1. A computer-implemented method for managing a geographically-expansive construction project; comprising:
reading a plurality of construction project data from a database, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data includes first geographic location information;
retrieving terrain data from the database, wherein said image data includes second geographic location information; and
displaying to a user said construction project data in conjunction with said image data such that said construction project data appears in a correlated geographic location with said image data so as to enable management of the construction project.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said database comprises a plurality of databases.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said construction project data in at least one of the following: project design data, project status data, customer relations data, and property data.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said construction project data includes style information such that said construction project data is displayed in accordance with a corresponding style.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said style information comprises dimensional and color attributes.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said style information comprises a three dimensional image representative of said corresponding construction project data.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said terrain data comprises project-specific terrain data, pre-existing terrain data, and combinations thereof.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises fusing said construction project data and said terrain data.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
viewing said displayed data to ascertain a status of at least a portion of said construction project.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:
inputting and storing updated construction project data to said first database.
11. A system for managing a geographically-expansive construction project, comprising:
a database server that stores construction project data, at least a portion of which includes first geographic location information, and terrain data, at least a portion of which includes second geographic location information; and
a server system coupled to the database server, wherein the server system:
provides a user interface that includes functionality for a plurality of users to view said construction project data in conjunction with said terrain data such that said construction project data appears in a proper geographic location correlation with said terrain data so as to enable a user to view said geographically-expansive construction project.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the users comprises one of the following: a project manager, a field crew, a field supervisor, a field inspector, a customer relations representative, and a property owner.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data is submitted by a user via the user interface of the server system.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data is submitted by a customer relations representative in response to a request from a property owner.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein said database server is accessible to said users through said user interface such that said users can select desired data for viewing.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein said construction project data comprises at least one of the following: engineering design data, surveyed data, routing data, environmental data, real estate data, customer relations data, vegetation control data, historical data, wetlands data, field crew data, field supervisor data, field inspector data, boundary data, and image data.
17. A computer-implemented method for managing a geographically-expansive transmission line construction project, comprising:
aggregating a plurality of construction project data from a plurality of sources, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data includes geographic location information; and
displaying an aggregated image comprising at least a portion of said construction project data in conjunction with a background terrain image such that said construction project data appears in a proper geographic location with respect to said background terrain image.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein said displaying comprises inputting said construction project data and said terrain data into a geographical information system software application operable to create a display comprising the inputted construction project data and background terrain image.
19. The computer implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:
manipulating said graphical information system to provide varying views of said construction project data and said terrain data.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data comprises data submitted by a customer-relations representative in response to a request from a property owner.
21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data comprises data submitted by a field crew updating the status of at least a portion of the construction project.
22. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein said construction project data comprises at least one of the following: design data, historical data, project manager provided data, field crew provided data, and customer relations data.
23. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said construction project data comprises a three-dimensional image representative of said construction project data.
24. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:
selecting a portion of said displayed image whereby detailed information regarding the selected portion is displayed.
25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein said selecting comprises clicking on said displayed image using a computer pointing device.
26. A system for managing a geographically-expansive transmission line construction project, comprising:
a database server that stores construction project data, at least a portion of which includes first geographic location information, and terrain data, at least a portion of which includes second geographic location information; and
a server system coupled to the database server, wherein the server system:
provides a project management and scheduling application having user-input screens for accessing, viewing, and updating said construction project data;
provides a translations application operable to correlate the first geographic location information from said construction project data and said second geographic information from said terrain data; and
provides a geographical interface system application operable to display at least a portion of said construction project data and said terrain data such that said construction project data appears in a proper geographic location with respect to said terrain data.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein said construction project data comprises one or more of:
design data, real estate data, customer relations data, and combinations thereof.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein said project management and scheduling application displays user screens operable to allow a user to view, edit and update said construction project data.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein said translations application is operable to convert geographic location information from any of a plurality of first formats to a second format.
30. The system of claim 26, wherein said translations application is operable to apply display attributes to said construction project data, and wherein said geographical information system application is operable to display said construction project data in accordance with its display attributes.
31. The system of claim 26, wherein said geographical information system application is operable to allow a user to zoom-in, zoom-out, and change perspective of the viewed construction project data and terrain data.
