An intelligent marking paint applicator system and method of use. The applicator, such as a marking stick or gun for example, can include a composition marking applicator and associated electrical and electronic components mounted in or in association with the device to identify and record composition (such as spray paint for example) marking activity. The device may optionally include GPS locating sensing capability to identify the location of the composition marking activity. The device may optionally provide marking activity to one or more separate devices, including in order to identify the location of the composition marking activity. Some embodiments of the applicator can also be lightweight, compact, and economicalin some embodiments, relying on use of the device with one or more other separate smart devices to provide geolocation of device for example.

Location systems and methods for locating paint and other markings on a surface are described. More specifically, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to smart paint stick devices and methods for locating and marking buried utility lines or other buried objects. One system for locating a buried object may include a buried object locator and paint stick. The locator may include a tracking component for detecting a location of a buried object. The paint stick may be configured to cause a paint container to dispense paint at a first position associated with the location of the buried object. The paint stick may include a position determination component for transmitting one or more range vector signals that are detected by the tracking component. Sensors may be used to determine when paint is dispensed from a paint container, and to determine a color of the paint or a type of a marking.

An intelligent marking paint applicator system and method of use. The applicator, such as a marking stick or gun for example, can include a composition marking applicator and associated electrical and electronic components mounted in or in association with the device to identify and record composition (such as spray paint for example) marking activity. The device may optionally include GPS locating sensing capability to identify the location of the composition marking activity. The device may optionally provide marking activity to one or more separate devices, including in order to identify the location of the composition marking activity. Some embodiments of the applicator can also be lightweight, compact, and economicalin some embodiments, relying on use of the device with one or more other separate smart devices to provide geolocation of device for example.