Underground Utility Position Documentation via Panoramic Photography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for documenting the position of underground utilities are temporary and easily lost during excavation, making it difficult for ground disturbers to accurately locate them, especially for those with little experience or formal education.
Innovation Solution
A method involving temporary marking strips overlaid on underground utilities, documented with digital photographs taken using a smartphone or digital camera equipped with GPS, allowing for visual and GPS-based mapping, which can be superimposed on internet maps like Google Maps, and optionally accompanied by audio commentary and color coding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If temporary spray paint markings are used to designate underground utilities, then the markings can be made quickly and temporarily without permanent damage to property, but the markings are removed during the first step of excavation (removing top layer of asphalt, sod, or top soil) before excavation begins in earnest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a permanent visual record (photograph) that copies the temporary markings, allowing the information to persist beyond the physical markings' lifespan. The photograph serves as a durable substitute that maintains the marking information through the excavation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent takes photographs of the markings before excavation removes them. This preliminary documentation captures the marking information in advance, ensuring it is preserved for later reference during excavation activities.
2Ease of operation
If detailed physical markings are provided on the ground, then ground disturbers can locate utilities, but the markings are removed with the top layer during excavation preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a permanent visual record (photograph) that copies the temporary markings, allowing the information to persist beyond the physical markings' lifespan. The photograph serves as a durable substitute that maintains the marking information through the excavation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent takes photographs of the markings before excavation removes them. This preliminary documentation captures the marking information in advance, ensuring it is preserved for later reference during excavation activities.
3Measurement precision
If traditional spray paint markings are used, then utility locations can be indicated, but the markings are not easily comprehensible to ground disturbers with little experience or formal education
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a permanent visual record (photograph) that copies the temporary markings, allowing the information to persist beyond the physical markings' lifespan. The photograph serves as a durable substitute that maintains the marking information through the excavation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional ground markings to a three-dimensional visual record that can be viewed from multiple angles and distances. The photograph provides spatial context and visual references (sidewalks, driveways, hedges) that make the information more comprehensible to ground disturbers with varying levels of experience.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a permanent visual record that is easier to understand, allowing ground disturbers to accurately locate utilities post-excavation, reduces the need for repeated physical location verification, and offers a precise and reviewable documentation of field work.
Implementation Method 1
taking at least one photograph of the markings designating the underground utility
Implementation Method 2
the step of taking of the at least one photograph is performed with a digital camera having a global positioning system (GPS) application
Data Source
AI summary
A method of documenting a position of an underground utility which involves placing temporary markings on a ground surface designating an underground location of the underground utility. A photograph is then taken providing an overhead panoramic view of the temporary markings designating the underground location of the underground utility. The photograph includes visual landmarks, such as sidewalks, driveways, trees and hedges, thereby providing a visual reference. After excavation has taken place and the temporary markings have been removed along with the ground surface, using the photograph to reconfirm the underground location of the underground utility by using the visual reference provided by the relationship that the temporary markings depicted in the photograph bear to the visual landmarks that remain after excavation.