PATENTS

System and method for damage avoidance in an excavation area include: receiving an excavation area and an excavation depth; accessing a database of a plurality of utility assets to identify a buried utility asset within the excavation area and the excavation depth; retrieving information from the database for the identified buried utility asset; fusing the buffer zone associated with the buried utility asset and the depth of the buried utility asset to obtain a latitude buffer zone for the buried utility asset; comparing the latitude buffer zone for the buried utility asset and the excavation depth; identifying a party responsible for the buried utility asset; and automatically transmitting an electronic notification to the party responsible for the buried utility asset. See Full Description

Method for calculating tolerance zones for utility assets includes: receiving data about a point, a line, or an area related to a location of an utility asset in a region; receiving information about said utility asset in the region from one or more databases, wherein the received information includes two or more of a type of the utility asset, a location of the utility asset, an accuracy of the location of the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the region, and a map tile accuracy; calculating a tolerance zone for said utility asset in the region based on the accuracy requirements for the utility asset and one or more of said accuracy of the location of the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the region, and the map tile accuracy; and transmitting the tolerance zone to a remote device. See Full Description

A method and system for collecting information related to utility assets include determining a position of an underground utility asset by a location determining device; integrating location data from a Global positioning system (GPS) receiver with the determined position of the underground utility asset to provide information about coordinates of the position of the underground utility asset; adding characteristics of the underground utility asset including a size of the underground utility asset, to the integrated data to generate one or more data records including the information about coordinates of the position of the underground utility asset; integrating landbase data with the data records for the underground utility asset; and displaying a scrolling map including the data records and a portion of the landbase data. See Full Description

A system and method for generating a geographical data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information from a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; and receiving information about location of each of the utilities. The system and method further include receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a geographical data transaction. See Full Description

A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy. See Full Description

A system and method for generating a GIS data transaction including information about the topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; receiving information about location of each of the utilities; receiving information about the manner of collecting data; receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a GIS data transaction.

The GIS data transaction may be used to generate a precision integrated grid and the precision integrated grid may be used to identify and locate a utility in the region. The GIS data transaction may then be displayed with reference to imagery of the area in real time. See Full Description

A system and method for determining a distance of a utility asset from moving equipment. The invention determines a first current location of the equipment; accesses stored coordinates for a plurality of utility assets; selects an area of interest including a portion of the plurality of utility assets; identifies local utility assets in the selected area; determines a utility asset nearest to the first current position of the equipment, from the local utility assets; determines velocity and direction of the moving equipment; and determines the distance from the nearest utility asset to the second current location of the equipment responsive to the determined velocity and direction of the equipment. The invention may then generate a warning indication responsive to the determined distance. See Full Description

A system and method for collecting utility location information: The system and method includes identifying a current location; identifying an utility asset and a location of the identified utility asset in a predetermined project area including the current location; associating the current location with the identified utility asset; in real time, integrating an imagery of the project area with the current location and the location of the identified utility asset to generate an image representation of the project area; in real time, displaying the representation of the project area comprising the current location, a representation of the utility asset and the location of the identified utility asset; integrating the obtained location with the GIS landbase template including the map imagery and the infrastructure to create a precision grid including the location of the utility asset the map imagery and the infrastructure; storing the verified location of the identified utility asset and data about the type and material of the identified utility asset in a first database; and managing usage and distribution of the stored precision grid utilizing the defined project criteria, rules applied to the project and data accessibility rights. See Full Description

A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-useable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy. See Full Description

[Modification of 6,798,379] A method of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities: A first step involves providing a portable controller having a memory. A global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinate device and a display are coupled to the controller. A second step involves storing in the memory of the controller a series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality. A third step involves using the GPS co-ordinate device to dynamically provide GPS co-ordinates to the controller as positioning of the GPS co-ordinate device changes. A fourth step involves using the display to display the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device on a scrolling display of GPS co-ordinates, together with the series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities, such that the relative position of the GPS co-ordinate device to the one or more selected utilities is always known. See Full Description

A method of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities.  A first step involves providing a portable controller having a memory. A global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinate device and a display are coupled to the controller. A second step involves storing in the memory of the controller a series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality. A third step involves using the GPS co-ordinate device to dynamically provide GPS co-ordinates to the controller as positioning of the GPS co-ordinate device changes. A fourth step involves using the display to display the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device on a scrolling display of GPS co-ordinates, together with the series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities, such that the relative position of the GPS co-ordinate device to the one or more selected utilities is always known. See Full Description