32. The system of claim 26, wherein said geographical information system application is operable to recognize a user input with respect to a displayed project data item and to display additional construction project data in response.
33. A computer-implemented method for managing a geographically-expansive construction project, comprising:
maintaining a database comprising construction project data, at least a portion of which includes first geographic location information, and terrain data, at least a portion of which includes second geographic location information;
updating said construction project data in response to inputs from a plurality of users;
correlating said first geographic location information of said construction project data and said second geographic location information of said terrain data;
displaying at least a portion of said construction project data and terrain data in a visual format such that said construction project data appears in correlated geographic location with respect to said terrain data.
34. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein said plurality of users comprises at least one of the following: a customer relations representative, a project manager, a property owner, a field inspector, a field supervisor, and a field crew.
35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein said display is monitored by a project manager to ascertain a status of the construction project.
36. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein said user input is made by a customer-relations representative in response to input from a property owner.
37. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein each of said construction project data items are associated with an identification tag that uniquely identifies that data item.
38. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of managing a geographically-expansive transmission line construction project, said method comprising:
maintaining a database comprising construction project data, at least a portion of which includes first geographic location information, and terrain data, at least a portion of which includes second geographic location information;
updating said construction project data in response to inputs from a plurality of users;
correlating said first geographic location information of said construction project data and said second geographic location information of said terrain data;
displaying at least a portion of said construction project data and terrain data in a visual format such that said construction project data appears in a correlated geographic location with respect to said terrain data.
39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein said plurality of users comprises at least one of the following: a customer relations representative, a project manager, a property owner, a field inspector, a field supervisor, and a field crew.
40. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein said display is monitored by a project manager to ascertain a status of the construction project.
41. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein said user input is made by a customer-relations representative in response to input from a property owner.
42. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein each of said construction project data are associated with an identification tag that uniquely identifies that data item.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A valve, comprising:
a valve body having an inlet port, and an outlet port;
a valve disposed between said inlet port, and said outlet port, said valve having a first side and a second side;
a sensor operably associated with said first side and second side of valve in said valve body;
a control unit for controlling said valve; and
wherein said sensor measures a characteristic in proximity to said valve, and said sensor communicates information regarding said characteristic to said control unit, and said control unit sends position commands to said valve.
2. The valve of claim 1, further comprising an actuator for changing the position of said valve.
3. The valve of claim 2, wherein said actuator is one selected from the group comprising a D.C. motor, a solenoid, a stepper motor, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.
4. The valve of claim 1, wherein said control unit commands said valve to change position through the use of a control signal, said control signal is one selected from a group comprising a stepped electrical pulse, a pulse width modulated signal, or an amplitude modulated signal.
5. The valve of claim 1, wherein said control unit will verify the position of said valve to maintain the amount of said characteristic in proximity to said valve.
6. The valve of claim 1, wherein when said sensor determines a fluctuation in said characteristic in proximity to said valve, said control unit adjusts said valve so a desired constant amount of said characteristic is maintained.
7. The valve of claim 1, further comprising an effective orifice, created by the position of said valve used for delivering a gas from said inlet port, to said outlet port.
8. The valve of claim 1, wherein and said valve further comprises a valve seat and a valve member.
9. The valve of claim 1, wherein said sensor communicates information regarding said characteristic on said first side of said valve and said second side of said valve to said control unit, and said control unit sends position commands to said valve.
10. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a first passage extending through said valve body to said first side of said valve, a second passage extending through said valve body to said second side of said valve, wherein the pressure in said first passage is sensed by said sensor, and the pressure in said second passage is sensed by said sensor.
11. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor for providing the position of said valve to said control unit.
12. The valve of claim 12, wherein said control unit adjusts the position of said valve based on the communication of the amount of said characteristic determined by said sensor and the communication of the position of said valve from said position sensor.
13. The valve of claim 1, wherein said characteristic is one selected from the group comprising pressure, mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, air particulate content, contamination, or density.
14. The valve of claim 1, further comprising:
a turbocharger having a turbine and a compressor, said turbine operably associated with said compressor, wherein said inlet port is in fluid communication with said turbine, and said outlet port is selectively in fluid communication with said compressor.
