Wireless utility asset mapping device method

Abstract

A wireless utility asset mapping device method comprises locating a utility asset, and placing a wireless utility asset mapping device over the location of the utility asset. The wireless utility asset mapping devices comprises a pole. A positioning receiver is connected to the pole. A wireless modem is connected to the pole and to the positioning receiver. At least one weatherproof housing is connected to the pole and encloses the positioning receiver and the wireless modem. A coordinate of the wireless utility asset mapping device is determined. The coordinated is wirelessly transmitted to a remote asset tracking computer.

1 . A wireless utility asset mapping device method comprising:
 locating a utility asset;   placing a wireless utility asset mapping device over the location of the utility asset;   determining a coordinate of the wireless utility asset mapping device; and   wirelessly transmitting the coordinate.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining comprises determining a global positioning system coordinate with an accuracy of better than one meter. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting comprises at least one of the following: transmitting at around a 900 megahertz band or greater, transmitting with spread spectrum modulation, transmitting according to an 802.xx wireless specification, and transmitting packetized wireless data. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of locating comprises:
 physically locating an approximate location of the utility asset; and   inspecting the utility asset from the approximate location to determine a more precise location.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of inspecting comprises at least one of the following: inspecting visually, inspecting with a line locator, inspecting with a metal detector, inspecting with a still camera, inspecting with a video camera, inspecting with radar, inspecting with sound, inspecting with magnetic fields, inspecting with electromagnetic fields, inspecting with a gas detector, inspecting with sonar, inspecting with a sonde transmitter, inspecting with a sonde receiver, inspecting with a submersible camera, inspecting with a robotic crawler, inspecting with a pipe scrubbing and scraping device, inspecting with a smart pig, inspecting with a horizontal drilling device, inspecting with a vertical drilling device, inspecting with thermal imaging, inspecting with a microgravity detector, inspecting with a radiation detector, inspecting with x-rays device, inspecting with a pressure sensor, and inspecting with a seismic detector. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising transmitting at least one of the following: a measurement from the step of inspecting, a depth measurement, sensor measurements, a still image, a video, text, and audio. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining comprises determining a latitude and a longitude of the utility asset. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of determining further comprises determining a depth of the utility asset. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting other utility asset information over long distance. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving proximal to the wireless utility asset mapping device information related to the utility asset; and   displaying the related information.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 (a) wherein the wireless utility asset mapping devices comprises,
 a pole having a top end, a bottom end, and a middle section extending from the top end to the bottom end, wherein the pole is telescoping; 
 a positioning receiver connected to the pole; 
 a wireless modem connected to the pole and to the positioning receiver; 
 at least one weatherproof housing connected to the pole and enclosing the positioning receiver and the wireless modem; and 
   (b) wherein the step of placing comprises placing the pole over the location of the utility asset.   
   
   
       12 . A wireless utility asset mapping device method comprising:
 locating a utility asset;   placing a pole of a wireless utility asset mapping device over the location of the utility asset, wherein the wireless utility asset mapping devices comprises,
 the pole having a top end, a bottom end, and a middle section extending from the top end to the bottom end, wherein the pole telescoping; 
 a positioning receiver connected to the pole; 
 a wireless modem connected to the pole and to the positioning receiver; 
 at least one weatherproof housing connected to the pole and enclosing the positioning receiver and the wireless modem; and 
   determining a coordinate of the wireless utility asset mapping device; and   wirelessly transmitting the coordinate to a remote asset tracking computer.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of locating comprises:
 physically locating an approximate location of the utility asset; and   inspecting the utility asset from the approximate location to determine a more precise location.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 receiving proximal to the wireless utility asset mapping device information related to the utility asset; and   displaying the related information.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of determining further comprises determining a depth of the utility asset. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising wirelessly transmitting at least one of the following: a depth measurement, sensor measurements, a still image, a video, text, and audio.