Precision GPS driven utility asset management and utility damage prevention system and method

A method of collecting utility location information comprising:

• identifying a current location;
• identifying at least one utility at the current location;
• associating the current location with the at least one utility;
• displaying a representation of an area comprising the current location and a representation of the at least one utility, the displayed representation changing, in real-time, in accordance with at least one of a change of position and a change of direction associated with the current location;
• and
• storing data in at least one database in accordance with the associated current location and at least one utility.

A method of collecting utility location information comprising:

• identifying a current location with accuracy of at least a decimeter;
• identifying at least one utility at the current location;
• associating the current location with the at least one utility;
• and
• storing data in at least one database in accordance with the associated current location and at least one utility.

A damage avoidance method comprising:

• identifying, with accuracy of at least a decimeter, a current location;
• retrieving, from at least one database, at least one utility location with accuracy of at least a decimeter;
• displaying a representation of an area comprising the current location and a representation of at least one utility associated with the at least one utility location, the displayed representation changing, in real-time, in accordance with at least one of a change of position and a change of direction associated with the current location;
• determining a distance between the current location and the at least one utility location;
• and
• generating an indication in accordance with the distance.

A damage avoidance method comprising:

• identifying, with accuracy of at least a decimeter, a current location;
• retrieving, from at least one database, at least one utility location with accuracy of at least a decimeter;
• determining a distance between the current location and the at least one utility location;
• and
• generating an indication in accordance with the distance.

A real-time imaging method comprising:

• identifying a current location;
• defining an area comprising the current location;
• displaying a representation of the area, the displayed representation changing, in real-time, in accordance with at least one of a change of position and a change of direction associated with the current position;
• and
• displaying at least one utility associated with the area.

A utility management method comprising:

• defining a utility project;
• defining parameters for generating a geographical database associated with the utility project;
• defining parameters for collecting utility information associated with the utility project;
• defining parameters for integrating the utility information and the geographical database;
• and
• defining a utilization method for the integrated utility information and geographical database.

An utility position certification method comprising:

• certifying that utility position data is correct to a degree of accuracy;
• certifying currency of the utility position data;
• and
• certifying completeness of the utility position data.

An apparatus for identifying a location of a utility comprising:

• a GPS receiver for generating, with accuracy of at least a decimeter, current location data;
• at least one at least one geographic database comprising at least one utility location with accuracy of at least a decimeter;
• and
• at least one processor configured to determine a distance between the current location and the at least one utility location.

An apparatus for collecting utility location information comprising:

• a GPS receiver for generating, with accuracy of at least a decimeter, current location data;
• at least one processor adapted to identify at least one utility at the current location and adapted to associate the current location with the at least one utility;
• and
• at least one database configured to store data in accordance with the associated current location and at least one utility.