Electronically documenting locate operations for underground utilities
US8532341B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V10/245
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technician performs a locate operation of an underground utility in a dig area of proposed excavation by applying one or more physical colored markers (e.g., paint, flags, other colored markers) to ground, pavement or other surface to indicate a presence or an absence of the underground utility in the dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is displayed on a display device, and one or more electronic colored markers corresponding to the physical colored marker(s) are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to document the locate operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.