Systems and methods for autonomous marking maintenance

A autonomous marking maintenance apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver communicatively coupled to a data network, the transceiver arranged to receive first data from a marking database, wherein the first data includes marking data associated with a portion of a geographic area, the marking database being arranged to store marking data associated with one or more underground infrastructure markings, the marking data including one or more underground infrastructure marking locations within the geographic area and including a type of infrastructure associated with each of the one or more markings, the marking database including an infrastructure type table correlating each color of a set of colors to a different type of infrastructure;
• a location sensor arranged to determine a location of the apparatus;
• a propulsion system arranged to enable the apparatus to deploy to each marking location within the portion of the geographic area;
• one or more marking sensors arranged to scan an area in proximity to the apparatus;
• and
• a processor arranged to i) determine whether each underground infrastructure marking within the portion of the geographic area is sufficiently present based on sensor data received from the one or more marking sensors, wherein determining includes detecting an indicator in paint associated with each of the detected markings and wherein each of the detected indicators includes a color of the set of colors listed in the infrastructure type table that corresponds to the type of infrastructure;
• ii) control repair of each underground infrastructure marking within the portion of the geographic area that is determined to not be sufficiently present, wherein the repair includes applying additional paint including the indicator;
• and iii) coordinate with the transceiver to transmit second data to the marking database, wherein the second data indicates each of the underground infrastructure markings within the portion of the geographic area that has been repaired.

A method of performing marking maintenance comprising:

• providing a marking database arranged to store marking data associated with one or more underground infrastructure markings arranged to identify the location of one or more underground infrastructure elements, the marking data including one or more underground infrastructure marking locations within a geographic area and including a type of infrastructure associated with each of the one or more underground infrastructure marking, the marking database communicatively coupled to a data network, the marking database including an infrastructure type table correlating each color of a set of colors to a different type of infrastructure;
• communicatively coupling a drone to the data network;
• determining a location of the drone via one or more location sensors;
• receiving first data from the marking database, wherein the first data includes marking data associated with a portion of the geographic area;
• deploying the drone to each underground infrastructure marking location within the portion of the geographic area;
• determining whether each underground infrastructure marking within the portion of the geographic area is sufficiently present using one or more marker sensors, wherein determining includes detecting an indicator in paint associated with each of the detected underground infrastructure markings, wherein each of the detected indicators includes a color of the set of colors listed in the infrastructure type table that corresponds to the type of infrastructure;
• repairing each underground infrastructure marking within the portion of the geographic area that is determined to not be sufficiently present by applying additional paint including the indicator;
• and
• transmitting second data to the marking database, wherein the second data indicates each of the underground infrastructure markings within the portion of the geographic area that has been repaired.