Overhead imagery technology can reduce the four most problematic aspects of traditional roof inspections: Time (number of days to get a field inspector to the site); Expense (cost of internal or outside field inspections); Accuracy (cost associated with inflated roof measurements); and Risk of Injury (climbing up on roofs).

There are two steps in an overhead imagery-based roof measurement process. First, the address of the home must be roof-top geo-coded with the roof measured to a specific latitude and longitude. Approximate geo-coding is not sufficient. Web-based mapping engines — such as Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth — approximate the location of a property. A rooftop geo-code must be tied to a location on the parcel, using plat maps and aerial imagery.

The second step is to identify each roof face from overhead imagery. Multiple imagery sources often must be consulted. Leaf-off imagery is preferred, especially in those places where tree foliage can obscure roofs. Image processing techniques, including edge detection, can be used to highlight roof ridgelines and edges. Pitch can typically be inferred using photogrammetry techniques, including shadows and perspective aerial (oblique) imagery.

The latitude and longitude of the property is not required or assumed if only an address is provided. The address is rooftop geo-coded to the latitude and longitude of the home. Then a schematic is generated.

What kind of availability is there for this type of service?

The technology has finally come to a very traditional segment of the property claim business: measuring roofs. Overhead imagery and the sophisticated software and models that are used to determine very accurate measurements are available in the marketplace at costs that are a fraction of field inspections. More information is available at our web site, www.whitegoldsolutions.com.