Methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating and/or verifying locate and/or marking operations

Abstract

First ticket information is electronically received relating to at least one locate request ticket pertaining to a locate and/or marking operation, in which a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area planned to be excavated or disturbed is detected and/or marked. A process guide for the locate and/or marking operation is executed and/or generated based at least in part on the first ticket information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for facilitating a locate and/or marking operation, the locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking 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, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one communication interface;   a memory to store processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor-executable instructions include ticket processing software; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one communication interface, wherein upon execution of the ticket processing software by the processor, the processor:
 A) receives via the at least one communication interface ticket information relating to at least one locate request ticket pertaining to the locate and/or marking operation; and 
 B) generates and/or executes a process guide for the locate and/or marking operation based at least in part on the ticket information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one user interface including at least one display device and communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein upon execution of the ticket processing software, the processor controls the at least one display device so as to display the process guide on the at least one display device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the apparatus constitutes a portion of a piece of locating equipment;   the processor generates the process guide for the locate and/or marking operation based at least in part on the ticket information; and   the processor further stores the process guide in the memory of the piece of locating equipment.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the piece of locating equipment includes a marking device, a locate device, or a combined locate and marking device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the process guide and controls the at least one communication interface to transmit the generated process guide to at least one piece of locating equipment. 
     
     
         6 . A system, comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 5 ; and   the at least one piece of locating equipment, wherein the at least one piece of locating equipment includes at least one marking device, at least one locate device, and/or at least one combined locate and marking device.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ticket information is the at least one locate request ticket; and   the processor generates the process guide based at least in part on the at least one locate request ticket.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ticket information includes a work order derived from the at least one locate request ticket; and   the processor generates the process guide based at least in part on the work order.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the process guide, and wherein the process guide includes a checklist for performing the locate and/or marking operation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the process guide, and wherein the process guide includes a workflow for performing the locate and/or marking operation. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the process guide based on the ticket information and auxiliary information derived from at least one of:
 one or more facilities maps;   one or more historical records of one or more previous locate and/or marking operations;   one or more industry best practice guides;   standard operating procedures of a locate contractor performing and/or overseeing the locate and/or marking operation.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus constitutes a portion of a piece of locating equipment;   the piece of locating equipment further comprises at least one user interface communicatively coupled to the processor; and   the processor executes the process guide by controlling the at least one user interface to provide at least one indication to a technician using the apparatus to perform the locate and/or marking operation.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the piece of locating equipment includes a marking device, a locate device, or a combined locate and marking device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the process guide includes a checklist for performing the locate and/or marking operation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the process guide includes a workflow for performing the locate and/or marking operation. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the ticket information received via the at least one communication interface includes the process guide. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one visual indicator, and wherein the processor controls the at least one visual indicator so as to provide the at least one indication to the technician as a visual indication. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one audible indicator, and wherein the processor controls the at least one audible indicator so as to provide the at least one indication to the technician as an audible indication. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one tactile indicator, and wherein the processor controls the at least one tactile indicator so as to provide the at least one indication to the technician as a tactile indication. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one display device, and wherein the processor controls the at least one display device to generate at least one popup window so as to provide the at least one indication to the technician. 
     
     
         21 - 65 . (canceled)