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다음과 같은 기능을 한번의 로그인으로 사용 할 수 있습니다.
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Kafe 바로가기국가/구분 | United States(US) Patent 등록 |
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 | US-0704485 (2010-02-11) |
등록번호 | US-8700445 (2014-04-15) |
우선권정보 | CA-2691780 (2010-02-10) |
발명자 / 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 | 피인용 횟수 : 0 인용 특허 : 364 |
A holistic approach to management and oversight of locate and marking operations is provided. Initial requests to perform such operations are improved, and such requests are intelligently assessed to appropriately allocate resources to perform operations. Technicians are effectively dispatched and m
A holistic approach to management and oversight of locate and marking operations is provided. Initial requests to perform such operations are improved, and such requests are intelligently assessed to appropriately allocate resources to perform operations. Technicians are effectively dispatched and may be provided with process guides to facilitate performance. A host of information regarding the performance of locate operations and their environs is acquired (e.g., via improved intelligent instrumentation employed by technicians). A quality of operations (e.g., completeness, accuracy, efficiency) is assessed, corrective actions may be taken in essentially real-time as necessary, and information regarding operations and their quality assessments is archived for auditing purposes. Relevant information is communicated to one or more parties associated with the operations; in particular, requesting parties are apprised of the status of ongoing operations, and given confirmation that operations have been performed and are completed. Requesting parties and/or other interested parties (e.g., excavators, facility owners, locate contractors, municipalities, regulators, auditors, damage investigators, insurance companies, etc.) also may be provided with detailed information regarding the performance of operations and quality assessment of same.
1. An apparatus for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area at a work site of excavation activities, wherein
1. An apparatus for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area at a work site of excavation activities, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during the excavation activities, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface;a memory to store processor-executable instructions; anda processing unit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit,the processing unit: A) controls the communication interface to electronically receive first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of:a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; andgeographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator;B) controls the communication interface to transmit second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation,wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information; C) controls the communication interface to receive from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician, wherein:i) the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment includes a locate device and a marking device;ii) the locate operation as performed by the technician comprises: detecting the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area via the locate device used by the technician; andmarking, by actuating the marking device, the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area to place at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement or other surface within the dig area;(iii) the marking device generates marking information relating to the marking by the technician; and(iv) the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the marking information generated by the marking device;D) processes the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation by comparing the portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data including the at least some of the marking information to reference information so as to provide the quality assessment of the locate operation, and wherein the reference information includes at least one of: first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate operations; andthird information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to the dig area; andE) controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ticket information includes the at least one locate request ticket. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second ticket information includes the at least one locate request ticket. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second ticket information includes a process guide. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the process guide includes at least one of a work order, a checklist, and a workflow. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein in C) the processing unit further: C1) controls the communication interface to receive from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment technician input as part of performing the locate operation in response to the process guide. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein in C) the processing unit further: C1) controls the communication interface to receive from the at least one piece of locating equipment information collected by the locating equipment; andC2) analyzes the information collected by the locating equipment to facilitate performance of the locate operation via the process guide. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the second ticket information includes the first image data. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in A), the processing unit further: A1) assesses the first ticket information to provide assessment information relating to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the locate operation. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in A), the processing unit further: A1) processes the first ticket information and technician resource information so as to allocate the locate operation to the technician and/or schedule the technician to perform the locate operation. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein in A1), the processing unit further: allocates the locate operation to the technician and/or schedules the technician to perform the locate operation based at least in part on at least one of: a performance deadline for the locate operation;relevant shift times of available technicians as indicated in the technician resource information;job performance information and/or quality assessment information relating to the locate operation;one or more of a historical efficiency, a skill level and/or certification, and a security clearance of the technician;one or more environmental conditions associated with the dig area;weather conditions or traffic conditions relating to the dig area and/or access to the dig area;one or more contractual obligations relating to the locate operation; and one or more statutory and/or regulatory requirements relating to the locate operation. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein in A1), the processing unit: A1)(i) assesses the first ticket information to provide assessment information relating to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the locate operation; andA1)(ii) processes the assessment information and the at least the portion of technician resource information so as to allocate the locate operation to the technician and/or schedule the technician to perform the locate operation. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the at least one piece of locating equipment, wherein the at least one piece of locating equipment includes at least one of: the marking deviceat least one intelligent locate device to provide locate information, wherein at least a portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data of the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the locate information; andat least one intelligent combined locate and marking device comprising the marking device, to provide the marking information and the locate information, wherein at least a portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data of the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the marking information and at least some of the locate information. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the second image data and/or the non-image data of the completed locate request ticket includes information relating to at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electronic manifest includes at least one of: (i) the marking information provided by the marking device, (ii) locate information provided by the locate device and/or the at least one locate personnel device, and (iii) landmark information provided by the at least one piece of locating equipment and/or the at least one locate personnel device. