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

摘要

Generating an accuracy-referenced 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. An accuracy of the represented location is digitally represented on the display device using at least one accuracy indicator overlaid on the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate an accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the accuracy-referenced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.

主权项

1. A method for generating an accuracy-referenced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician, the method comprising:
A) digitally representing, on a display device, a location of 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 as performed by the locate technician, the locate and/or marking operation comprising:
receiving a locate request ticket identifying a dig area, wherein a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities; andin response to the locate request ticket, locating, and/or identifying using at least one physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within the dig area identified in the locate request ticket; B) digitally representing, on the display device, an accuracy of the represented location using at least one accuracy indicator overlaid on the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate an accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation; and C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate the accuracy-referenced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.