System and method for digging navigation

Abstract

A method and system for protecting installed utility assets, such as electric power lines, telephone lines, water lines, sewer lines, fiber-optic cable lines, natural gas transmission lines, natural gas distribution lines, and utility lines for transporting hazardous liquids. The system and method include recording a location of an utility asset as the utility asset is being installed; displaying the location of the installed utility asset with imagery and mapping information on a display, in relation to a location of a ground breaking equipment; and automatically guiding the ground breaking equipment to avoid damage to the installed utility asset. Alternatively, the system and method include placing a GPS receiver on a ground breaking equipment; calculating the location of the utility asset being installed responsive to the location of the GPS receiver placed on the ground breaking equipment according to predetermined length or angle of components of the ground breaking equipment; recording the location of the utility asset; displaying the location of the installed utility asset with imagery and mapping information on a display, in relation to a location of the ground breaking equipment; and signaling a warning signal when the ground breaking equipment is closer than a predetermined distance to the installed utility asset.

1 . A method for protecting installed utility assets, the method comprising:
 recording a location of an utility asset as the utility asset is being installed;   displaying the location of the installed utility asset with imagery and mapping information on a display, in relation to a location of a ground breaking equipment; and   automatically guiding the ground breaking equipment to avoid damage to the installed utility asset.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically guiding the ground breaking equipment comprises:
 receiving information from a GPS about the location of the ground breaking equipment;   comparing the received location information to a site data record stored in a data base;   generating steering commands for ground breaking equipment responsive to the comparing; and   utilizing the steering commands to steer the ground breaking equipment to avoid damage to the installed utility asset.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating buffer zones based on the installed utility asset and automatically guiding the ground breaking equipment to avoid the buffer zones.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the location of the installed utility asset comprises:
 displaying GPS coordinates of the installed utility asset on a display;   displaying GPS coordinates of a current position of the ground breaking equipment on the display;   displaying a graphic indicator indicating a current direction of the ground breaking equipment on the display; and   displaying a current distance of the ground breaking equipment to the installed utility asset on the display.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein recording a location of an utility asset comprises:
 providing by a GPS receiver latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the utility asset, as the utility asset is being installed; and   storing the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein recording a location of an utility asset comprises:
 placing a RFID on the utility asset being installed;   reading a position of the RFID placed on the utility asset by a RFID reader; and   recording the position of the RFID placed on the utility asset.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising storing information in the RFID consisting of one or more of characteristics of the utility asset, owner of the utility asset, type of the utility asset, date of installation of the utility asset, and attributes of the surrounding area. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising placing a GPS receiver on the ground breaking equipment, and calculating the location of the utility asset responsive to the location of the GPS receiver placed on the ground breaking equipment according to predetermined length or angle of components of the ground breaking equipment. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the GPS receiver is placed on an arm of the ground breaking equipment. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the GPS receiver is placed on a bucket of the ground breaking equipment. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the GPS receiver is placed on an arm of the ground breaking equipment. 
   
   
       12 . A method for protecting installed utility assets, the method comprising:
 placing a GPS receiver on a ground breaking equipment;   calculating the location of the utility asset being installed responsive to the location of the GPS receiver placed on the ground breaking equipment according to predetermined length or angle of components of the ground breaking equipment;   recording the location of the utility asset;   displaying the location of the installed utility asset with imagery and mapping information on a display, in relation to a location of the ground breaking equipment; and   signaling a warning signal when the ground breaking equipment is closer than a predetermined distance to the installed utility asset.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 placing a RFID on the utility asset being installed;   reading a position of the RFID placed on the utility asset by a RFID reader; and   recording the position of the RFID placed on the utility asset.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein displaying the location of the installed utility asset comprises:
 displaying GPS coordinates of the installed utility asset on a display;   displaying GPS coordinates of a current position of the ground breaking equipment on the display;   displaying a graphic indicator indicating a current direction of the ground breaking equipment on the display; and   displaying a current distance of the ground breaking equipment to the installed utility asset on the display.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein recording a location of an utility asset comprises:
 providing by the GPS receiver latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the utility asset, as the utility asset is being installed; and storing the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining the distance from the installed utility asset to a current location of the ground breaking equipment, and generating a warning indication responsive to the determined distance.