Patent ID: 9359880
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: E21B,G06F

Claim Text:
1. A method executed by one or more computing devices for managing underground assets, said method comprising: receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a request for clearance to excavate, the request including a location identifier provided by an excavator; resolving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a location based on the location identifier by selecting the location from a plurality of potential locations received from a plurality of map service providers based at least in part on an accuracy value corresponding to each of the plurality of potential locations; retrieving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database, wherein the asset location database includes location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets owned by a plurality of asset owners, wherein the asset location database is maintained by receiving a plurality of updates regarding the positions of the plurality of assets from a plurality of computing devices managed by the plurality of asset owners, wherein the location data is periodically updated by one or more of the plurality of asset owners; generating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a buffer zone around the resolved location; querying, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the buffer zone using the retrieved asset data to determine whether any assets are buried within the buffer zone; transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, map data related to the determination of assets buried within the buffer zone, wherein the map data integrates land based data provided by at least one of the plurality of map service providers; generating, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a locate ticket for a locator when assets exist within the buffer zone that cannot be cleared based on automatic screening, the locate ticket including data which specifies at least the excavation location, the locate ticket being configured to direct the locator to travel to the excavation location to at least manually determine if underground assets are present or mark the location of underground assets; and receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, information from the locator regarding at least one of confirmation of assets in the buffer zone and one or more additional assets in the buffer zone not identified in the asset data.