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electronic manifest includes an updated marked-up image, and wherein the updated marked-up image includes the at least one dig area indicator. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electronic manifest includes at least one of: at least one electronic detection mark to digitally represent a first location at which the at least one underground facility is detected during the locate operation;at least one electronic locate mark to digitally represent a second location of at least one physical locate mark applied to the dig area during the locate operation; andat least one landmark indicator to digitally represent a third location of at least one landmark in or proximate to the dig area. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in D), the processing unit further: D1) electronically marks the completed locate request ticket as approved if the locate operation represented by the completed locate request ticket complies with a predetermined quality standard, so as to provide an approved completed locate request ticket. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further: E1) encrypts at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable, secure and unalterable electronic record of the locate operation. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further: E1) controls the communication interface and/or the memory so as to allow access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment only for a limited time period. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further: E1) controls the communication interface and/or the memory so as to allow access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment via a log-in procedure so as to facilitate secure access to the information. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further: E1) controls the communication interface and/or the memory so as to allow access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in E), the processing unit further: E1) controls the communication interface so as to receive one or more search indicia associated with the locate operation; andE2) implements a search engine so as to provide access to and/or transmit, in response to E1), at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface so as to transmit to at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation at least one notification indicating at least one of: a status of the locate operation;a disposition of the technician; andat least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface so as to receive at least one acknowledgement of receipt of the at least one notification. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface so as to transmit to the at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation information relating to a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to: facilitate submission of a locate request;generate image information to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site including the dig area; and/orfacilitate selection of a communication mode and/or a content for the at least one notification. 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and wherein the non-image data includes at least one of: a timestamp for the locate operation;geographic information associated with the dig area; andat least one identifier for a locate technician and or a locate company. 28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: in C), the marking information in the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and the processing unit processes the non-image data so as to generate at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation, the at least one electronic manifest including the second image data on which at least some of the non-image data is overlaid. 29. A method for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area at a work site of excavation activities, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during the excavation activities, the method comprising: A) electronically receiving first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of:a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; andgeographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator;B) electronically transmitting second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information;C) electronically receiving from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician, wherein:i) the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment includes a locate device and a marking device;ii) the locate operation as performed by the technician comprises: detecting the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area via the locate device used by the technician; andmarking, by actuating the marking device, the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area to place at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement or other surface within the dig area;(iii) the marking device generates marking information relating to the marking by the technician; and(iv) the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the marking information generated by the marking device;D) electronically processing the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation by comparing the portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data including the at least some of the marking information to reference information so as to provide the quality assessment of the locate operation, and wherein the reference information includes at least one of:first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate operations; andthird information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to the dig area; andE) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first ticket information includes the at least one locate request ticket. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the second ticket information includes the at least one locate request ticket. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the second ticket information includes a process guide. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the process guide includes at least one of a work order, a checklist, and a workflow. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein C) comprises: C1) electronically receiving from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment technician input as part of performing the locate operation in response to the process guide. 35. The method of claim 32, wherein C) comprises: C1) electronically receiving from the at least one piece of locating equipment information collected by the locating equipment; andC2) electronically analyzing the information collected by the locating equipment to facilitate performance of the locate operation via the process guide. 36. The method of claim 29, wherein in B), the second ticket information includes the first image data. 37. The method of claim 29, wherein A) further comprises: A1) assessing the first ticket information to provide assessment information relating to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the locate operation. 38. The method of claim 29, wherein A) further comprises: A1) processing the first ticket information and technician resource information so as to allocate the locate operation to the technician and/or schedule the technician to perform the locate operation. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein A1) further comprises: allocating the locate operation to the technician and/or schedules the technician to perform the locate operation based at least in part on at least one of: a performance deadline for the locate operation;relevant shift times of available technicians as indicated in the technician resource information;job performance information and/or quality assessment information relating to the locate operation;one or more of a historical efficiency, a skill level and/or certification, and a security clearance of the technician;one or more environmental conditions associated with the dig area;weather conditions or traffic conditions relating to the dig area and/or access to the dig area;one or more contractual obligations relating to the locate operation; and one or more statutory and/or regulatory requirements relating to the locate operation. 