Methods and apparatus for overlaying electronic marking information on facilities map information and/or other image information displayed on a marking device

Abstract

A marking device for a marking operation to mark a presence or an absence of one or more underground facilities is configured to access and display facilities map information, and/or other image information, as a visual aid to facilitate the marking operation. In various aspects, methods and apparatus relate to: selection of an appropriate “base” facilities map, or information from a database of facilities map data, relating to a given work site/dig area; selection of an appropriate pan and/or zoom (resolution) for displaying facilities map information; appropriately updating displayed facilities map information while a marking device is used during a marking operation (e.g. changing pan, zoom and/or orientation); overlaying on the displayed facilities map information marking information and/or landmark information relating to the marking operation; and storing locally on the marking device, and/or transmitting from the marking device, facilities map information and/or overlaid marking/landmark information (e.g., for further processing, analysis and/or subsequent display).

1 . A marking apparatus to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the marking apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a marking dispenser holder coupled to the housing to hold a replaceable marking material;   an actuator that, when actuated, causes dispensing of the marking material;   a display device coupled to the housing;   at least one memory; and   at least one processor, communicatively coupled to the display device and the at least one memory, and configured to:
 display on the display device a map image that is generated based on first map data selected by the at least one processor and that includes a geographic location at which the marking apparatus has dispensed the marking material; and 
 overlay an electronic representation of the marking material on the first map image at a position on the first map image corresponding to a location at which the marking material was dispensed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The marking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to obtain at least a portion of the first map data from a remote device. 
     
     
         3 . The marking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to store the at least the portion of the first map data in the at least one memory. 
     
     
         4 . The marking apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the first map data comprises the at least one map image. 
     
     
         5 . The marking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate the map image based on the portion of the first map data. 
     
     
         6 . The marking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the map image comprises a map that includes a geographic location of the marking apparatus, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the location of the marking apparatus to be indicated on the map image when displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         7 . The marking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the map image comprises a first image layer, wherein the electronic representation of the marking material comprises a second image layer, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         8 . The marking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input and/or is configured to cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device in response to user input. 
     
     
         9 . The marking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the second image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or to cause the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to not be displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         10 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a timing sub-layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material that was dispensed during a defined time window. 
     
     
         11 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a ticket sub-layer that includes displayed information relating to at least one aspect of a ticket for a locate and/or marking operation for which the marking material was dispensed. 
     
     
         12 . The marking apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one aspect of a ticket is at least one of:
 a ticket number identifying the ticket;   at least one party identifier representing a party requesting the locate operation and/or the marking operation;   at least one facility identifier representing a type and/or number of one or more facilities to be detected and/or marked in the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and   at least one ground type identifier representing a ground type for a work site and/or dig area at which the locate operation and/or the marking operation is performed; and   the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of:
 a ticket number sub-layer; 
 a requesting party sub-layer; 
 a facility type sub-layer; and 
 a ground type sub-layer. 
   
     
     
         13 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a service-related sub-layer that includes service-related information relating to at least one aspect of a locate and/or marking operation for which the marking material was dispensed. 
     
     
         14 . The marking apparatus  claim 13 , wherein:
 the service-related information includes one or more of:
 at least one service provider identifier representing a service provider overseeing performance of the locate operation and/or the marking operation; 
 at least one technician identifier representing a technician that performs the locate operation and/or the marking operation; 
 at least one device identifier representing at least one device used by the technician during the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and 
 at least one status identifier representing an operating status of at least one aspect of the at least one device; and 
   the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of:
 a service provider sub-layer; 
 a technician sub-layer; 
 a device sub-layer; and 
 an operating status sub-layer. 
   
     
     
         15 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a geographic sub-layer comprising an electronic representation of marking material dispensed in a particular geographic region. 
     
     
         16 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two sub-layers of the second image layer comprise a first sub-layer of the second image layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material corresponding to a first facility type, and a second sub-layer of the second image layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material corresponding to the second facility type. 
     
     
         17 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the second image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input and/or is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to not be displayed on the display device in response to user input. 
     
     
         18 . The marking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         19 . The marking apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a color of the marking material in the marking dispenser holder. 
     
     
         20 . The marking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, wherein a first sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a first portion of the map image, and wherein a second sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a second portion of the map image, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         21 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input and/or is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device in response to user input. 
     
     
         22 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         23 . The marking apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a color of the marking material in the marking dispenser holder. 
     
     
         24 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to landmarks. 
     
     
         25 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a type of landmark. 
     
     
         26 . The marking apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the type of landmark is one of:
 telephone poles;   fire hydrants;   termination boxes;   curbs; and.   manhole covers.   
     
