Methods, apparatus and systems for generating searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations and assessing aspects of same

摘要

A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation.

主权项

1. A method for assessing at least one aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation, the method comprising:
A) digitally representing, on a display device, at least one underground facility and/or at least one physical locate mark so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation, the locate and/or marking operation being performed by the locate technician in response to a locate request ticket and comprising locating the at least one underground facility within a dig area, and/or identifying using at least one physical locate mark a presence or an absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities; B) determining, by at least one processor, a length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented at least one underground facility and/or the digitally represented at least one physical locate mark that is present in the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and C) based at least in part on the length determined in B), automatically assessing, by the at least one processor, the at least one aspect relating to the locate and/or marking operation, wherein the at least one aspect includes a cost associated with the locate and/or marking operation, and wherein in C) the cost associated with the locate and/or marking operation is automatically assessed by the at least one processor based on the length determined in B) and at least one of:
a price per unit length associated with the digitally represented at least one underground facility and/or the digitally represented at least one physical locate mark that is present in the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation;at least one environmental feature that is present in the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation;a number of tie-downs that are present in the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation;at least one type of the at least one underground facility; anda location of the dig area.