40. The method of claim 38, wherein A1) comprises: A1)(i) assessing the first ticket information to provide assessment information relating to one or more of a scope of work, a complexity, a performance time, a risk, a business value, and a technician skill or certification requirement associated with the locate operation; andA1)(ii) processing the assessment information and the technician resource information so as to allocate the locate operation to the technician and/or schedule the technician to perform the locate operation. 41. The method of claim 29, wherein in C), the completed locate request ticket is electronically received from the at least one piece of locating equipment, and wherein the at least one piece of locating equipment includes at least one of: the marking deviceat least one intelligent locate device to provide locate information, wherein at least a portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data of the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the locate information; andat least one intelligent combined locate and marking device comprising the marking device, to provide the marking information and the locate information, wherein at least a portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data of the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the marking information and at least some of the locate information. 42. The method of claim 29, wherein in C), the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and wherein the non-image data includes at least one ofa timestamp for the locate operation;geographic information associated with the dig area; andat least one identifier for a locate technician and or a locate company. 43. The method of claim 29, wherein in C), the completed locate request ticket includes the non-image data, and wherein C) further comprises: processing the non-image data so as to generate at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation, the at least one electronic manifest including the second image data on which at least some of the non-image data is overlaid. 44. The method of claim 29, wherein in C), the second image data and/or the non-image data of the completed locate request ticket includes information relating to at least one electronic manifest for the locate operation. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the electronic manifest includes at least one of: (i) the marking information provided by the marking device, (ii) locate information provided by the locate device and/or the at least one locate personnel device, and (iii) landmark information provided by the at least one piece of locating equipment and/or the at least one locate personnel device. 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the electronic manifest includes an updated marked-up image, and wherein the updated marked-up image includes the at least one dig area indicator. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the electronic manifest includes at least one of: at least one electronic detection mark to digitally represent a first location at which the at least one underground facility is detected during the locate operation;at least one electronic locate mark to digitally represent a second location of at least one physical locate mark applied to the dig area during the locate operation; andat least one landmark indicator to digitally represent a third location of at least one landmark in or proximate to the dig area. 48. The method of claim 29, wherein D) comprises: D1) electronically marking the completed locate request ticket as approved if the locate operation represented by the completed locate request ticket complies with a predetermined quality standard, so as to provide an approved completed locate request ticket. 49. The method of claim 29, wherein E) further comprises: E1) encrypting at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable, secure and unalterable electronic record of the locate operation. 50. The method of claim 29, wherein E) further comprises: E1) allowing electronic access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment only for a limited time period. 51. The method of claim 29, wherein E) further comprises: E1) allowing electronic access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment via a log-in procedure so as to facilitate secure access to the information. 52. The method of claim 29, wherein E) further comprises: E1) allowing electronic access to at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee. 53. The method of claim 29, wherein E) further comprises: E1) electronically receiving one or more search indicia associated with the locate operation; andE2) implementing a search engine so as to provide access to and/or transmit, in response to E1), at least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment for a fee. 54. The method of claim 29, further comprising: electronically transmitting to at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation at least one notification indicating at least one of:a status of the locate operation;a disposition of the technician; andat least some of the information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment. 55. The method of claim 54, further comprising: electronically receiving at least one acknowledgement of receipt of the at least one notification. 56. The method of claim 54, further comprising: electronically transmitting to the at least one party associated with requesting the locate operation information relating to a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to:facilitate submission of a locate request;generate image information to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site including the dig area; and/orfacilitate selection of a communication mode and/or a content for the at least one notification. 57. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for managing a locate operation performed by a technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, in response to at least one locate request ticket, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area at a work site of excavation activities, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during the excavation activities, the method comprising: A) electronically receiving first ticket information relating to the at least one locate request ticket, the first ticket information including first image data associated with the dig area, wherein the first image data includes at least one of:a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; andgeographic information derived from or relating to the marked-up image relating to the at least one dig area indicator;B) electronically transmitting second ticket information to at least one locate personnel device and/or at least one piece of locating equipment used by the technician to perform the locate operation, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information;C) electronically receiving from the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment a completed locate request ticket, the completed locate request ticket including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed by the technician, wherein:i) the at least one locate personnel device and/or the at least one piece of locating equipment includes a locate device and a marking device;ii) the locate operation as performed by the technician comprises: detecting the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area via the locate device used by the technician; andmarking, by actuating the marking device, the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area to place at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement or other surface within the dig area;(iii) the marking device generates marking information relating to the marking by the technician; and(iv) the completed locate request ticket includes at least some of the marking information generated by the marking device;D) electronically processing the completed locate request ticket so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation by comparing the portion of the second image data and/or the non-image data including the at least some of the marking information to reference information so as to provide the quality assessment of the locate operation, and wherein the reference information includes at least one of:first information derived from or relating to one or more facilities maps;second information derived from or relating to one or more previous locate operations; andthird information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in or proximate to the dig area; andE) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the completed locate request ticket and/or the quality assessment so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
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