at least one digital media file representation includes at least one of;

a photograph or image representing the corresponding digital media file;

an icon representing a digital media source that generated the corresponding digital media file; and

a label identifying a time and/or a date at which the corresponding digital media file was captured or generated.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein E) comprises:

E1) electronically rendering, on the display device, the at least one digital media file representation at a display position corresponding to a media source location at which the corresponding digital media file was captured and/or generated.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the corresponding digital media file includes geo-location metadata representing the media source location at which the corresponding digital media file was captured and/or generated, and wherein E1) comprises:

automatically determining the display position based on the geo-location metadata.