Systems and methods for using marking information to electronically display dispensing of markers by a marking system or marking tool

Abstract

One or more markers are dispensed on ground, pavement or other surface in a dig area to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, so as to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of one or more underground utilities in the dig area. One or more signals are wirelessly transmitted in response to the dispensing of the one or more markers, wherein the signal(s) represent(s) first data relating to marking information that is provided by a tag reader and that is associated with the dispensed marker(s).

1 . A marking apparatus comprising:
 a marking dispenser to dispense at least one marker in a dig area to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the at least one marker to mark ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area so as to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of at least one underground utility in the dig area;   a tag reader communicatively coupled to the marking dispenser to read marking information regarding the at least one marker;   a triggering system communicatively coupled to the marking dispenser to trigger the marking dispenser so as to dispense the at least one marker; and   a communication system communicatively coupled to the triggering system and including a wireless interface to transmit at least one signal from the marking apparatus relating to use of the marking apparatus,   wherein the at least one signal transmitted by the wireless interface represents first data relating to the marking information read by the tag reader.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first data relates to both a location of the marking apparatus upon at least one actuation of the triggering system and at least one characteristic of the at least one marker dispensed from the marking dispenser. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first data further relates to a time of the at least one actuation of the triggering system. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a location tracking system communicatively coupled to the communication system, to provide at least some of the first data relating to the location of the marking apparatus upon the at least one actuation of the triggering system, wherein the location tracking system includes a global positioning system (GPS) or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one marker includes paint or a flag, and wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one marker includes a color and/or a type of the paint or the flag. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first data relates to a location of the marking apparatus upon the at least one actuation of the triggering system, at least one characteristic of the at least one marker dispensed from the marking dispenser, and a time of the at least one actuation of the triggering system. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface is configured to transmit the at least one signal to at least one external device located remote from the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless interface includes a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless interface includes a radio frequency interface. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 7 ; and   the at least one external device located remote from the apparatus and communicatively coupled to the communication system of the apparatus, wherein the at least one external device comprises a processor to receive and process the at least one signal representing the first data so as to display a dispensing of the at least one marker on an electronic representation of an area that is marked and includes a location of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground utility.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one processor communicatively coupled to the communication system, to log location and/or time data upon the at least one actuation of the triggering system, wherein the at least one signal transmitted by the wireless interface relates to the logged location and/or time data. 
     
     
         12 . A marking apparatus, comprising:
 a marking dispenser to dispense at least one marker in a dig area to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the at least one marker to mark ground, pavement or other surface in the dig area so as to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of at least one underground utility in the dig area;   a tag reader communicatively coupled to the marking dispenser to read marking information regarding the at least one marker;   a triggering system communicatively coupled to the marking dispenser to trigger the marking dispenser so as to dispense the at least one marker;   a location tracking system to provide location data relating to a location of the marking apparatus upon at least one actuation of the triggering system; and   a communication system communicatively coupled to the triggering system and the location tracking system, the communication system including a wireless interface to transmit at least one signal from the marking apparatus relating to use of the marking apparatus,   wherein the at least one signal transmitted by the wireless antenna represents:
 the location data relating to the location of the marking apparatus upon the at least one actuation of the triggering system; and 
 the marking information regarding the at least one marker and read by the tag reader. 
   
     
     
         13 . A marking method, comprising:
 A) dispensing at least one marker on ground, pavement or other surface in a dig area to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities so as to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of at least one underground utility in the dig area;   B) reading, via a tag reader, marking information regarding the at least one marker dispensed in A); and   C) wirelessly transmitting at least one signal, in response to A), wherein the at least one signal represents first data relating to at least one of:
 a location at which the at least one marker is dispensed in A); and 
 the marking information read by the tag reader in B). 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in C), the first data relates to both the location at which the at least one marker is dispensed in A), and the marking information read in B). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in C), the first data further relates to a time at which the at least one marker is dispensed in A). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first data relates to the location at which the at least one marker is dispensed in A), the marking information read in B), and a time at which the at least one marker is dispensed in A). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein C) comprises:
 transmitting the at least one signal to at least one external device located remote from the location at which the at least one marker is dispensed in A).   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one signal transmitted in C) is a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 D) receiving and processing, at the at least one external device, the at least one signal representing the first data so as to display a dispensing of the at least one marker on an electronic representation of an area that is marked and includes the location of the at least one underground utility.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 logging location and/or time data in response to A), wherein the at least one signal transmitted in C) relates to the logged location and/or time data.