Tracked distance measuring devices, systems, and methods

A method of measuring distance with a distance measuring system and a buried utility locator, comprising:

• responsive to a user input, triggering a tracked distance measuring device that includes a dipole magnetic field sonde element disposed on or in a rangefinder element to simultaneously initiate:
• a measurement of distance from the rangefinder element to a point of interest (POI) and providing the measurement of distance from the rangefinder element to the POI as POI distance data;
• a transmission of a dipole magnetic field signal from the magnetic field dipole sonde element for sensing by the buried utility locator;
• and
• a determination of absolute positional data at the locator using a satellite positioning element, wherein the absolute positional data as absolute position output data;
• receiving the dipole magnetic filed signal at the locator and determining relative position data of the rangefinder relative to the locator;
• processing the absolute positional data in conjunction with the POI distance data and relative position data of the rangefinder relative to the locator to determine absolute positional data associated with the POI;
• and
• storing the absolute positional data associated with the POI in a non-transitory memory.