# US 8,543,651 B2 · Methods, apparatus and systems for submitting virtual white line drawings and managing notifications in connection with underground facility locate and marking operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,651 B2 - Document ID: US8543651B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/824,655 - Filed: 2010-06-28 - Published: 2010-10-14 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-10 - Assignees: CertusView Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Steven Nielsen; Curtis Chambers; Jeffrey Farr - Inventors: Steven Nielsen; Curtis Chambers; Jeffrey Farr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543651B2 ## CPC - G06Q 50/08: Construction - G06Q 10/063: Operations research, analysis or management - G01C 15/00: Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00 - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one notification indicating a status of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to inform at least one party associated with requesting the operation (a “requesting party,” e.g., an excavator, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, a damage investigator, etc.) of the status of the operation. In one aspect, a requesting party may designate a preferred format, content, and/or method of receiving notifications regarding the locate and/or marking operation. In another aspect, a computer-generated GUI is provided to facilitate submission of requests, generation of “virtual white line” images to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site, and/or selection of notifications and preferences for same. In yet another aspect, a requesting party may provide an acknowledgement of receipt (e.g., a “return receipt”) for one or more received notifications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit: electronically receives, via the communication interface, first input relating to the dig area; based on the first input, renders a digital virtual white line image including at least one dig area indicator to provide at least one indication of the dig area with respect to a geographic area; controls the communication interface to receive second input regarding a notification type and/or a notification communication method for at least one notification indicating a status and/or providing information relating to the performance of the locate and/or marking operation, the locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking, in response to at least one locate request ticket, 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; generates the at least one notification based at least in part on the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one notification so as to inform at least one party associated with providing at least one locate request relating to the locate and/or marking operation of the status and/or performance of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit information relating to the digital virtual white line image so as to facilitate the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically store information relating to the digital virtual white line image so as to facilitate the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: electronically receives source data representing at least one input image of the geographic area including the dig area; and renders the digital virtual white line image such that the at least one dig area indicator is overlaid on at least a portion of the at least one input image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one input image comprises at least one map of the geographic area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one map of the geographic area includes one or more of: a street/road map, a topographical map, a military map, a parcel map, a tax map, a town or county planning map, a polygon map, a facilities map, and a virtual map. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the source data comprises geo-encoded information relating to the geographical area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, the at least one input image comprises at least one photographic image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification comprises status information about the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the status information relates to at least one event occurring during and/or after the detecting and/or marking. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: controls the communication interface to receive the input relating to the status of the locate and/or marking operation at least once after dispatch of at least one locate technician to the dig area but before completion of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one notification in real time so as to inform the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request of a current status of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that a locate technician has been dispatched to the dig area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates a location of a locate technician assigned to the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation has been certified to meet a quality standard and/or approved. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that certification and/or approval of the locate and/or marking operation is pending. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation has been delayed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates an expiration time of the at least one locate request ticket with respect to a current time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that excavation may begin within the dig area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the detecting and/or marking is in progress. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification indicates that the locate and/or marking operation is complete. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one notification comprises performance information about the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises the digital virtual white line image indicating the dig area. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic copy of a completed locate request ticket. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an assessment of a risk of excavation in the dig area. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises a description of conditions in and/or around the dig area. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the performance information about the locate and/or marking operation comprises an electronic manifest image showing details of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the electronic manifest image of the locate and/or marking operation is stored and/or transmitted as a limited access file. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: generates the at least one notification based at least in part on data from a data-enabled marking device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the memory to store in a user profile the notification type and/or the notification communication method. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the user profile defines default preferences for the notification type and/or the notification communication method with respect to a user associated with the user profile. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second input includes the notification communication method, and the notification communication method includes one or more of an email, an SMS text message, an instant message, a phone call, a pager message, and a rich site summary (RSS) feed. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second input is based at least in part on at least one regulation that mandates the notification type and/or the notification communication method in connection with the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second input is based at least in part on at least one contract that requires the notification type and/or the notification communication method in connection with the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a user interface comprising a display, and wherein the processing unit: controls the communication interface to render a graphical user interface on the display to facilitate receiving the second input relating to the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and controls the user interface to receive the second input. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a notification type menu comprising a menu option corresponding to the notification type. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a notification communication method menu comprising a menu option corresponding to the notification communication method. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface to electronically transmit the at least one notification, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one notification is transmitted as a limited access file. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one notification such that the at least one notification is accessible via a web site. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the web site comprise a map showing a location of the at least one locate technician. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the web site comprise an electronic manifest showing details of the locate and/or marking operation and/or an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the electronic manifest and/or the electronic representation comprises aggregated information from a plurality of sources. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a plurality of locate technicians. ### Claim 45 (depends on 40) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the web site comprises aggregated information relating to a plurality of locate and/or marking operations. ### Claim 46 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further controls the communication interface to electronically transmit the at least one notification, and wherein the at least one notification includes a link to a web site. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the web site comprises a map showing a location of the at least one locate technician. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the web site comprises an electronic manifest showing details of the locate and/or marking operation and/or an electronic representation of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the electronic manifest and/or the electronic representation comprises aggregated information from a plurality of sources. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a plurality of locate technicians. ### Claim 51 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the web site comprises aggregated information relating to a plurality of locate and/or marking operations. ### Claim 52 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: further controls the communication interface to transmit a message soliciting confirmation that the at least one notification was received and/or accessed by the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request. ### Claim 53 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: further controls the communication interface to receive the at least one locate request via the communication interface; based on the at least one locate request, generates at least one locate request ticket; and further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the at least one locate request ticket so as to initiate the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 54 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request includes one or more of an excavator, an excavation company, a one-call center, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, and a damage investigator. ### Claim 55 At least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation the method comprising: A) electronically receiving first input relating to the dig area; B) based on the first input, rendering a digital virtual white line image including at least one dig area indicator to provide at least one indication of the dig area with respect to a geographic area; C) electronically receiving second input regarding a notification type and/or a notification communication method for at least one notification indicating a status and/or providing information relating to the performance of the locate and/or marking operation, the locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking, in response to at least one locate request ticket, 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; D) generating the at least one notification based at least in part on the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and E) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one notification so as to inform at least one party associated with providing at least one locate request relating to the locate and/or marking operation of the status and/or performance of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 56 A method for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation , the method comprising: A) electronically receiving first input relating to the dig area; B) based on the first input, rendering a digital virtual white line image including at least one dig area indicator to provide at least one indication of the dig area with respect to a geographic area; C) electronically receiving second input regarding a notification type and/or a notification communication method for at least one notification indicating a status and/or providing information relating to the performance of the locate and/or marking operation, the locate and/or marking operation comprising detecting and/or marking, in response to at least one locate request ticket, 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; D) generating the at least one notification based at least in part on the notification type and/or the notification communication method; and E) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one notification so as to inform at least one party associated with providing at least one locate request relating to the locate and/or marking operation of the status and/or performance of the locate and/or marking operation. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56, wherein E) comprises electronically transmitting the at least one notification to the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one party associated with providing the at least one locate request includes one or more of an excavator, an excavation company, a one-call center, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, and a damage investigator. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56, wherein A) comprises electronically receiving the first input at a user location remote from the dig area. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59, wherein B) comprises rendering the digital virtual white line image at the user location remote from the dig area. ### Claim 61 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56, wherein B) is performed without acquiring geographic coordinates corresponding to the at least one dig area indicator.