Method and apparatus for direct detection, location, analysis, identification, and reporting of vegetation clearance violations

A portable device for recording obstruction data from a geographical area, the device comprising:

• a memory device storing data of objects in the geographical area including a previously recorded obstruction, clearance surface data and contour map data;
• a controller coupled to the memory device to generate display data;
• a display displaying a contour map of the area including the objects in the area based on the display data;
• and
• an input device accepting inputs from a user to record an observed location of the obstruction in the area.

A method of recording obstruction data from a geographical area, the method comprising:

• storing data of objects in the geographical area including a previously recorded obstruction, clearance surface data and contour map data on a storage device;
• displaying a contour map of the area including the objects in the area on a display device via a controller;
• and
• accepting an input from a user to record an observed location of the obstruction in the area via an input device.