     
         27 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines. 
     
     
         28 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines of a particular facility type. 
     
     
         29 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a dig area indicator indicative a geographic area in which excavation is planned. 
     
     
         30 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines owned by a particular entity. 
     
     
         31 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines in a particular geographic region. 
     
     
         32 . The marking apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that originally generated during a particular time window. 
     
     
         33 . A method for displaying information on a marking wand having a housing, a marking dispenser holder coupled to the housing to hold a replaceable marking material, an actuator that, when actuated, causes dispensing of the marking material, a display device coupled to the housing, at least one memory, and at least one processor, coupled to the display device and the at least one memory, the method comprising:
 displaying on the display device a map image that is generated based on first map data selected by the at least one processor and that includes a geographic location at which the marking apparatus has dispensed the marking material; and   overlaying an electronic representation of the marking material on the first map image at a position on the first map image corresponding to a location at which the marking material was dispensed.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 obtaining at least a portion of the first map data from a remote device.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 storing the at least the portion of the first map data in the at least one memory.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the at least the portion of the first map data comprises the at least one map image. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 generating the map image based on the portion of the first map data.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the map image comprises a map that includes a geographic location of the marking apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises:
 causing the location of the marking apparatus to be indicated on the map image when displayed on the display device.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the map image comprises a first image layer, wherein the electronic representation of the marking material comprises a second image layer, and wherein method further comprises:
 causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device is performed in response to user input. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the second image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, and wherein the method further comprises:
 causing the first sub-layer of the second image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or causing the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to not be displayed on the display device.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a timing sub-layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material that was dispensed during a defined time window. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a ticket sub-layer that includes displayed information relating to at least one aspect of a ticket for a locate and/or marking operation for which the marking material was dispensed. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one aspect of a ticket is at least one of:
 a ticket number identifying the ticket;   at least one party identifier representing a party requesting the locate operation and/or the marking operation;   at least one facility identifier representing a type and/or number of one or more facilities to be detected and/or marked in the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and   at least one ground type identifier representing a ground type for a work site and/or dig area at which the locate operation and/or the marking operation is performed; and   the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of:
 a ticket number sub-layer; 
 a requesting party sub-layer; 
 a facility type sub-layer; and 
 a ground type sub-layer. 
   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a service-related sub-layer that includes service-related information relating to at least one aspect of a locate and/or marking operation for which the marking material was dispensed. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the service-related information includes one or more of:
 at least one service provider identifier representing a service provider overseeing performance of the locate operation and/or the marking operation; 
 at least one technician identifier representing a technician that performs the locate operation and/or the marking operation; 
 at least one device identifier representing at least one device used by the technician during the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and 
 at least one status identifier representing an operating status of at least one aspect of the at least one device; and 
   the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of:
 a service provider sub-layer; 
 a technician sub-layer; 
 a device sub-layer; and 
 an operating status sub-layer. 
   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a geographic sub-layer comprising an electronic representation of marking material dispensed in a particular geographic region. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the at least two sub-layers of the second image layer comprise a first sub-layer of the second image layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material corresponding to a first facility type, and a second sub-layer of the second image layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material corresponding to the second facility type. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein causing the first sub-layer of the second image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or causing the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to not be displayed on the display device is performed in response to user input. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 automatically selecting either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer is automatically selected to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a color of the marking material in the marking dispenser holder. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, wherein a first sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a first portion of the map image, and wherein a second sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a second portion of the map image, and wherein the method further comprises:
 causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input and/or causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device is performed in response to user input. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 automatically selecting either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device.   
     
     
         55 . The method  claim 54 , wherein either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer is automatically selected to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a color of the marking material in the marking dispenser holder. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to landmarks. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a type of landmark. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the type of landmark is one of:
 telephone poles;   fire hydrants;   termination boxes;   curbs; and.   manhole covers.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines of a particular facility type. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a dig area indicator indicative a geographic area in which excavation is planned. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines owned by a particular entity. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines in a particular geographic region. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that originally generated during a particular time window. 
     
     
         65 . At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processor in marking apparatus having a housing, a marking dispenser holder coupled to the housing to hold a replaceable marking material, an actuator that, when actuated, causes dispensing of the marking material, a display device coupled to the processor and the housing, and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:
 displaying on the display device a map image that is generated based on first map data selected by the at least one processor and that includes a geographic location at which the marking apparatus has dispensed the marking material; and   overlaying an electronic representation of the marking material on the first map image at a position on the first map image corresponding to a location at which the marking material was dispensed.