METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING TECHNICIAN CHECKLISTS FOR LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS

1 . A computer-implemented method executed by at least one processor for generating a checklist for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or 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 is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

A) acquiring ticket information that is derived from a ticket and/or a work order associated with the locate and/or marking operation;

B) based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, determining at least one task to be performed by a locate technician in connection with the locate and/or marking operation; and

C) generating the checklist for the locate and/or marking operation, the checklist comprising a plurality of checklist items to be processed pursuant to the locate and/or marking operation, at least one of the checklist items corresponding to the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

D) transmitting the checklist to a piece of locating equipment used by the locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising

E) displaying the checklist on a display of the piece of locating equipment.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein B) comprises:

using at least one facilities map associated with the locate and/or marking operation to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein B) further comprises:

automatically selecting at least one facility on the facilities map based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, wherein the at least one task comprises locating and/or marking the at least one facility.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the dig area is delimited on the at least one facilities map, and wherein the at least one facility selected is located within the dig area.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one task comprises locating and/or marking at least one facility, and wherein B) further comprises:

receiving from a user a selection of a location on the facilities map; and

using metadata associated with the facilities map to determine the at least one facility based on the user-selected location on the facilities map.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein B) comprises:

using at least one historical record to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician, the at least one historical record relating to one or more past locate and/or marking operations.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein B) comprises:

using at least one industry best practice guide to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician, the at least one industry best practice guide comprising industry-accepted recommended practices and/or procedures with respect to underground facility locate and/or marking operations.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein B) comprises:

using one or more standard operating procedures to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician, the one or more standard operating procedures comprising recommendations and/or standards specific to a locate service provider that dispatches the locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more standard operation procedures comprise information derived from:

state, locate and/or regional regulations relating to underground facility locate and/or marking operations;

internal policy information of the locate service provider; and/or

contract information relating to one or more contracts between the locate service provider and another entity.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tasks comprises:

selecting, preparing, testing, and/or operating a piece of locating equipment.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tasks comprises:

physically proceeding to a selected location.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tasks comprises identifying a location of a landmark.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein C) comprises:

receiving an update with respect to the at least one of the checklist items, the update derived based at least in part on locating equipment data generated by one or more pieces of locating equipment; and

modifying the checklist based at least in part on the received update.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein modifying the checklist comprises:

adding an additional checklist item; and/or

modifying an existing checklist item.

17 . At least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, perform a method for generating a checklist for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or 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 is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:

A) acquiring ticket information derived from a ticket and/or a work order associated with the locate and/or marking operation;

B) based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, determining at least one task to be performed by a locate technician in connection with the locate and/or marking operation; and

C) generating the checklist for the locate and/or marking operation, the checklist comprising a plurality of checklist items to be processed pursuant to the locate and/or marking operation, at least one of the checklist items corresponding to the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician.

18 . A system for generating a checklist for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or 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 is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the system comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor:

A) controls the at least one communication interface so as to acquire ticket information derived from a ticket and/or a work order associated with the locate and/or marking operation;

B) based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, determines at least one task to be performed by a locate technician in connection with the locate and/or marking operation; and

C) generates the checklist for the locate and/or marking operation, the checklist comprising a plurality of checklist items to be processed pursuant to the locate and/or marking operation, at least one of the checklist items corresponding to the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

D) transmits the checklist to a piece of locating equipment used by the locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

E) displays the checklist on a display of the piece of locating equipment.

21 . The system of claim 18 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor uses at least one facilities map associated with the locate and/or marking operation to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor automatically selects at least one facility on the facilities map based at least in part on the acquired ticket information, wherein the at least one task comprises locating and/or marking the at least one facility.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the dig area is delimited on the at least one facilities map, and wherein the at least one facility selected is located within the dig area.

24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one task comprises locating and/or marking at least one facility, and wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

receives from a user a selection of a location on the facilities map; and

uses metadata associated with the facilities map to determine the at least one facility based on the user-selected location on the facilities map.

25 . The system of claim 18 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

uses at least one historical record to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician, the at least one historical record relating to one or more past locate and/or marking operations.

26 . The system of claim 18 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

uses at least one industry best practice guide to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician, the at least one industry best practice guide comprising industry-accepted recommended practices and/or procedures with respect to underground facility locate and/or marking operations.

27 . The system of claim 18 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

uses one or more standard operating procedures to determine the at least one task to be performed by the locate technician, the one or more standard operating procedures comprising recommendations and/or standards specific to a locate service provider that dispatches the locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the one or more standard operation procedures comprise information derived from:

state, locate and/or regional regulations relating to underground facility locate and/or marking operations;

internal policy information of the locate service provider; and/or

contract information relating to one or more contracts between the locate service provider and another entity.

29 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one tasks comprises:

selecting, preparing, testing, and/or operating a piece of locating equipment.

30 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one tasks comprises:

physically proceeding to a selected location.

31 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one tasks comprises identifying a location of a landmark.

32 . The system of claim 18 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor further:

receives an update with respect to the at least one of the checklist items, the update generated based at least in part on locating equipment data from one or more pieces of locating equipment; and

modifies the checklist based at least in part on the received update.

33 . The system of claim 32 , wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the processor modifies the checklist at least in part by:

adding an additional checklist item; and/or

modifying an existing checklist item.