15. The valve of claim 15, further comprising said inlet port receiving exhaust gas at a location upstream of said turbine, and said outlet port distributing exhaust gas downstream of said compressor.
16. The valve of claim 15, further comprising said inlet port receiving exhaust gas at a location downstream of said turbine, and said outlet port distributing exhaust gas upstream of said compressor.
17. An exhaust gas recirculation system having a valve, comprising:
a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port;
a valve positioned in said valve body, operably associated with a valve seat;
an effective orifice created by said valve and said valve seat for forming a passageway for facilitating the flow of gas;
a pressure sensor for taking at least one measurement of gas flow pressure associated with a first side of said valve, wherein said pressure sensor transmits a signal;
an actuator for positioning said valve in relation to said valve seat;
a second sensor down stream of said valve for taking a measurement of exhaust gas flow press associated with a second side of said valve; and
a control unit for controlling said actuator and said valve, said control unit receives said signal from said pressure sensor, and sends a control signal to said actuator, wherein said control signal commands said actuator to change the position of said valve in response to said signal from said first sensor and said second sensor, or said control signal commands said actuator to maintain the position of said valve.
18. The valve of claim 18, wherein said actuator is one selected from the group comprising a D.C. motor, a stepper motor, a solenoid, a pneumatic actuator, and a hydraulic actuator.
19. The valve of claim 18, wherein and said valve is further comprised of a valve stem and a valve member.
20. The valve of claim 18, wherein said control unit further includes a set of operating conditions, and said control unit commands said actuator to adjust the position of said valve such that proper exhaust gas flow is achieved for each of said operating conditions.
21. The valve of claim 18, wherein said control signal is one selected from the group comprising a stepped electrical pulse, a pulse width modulated signal, or an amplitude modulated signal.
22. The valve of claim 18, further comprising a turbocharger unit having a turbine and a compressor, said inlet port in fluid communication with said turbocharger, and said outlet port is selectively in fluid communication with said compressor.
23. The valve of claim 22, wherein said inlet port is in fluid communication with said turbine upstream of said turbine, and said outlet port is selectively in fluid communication with said compressor downstream of said compressor.
24. The valve of claim 22, wherein said inlet port in is fluid communication with said turbine downstream of said turbine, and said outlet port is selectively in fluid communication with said compressor upstream of said compressor.
25. A method for controlling the flow of gas through a valve, comprising the steps of:
providing a valve body having an inlet port, and an outlet port;
providing a valve operably associated with a valve seat, said valve and valve seat disposed between said inlet port and said outlet port;
providing an actuator for positioning said valve;
providing a pressure sensor for providing a first gas pressure measurement in proximity to a first side of said valve, providing a pressure sensor for providing a second gas pressure measurement in proximity to a second side of said valve at least one gas pressure measurement in proximity to a first side said valve;
providing a control unit for receiving said gas pressure measurements, and controlling said actuator;
creating an effective orifice with said valve seat and said valve;
monitoring the gas pressures in proximity of said valve;
sending a signal to said control unit; and
sending a control signal from said control unit to said actuator to change the position of said valve based on said gas pressure.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:
providing said valve with a valve stem and a valve member; and
changing the position of said valve stem and said valve member by activating said actuator and moving said valve member with respect to said valve seat.
27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:
providing a position sensor operably associated with said valve;
sending said signal from said pressure sensor to said control unit;
sending a position signal from said position sensor to said control unit;
sending said control signal from said control unit to said actuator; and
changing the position of said valve based on said signal received from said pressure sensor, and said position signal received from said position sensor.
28. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:
providing a turbocharger unit having a turbine and a compressor;
placing said inlet port in fluid communication with said turbine; and
placing said outlet port selectively in fluid communication with said compressor.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:
placing said inlet port in fluid communication with said turbine at a location upstream of said turbine; and
placing said outlet port selectively in fluid communication with said compressor at a location downstream of said compressor.
30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:
placing said inlet port in fluid communication with said turbine at a location downstream of said turbine; and
placing said outlet port selectively in fluid communication with said compressor at a location upstream of said compressor.