Ticket approval methods of performing quality control in underground facility locate and marking operations

A method for overseeing and assessing a locate and marking operation performed by a first locate technician, the method comprising:

• A) receiving a ticket including original ticket information regarding the locate and marking operation to be performed by the first locate technician, the locate and marking operation comprising identifying a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area by placing at least one locate mark in the dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities;
• B) dispatching the first locate technician to perform the locate and marking operation pursuant to the original ticket information;
• C) electronically receiving a locate manifest regarding the locate and marking operation performed in B) by the first locate technician, the locate manifest including at least one digital image associated with the dig area, the at least one digital image showing at least one locate mark placed in the dig area or at least one digital representation of the at least one locate mark;
• D) comparing the at least one digital image included in the locate manifest electronically received in C) to the original ticket information received in A);
• E) based on D), determining one of:
• E1) that the locate and marking operation is satisfactory;
• E2) that the locate and marking operation is unsatisfactory and requires further quality control assessment and/or at least partial re-performance of the locate and marking operation;
• or
• E3) that the locate and marking operation is satisfactory but the first locate technician requires coaching;
• and
• F) providing at least one electronic indication of one of E1), E2) and E3) so as to generate an electronic record of a quality assessment of the locate and marking operation,
• wherein the method further comprises:
• displaying on at least one display device at least a portion of the locate manifest and at least some of the original ticket information,
• and wherein:
• the displayed portion of the locate manifest comprises the at least one digital image and a work performed text display field;
• the displayed ticket information includes a ticket manifest text display field;
• and
• D) comprises comparing the at least one digital image with the ticket manifest text display field and the work performed text display field.