Abstract: A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.

Abstract: A locate transmitter and method for performing a locate operation to detect a presence or absence of an underground facility. An applied signal is generated to be applied along the underground facility. One or more environmental conditions of an environment in which the transmitted is located are detected and compared to a target value or range of values to determine if an out-of-tolerance condition exists.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating a quality assessment of a locate and marking operation. Ticket information and a locate manifest are received regarding the operation as performed by a technician. One or more electronic indications of the quality assessment are processed based on the locate manifest, the ticket information, and at least one of: a time required to complete the locate and marking operation; a time at which the locate and marking operation was performed; a cost of the locate and marking operation; one or more conditions associated with a dig area in which the operation was performed; a number of facilities to be located as indicated in the ticket information; a discrepancy between the facilities to be located as indicated in the ticket information, but not indicated as marked in the locate manifest; and an efficiency with which the technician performed the locate and marking operation.

Abstract: In connection with a locate operation to detect a presence or absence of an underground facility, a magnetic field from an underground facility is detected, and one or more signals also are obtained that are indicative of one or more environmental conditions in an environment in which the underground facility is detected. The signal(s) indicative of the environmental condition(s) are compared to a target value or range of values to determine if an out-of-tolerance condition exists.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be employed to collect information regarding a ground surface on which marking material is to be dispensed which is then analyzed to provide an estimate of a type of the surface. For example, a still-image or video camera may be used as a sensor that detects visible light reflecting from a surface. One or more images captured by the camera may be analyzed using analysis software to identify one or more characteristics indicative of a surface type. As another example, one or more radiation sensors may be employed to measure an amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the sensed surface one or more selected wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to identify a spectral signature that may also be indicative of a surface type.

Abstract: A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation.

Abstract: Marking devices for dispensing a marking substance on the ground and marking methods are provided. The marking devices and marking methods use one or more detection mechanisms to detect one or more characteristics of the marking substance. In some embodiments, the detection mechanism may be, but is not limited to, an optical sensor, an olfactory sensor, a weight sensor, a switch device, and any combination thereof. The one or more detection mechanisms may provide, for example, the capability to: (1) determine the type of marking substance that is installed in the marking device; (2) determine in advance of or during a marking operation the amount of marking substance within the marking dispenser; and (3) determine when the marking dispenser is becoming empty.

Abstract: Generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician. The locate operation comprises 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 bare grid is displayed on display device and, via a user input device associated with the display device, at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark is added to the displayed bare grid so as to generate a marked-up grid including the at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark. Information relating to the marked-up grid is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for marking a presence or absence of an underground facility. Marking material is dispensed, via actuation of an actuation system of a marking device, onto a target surface. Environmental information regarding at least one environmental condition of an environment in which the marking device is located is received via at least one communication interface of the marking device, and marking information is logged into local memory of the marking device. In one aspect, the stored marking information includes at least some of the environmental information.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information relating to one or more environmental landmarks. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation.

Abstract: Electronically generating an engineering plan for installation of equipment, such as cable system equipment, at a work site. First geographic information relating to a first location of the work site is compared with second geographic information representing a second location of an engineer generating the engineering plan (or of a plan generating tool being used by the engineer to generate the plan) to verify that the engineer/tool is sufficiently near to the work site. A digital image of a geographic area including the work site is displayed on the plan generating tool, and user input is acquired from the engineer (e.g., via a user input device associated with the plan generating tool) relating to at least one first position, relative to the displayed digital image, representing a first equipment location of at least a first piece of the equipment to be installed at the work site.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations and/or environmental landmarks for underground facilities/utilities. Marking information and/or landmark information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, a marking device may be configured to operate in both a marking mode and a landmark mode, and information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in a vicinity of the marking operation may be collected and logged with actuation of a marking device in the landmark mode.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation.

Abstract: Locating and/or marking equipment, such as a locate transmitter or locate receiver, a marking device, or a combined locate and marking device, may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the equipment. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electronically coupled to the equipment, and may be programmed so as to log and generate electronic records of various information germane to a locate and/or marking operation (e.g., locate information, marking information, and/or landmark information). Such records may be formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed on the mobile/portable device, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. A digital image of a geographic area including the dig area is electronically received at a first user location remote from the dig area, and at least a portion of the received digital image is displayed on a display device at the first user location remote from the dig area. One or more indicators are added to the displayed digital image, via a user input device associated with the display device, to provide at least one indication of the dig area and thereby generate a marked-up digital image. Information relating to the marked-up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area.

Abstract: Docking stations and docking methods are provided for use with marking devices used for marking the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area. The docking station may serve as a home base for storage of a marking device, for charging the battery of a marking device, for transferring data to and from a marking device, and for securing a marking device against unauthorized use and/or theft. The docking station may be a mobile docking station that is installed in a vehicle or may be a fixed docking station that is installed at a central location in the field, at a central office, at a home base facility, and the like.

Abstract: Locate information, marking information, and/or landmark information relating to a locate operation and/or a marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility is categorized into a plurality of display layers for electronic rendering. At least some of the display layers may be independently enabled or disabled for display such that only enabled display layers are displayed in a display field of a display device. Alternate enabling and disabling of one or more display layers facilitates comparative viewing of the layers. A layer directory or layer legend pane may be displayed to allow for selective enabling/disabling of one or more layers. One or more layers further may be categorized into sub-layers, and respective sub-layers of a given layer similarly may be independently enabled or disabled for display.

Abstract: Managing and displaying information relating to a locate operation and/or a marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility. First information relating to the locate operation and/or the marking operation is electronically received, wherein the first information includes image information. The image information is processed to improve at least one aspect of an image represented by the image information and thereby provide improved image information. Based at least in part on the improved image information, at least one electronic manifest is generated that documents a performance of the locate operation and/or the marking operation.