Patent Document ID: 8416995
Application ID: 12363046
Patent Status: 1

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, wherein the electronically received location information includes GPS coordinates provided by a GPS-enabled marking device configured to apply the at least one physical locate mark to the dig area, the GPS coordinates representing the location of the at least one physical locate mark; C) generating a marked-up image including at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark applied by the locate technician during the locate operation, based at least in part on the location information including the GPS coordinates received in B), by adding the at least one digital representation on the displayed digital image; and D) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing a timestamp indicative of when the locate operation occurred, and at least one of i) the marked-up image and ii) the GPS coordinates, so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation, wherein the at least one underground facility includes at least one of power lines, telephone/cable television lines, water lines, sewer lines, steam lines, oil lines and gas lines.