Patent Document ID: 20090202111
Application ID: 12363046
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, the locate operation comprising identifying, using at least one physical locate mark, 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 method comprising: A) electronically receiving a digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area, at least a portion of the received digital image being displayed on a display device; B) electronically receiving location information regarding an identified location of the at least one physical locate mark; C) based at least in part on the location information received in B), digitally representing, on the displayed digital image, the identified location of the at least one physical locate mark applied by the locate technician during the locate operation so as to generate a marked-up digital image including the at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark; and D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing information relating to the marked-up digital image so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.