Methods, apparatus, and systems for generating technician workflows for locate and/or marking operations

At least one computer-readable medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for generating a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or 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 is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

• A) acquiring ticket information that is derived from a ticket and/or a work order associated with a locate and/or marking operation;
• B) based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, generating the workflow for the locate and/or marking operation, the workflow comprising a series of tasks to be performed by a locate technician in connection with the locate and/or marking operation;
• and
• C) transmitting the workflow via a communication interface and/or storing the workflow in a memory.

A system for generating a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or 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 is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the system comprising:

• at least one communication interface;
• at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processor:
• A) controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory so as to acquire ticket information that is derived from a ticket and/or a work order associated with the locate and/or marking operation;
• B) based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, generates the workflow for the locate and/or marking operation, the workflow comprising a series of tasks to be performed by a locate technician in connection with the locate and/or marking operation;
• and
• C) controls the at least one communication interface and/or the at least one memory so as to transmit the workflow via the at least one communication interface and/or store the workflow in the at least one memory.