Methods and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an
absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. Data
representing an aerial image of a geographic area including the dig area
is electronically received, the data including geo-coding or geographical
identification metadata associated with the aerial image. At least a
portion of the aerial image is displayed on a display device, including
at least one map symbol, street name, region, and/or landmark description
superimposed upon or displayed separately from the geographic area. The
dig area is delimited on the displayed image, via a user input device
associated with the display device, so as to generate a marked-up digital
image including a delimited dig area. Information relating to the
marked-up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or
electronically stored so as to facilitate the detection of the presence
or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig
area.