Method for calculating tolerance zones for utility assets includes: receiving data about a point, a line, or an area related to a location of an utility asset in a region; receiving information about said utility asset in the region from one or more databases, wherein the received information includes two or more of a type of the utility asset, a location of the utility asset, an accuracy of the location of the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the region, and a map tile accuracy; calculating a tolerance zone for said utility asset in the region based on the accuracy requirements for the utility asset and one or more of said accuracy of the location of the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the region, and the map tile accuracy; and transmitting the tolerance zone to a remote device. See Full Description

A portable utility data collection device includes a data collector that detects a transponder placed near an installed utility asset and wirelessly receives data from a remote server, about the installed utility asset. A location determiner provides location data for the installed utility asset. A data record for the installed utility asset is produced and includes information about the type and location of the installed utility asset, and information about time and date of the collected data. An area of a stored starter grid map is selected and the data record and the selected area are transmitted to the remote server. The server sends back a latest grid map for the selected area. A representation of the installed utility asset and the received 1 0 latest grid map and the location data of the installed utility asset are displayed on a moving map as the portable electronic device is being moved. See Full Description

A portable device for utility data collection and data management comprising: a data collection unit receiving data about an installed utility asset; a location determining unit for providing location data of the installed utility asset; a processor coupled to the data collection unit and the location determining unit for creating a data record for the installed utility asset, the data record including information about the type and location of the installed utility asset, and information about time and date of the collected data; a transmitter for transmitting said data record to a database; a receiver for receiving a grid map based on said data record; and a display screen for displaying the location data of the installed utility asset on said grid map. See Full Description

A computer implemented method for calculating tolerance zones for utility assets. The method includes: receiving data about a point, a line, or an area related to a location of an utility asset in a region; receiving information about said utility asset in the region from one or more databases, wherein the received information includes two or more of a type of the utility asset, a location of the utility asset, an accuracy of the location of the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the region, and a map tile accuracy; calculating a tolerance zone for said utility asset in the region based on the accuracy requirements for the utility asset and one or more of said accuracy of the location of the utility asset, accuracy requirements for the region, and the map tile accuracy; and transmitting the tolerance zone to a remote device. See Full Description

A system and method for generating a GIS data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; receiving information about location of each of the utilities; receiving information about the manner of collecting data; receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a GIS data transaction. The GIS data transaction may be used to generate a precision integrated grid and the precision integrated grid may be used to identify and locate a utility in the region. The GIS data transaction may then be displayed with reference to imagery of the area in real time. See Full Description

A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced to meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy. See Full Description

A system and method for determining a distance of a utility asset from movingequipment. The invention determines a first current location of the equipment; accesses stored coordinates for a plurality of utility assets; selects an area of interest including a portion of the plurality of utility assets; identifies local utility assets in the selected area; determines a utility asset nearest to the first current position of the equipment, from the local utility assets; determines velocity and direction of the moving equipment; and determines the distance from the nearest utility asset to the second current location of the equipment responsive to the determined velocity and direction of the equipment. The invention may then generate a warning indication responsive to the determined distance. See Full Description

A method of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities. A first step involves providing a portable controller having a memory. A global positioning system (GPS) coordinate device and a display are coupled to thecontroller. A second step involves storing in the memory of the controller a series of GPS coordinates for the one or more selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality. A third step involves using the GPS coordinate device to dynamically provide GPS coordinates to the controller as positioning of the GPS coordinate device changes. A fourth step involves using the display to display the GPS coordinates of the GPS coordinate device on a scrolling display of GPS coordinates, together with the series of GPS coordinates for the one or more selected utilities, such that the relative position of the GPS coordinate device to the one or more selected utilities is always known. See Full Description

An apparatus for recording global positioning system co-ordinates of components of a utility includes a portable controller having a memory and a global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinate device coupled to the controller. The GPS co-ordinate device dynamically provides GPS co-ordinates to the controller as positioning of the GPS co-ordinate device changes location. A display is associated with the controller. The display displays the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device on a scrolling grid of global positioning systemco-ordinates. A utility identifier database is housed in the memory of the controller. The utility identifier database contains numerous symbols. Eachsymbol represents a particular component of a utility. An input device is coupled to the controller for selecting the symbol from the utility identifier database, which identifies the component of the utility. The controller places the selected symbol on the scrolling grid of the GPS co-ordinates and stores the symbol with GPS co-ordinates in memory for subsequent recall. See Full Description