Systems and methods for generating electronic records of locate and marking operations

A data acquisition system, comprising:

• a locate device comprising at least one receiver antenna configured to detect a magnetic field from an underground facility, wherein the locate device is configured to generate locate information based at least in part on operation of the at least one receiver antenna;
• and
• a marking device separate and distinct from the locate device and comprising an actuation mechanism to control dispensing of a physical marking material on ground pavement or other surfaces to mark a presence or an absence of the underground facility, the marking device configured to generate marking information relating at least in part to the physical marking material or the dispensing of the physical marking material,
• wherein each of the locate device and the marking device includes a wireless communication interface configured to communicatively couple the locate device and the marking device to each other to electrically communicate at least one of the locate information from the locate device to the marking device and the marking information from the marking device to the locate device.