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US 7,400,976 B2Granted
Utility mapping and data distribution system and method
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsGary Neal Young, Kevin L. Alft
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method of mapping underground utilities and other subsurface objects involves one or more of acquiring utility location data using a number of different detectors and sensors, processing the multiple detector/sensor output data to produce mapping data, storing the mapping data in a database, and providing access to and use of the stored mapping data by subscribing users on a usage fee basis.
Claims20
A method of detecting one or more underground utilities, comprising:
- generating radar waves;
- communicating the radar waves into a subsurface and receiving radar response signals resulting from communication of the radar waves into the subsurface;
- generating seismic waves of about the same wavelength as the radar waves;
- communicating the seismic waves into the subsurface and receiving seismic response signals resulting from communication of the seismic waves into the subsurface;
- storing data associated with the received radar and seismic response signals;
- and
- detecting the one or more underground utilities within the subsurface using the stored data.
4 more elements
An apparatus for detecting one or more underground utilities within a subsurface, comprising:
- a radar system configured to generate and detect ground penetrating radar waves;
- a seismic system configured to generate and detect seismic waves, the radar and seismic systems configured to generate radar and seismic waves having about the same wavelength;
- memory for storing data received from the radar and seismic systems;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to detect underground utilities within the subsurface using the stored data.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.