Patent ID: 8356255
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: G06Q,G06T,G07B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface; a display device; at least one user input device; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the display device, the at least one user input device, and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit: controls the communication interface to electronically receive first source data representing a first input image of a geographic area including a first dig area, wherein the first dig area corresponds to a first stage of a staged excavation project; controls the display device to display at least a portion of the first input image on the display device; acquires at least one first user input from the at least one user input device; generates a first marked-up digital image including at least one first indicator based on the at least one first user input overlaid on the first input image to provide at least one indication of the first dig area; adds a first excavation date corresponding to the first dig area to the first marked-up digital image; controls the communication interface to electronically receive second source data representing a second input image of a geographic area including a second dig area, wherein the second dig area corresponds to a subsequent stage of the staged excavation project; controls the display device to display at least a portion of the second input image on the display device; acquires at least one second user input from the at least one user input device; generates a second marked-up digital image including at least one second indicator overlaid based on the at least one second user input on the second input image to provide at least one indication of the second dig area; adds a second excavation date corresponding to the second dig area to the second marked-up digital image; and further controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store first information relating to the first marked-up digital image together with second information relating to the second marked-up digital image so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the first and second dig areas.