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

摘要

Generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician. The locate operation comprises 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 bare grid is displayed on display device and, via a user input device associated with the display device, at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark is added to the displayed bare grid so as to generate a marked-up grid including the at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark. Information relating to the marked-up grid is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.

主权项

1. A method for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, the method comprising:
A) displaying, on a display device, a bare grid; B) adding to the displayed bare grid, via a user input device associated with the display device, at least one digital representation of at least one physical locate mark so as to generate a marked-up grid including the at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark, wherein:
the at least one physical locate mark includes at least one of paint and a flag; andthe at least one physical locate mark is applied during the locate operation, the locate operation comprising, in response to a locate request ticket, identifying, using the 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 is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities; and C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the marked-up grid so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.