AERIAL ROOF ESTIMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100179787A2
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EagleView Technologies Incorporated (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Original Assignee: EagleView Technologies Incorporated (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Inventors: Pershing, Chris, Carlson, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

A system that allows the remote measurement of the size, geometry, pitch and orientation of the roof sections of a building and then uses the information to provide an estimate to repair or replace the roof, or to install equipment thereon. The system includes an aerial image file database that shows aerial images of buildings in a designated area according to address. The slope and orientation images are typically oblique perspective views and top plan views of the buildings in the area. The system also includes an image analysis and calibration feature that enables the viewer to closely estimate the size, geometry and orientation of the building'"'"'s roof sections. The information can then be used to prepare a cost estimate for the repair or replacement of the roof or installation of roof equipment. By simply inputting the potential customer'"'"'s address, the company is able to determine the size, geometry, pitch and orientation of the roof sections of the building at that address, and then quickly provide an accurate estimate to the customer.

Claims

1. A system for remotely determining measurements of a roof, comprising:

a computer including an input means, a display means and working memory; and

a roof estimating software program stored in the working memory and operable to;

receive location information of a building in the selected region;

present aerial image files showing the roof sections of said building and showing measurements of the roof; and

,

determine, based on said aerial image files, the measurements of the roof including size, geometry, and pitch of the roof sections of said building.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an aerial image file database containing a plurality of aerial images of roofs of buildings, the aerial image file database loaded into said working memory of said computer.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an aerial image file database that is located on a second computer that is remote from said computer.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, further including a network connected to said computer, wherein potential customers are able transmit via said network a request for an estimate to said computer from remote locations.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the roof estimation software program is further operable to produce a roof construction estimate based on the determined measurements.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the roof estimation software program is further operable to produce an HVAC installation estimate based on the determined measurements.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the roof estimation software program is further operable to produce a solar panel installation estimate based on the determined measurements.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the roof estimation software program is further operable to produce a roof gutter installation estimate based on the determined measurements.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the roof estimation software program is further operable to produce a repair or replacement estimate based on the determined measurements.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

6-7. -7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11-13. -13. (canceled)

18. A method for determining measurements of a roof, comprising:

selecting a roof estimation system that includes a computer with a roof estimation software program loaded into its working memory, said roof estimation software uses aerial image files of buildings in a selected region and a calibration module that allows the size, geometry, and pitch of a roof section to be determined from said aerial image files;

submitting a request for a measurement of a roof of a building at a known location;

entering the location of a building with a roof that needs a roof measurement;

obtaining aerial image files of said roof of the building at said location;

using said calibration module to determine the size, geometry and pitch of each said roof section; and

outputting a roof estimate report based on the determined measurements.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein submitting the request for the measurement includes receiving the request from at least one of:

a building tenant, a building owner, a roofing contractor, a solar panel installation company, a gutter insulation company, a HVAC company, and an insurance company.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating a roof estimate report based on the determined measurements.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein generating the roof estimate report includes generating a line drawing of the roof labeled with at least one of the determined measurements.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the roof estimate report includes at least one of the aerial images.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein determining the measurements of the roof includes determining linear measurements of the sections of said roof.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein determining the measurements of the roof includes identifying ridges and/or valleys of said roof.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving the request for the measurement of the roof includes receiving, from a customer, an address of said building.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining the aerial images of said roof includes receiving the aerial images from an aerial image database.

23. The method of 18 wherein determining the measurements of the roof includes constructing, based on the aerial images, a three-dimensional geometry of the roof.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein constructing the three-dimensional geometry of the roof includes co-registering, based on a set of reference points, the aerial images.

29. A method for determining measurements of a roof, comprising:

under control of a roof estimation system;

receiving a request for measuring a roof of a building, the request including location information for the building, the roof including a plurality of sections;

obtaining, based on the location information, aerial images of the roof of the building; and

determining, based on the obtained aerial images, the measurements of the roof, the measurements including an area and a pitch of each of the plurality of sections of the roof.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising producing a roof estimate report based on the determined measurements of the roof, the roof estimate report including at least one of the aerial images.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the roof estimate report includes a line drawing of the roof labeled with at least one of the determined measurements.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein obtaining the aerial images of the roof includes receiving the aerial images from an aerial image database.

32. The method of 29 wherein determining the measurements of the roof includes constructing, based on the aerial images, a three-dimensional geometry of the roof.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein constructing the three-dimensional geometry of the roof includes co-registering, based on a set of reference points, the aerial images.

35. A system for remotely determining measurements of a roof, the system comprising:

a computer including a display and working memory; and

a roof estimating software program stored in the working memory and operable to;

receive location information of a building in the selected region;

present on the display aerial images showing the roof sections of said building and showing measurements of the roof;

determine, based on said aerial images, the measurements of the roof including size, geometry, and pitch of the roof sections of said building; and

output a report including the determined measurements and at least one of said aerial images.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising an aerial image file database that includes the presented aerial images.

37. A method for determining measurements of a roof, comprising:

under control of a roof estimation system;

receiving a request for measuring a roof of a building, the request including location information for the building, the roof including a plurality of sections;

receiving aerial images of the roof of the building from a remote aerial image database, the receiving based on the location information for the building;

determining, based on the received aerial images, the measurements of the roof, the measurements including an area and a pitch of each of the plurality of sections of the roof;

identifying, based on the received aerial images, ridges of the roof; and

outputting a roof estimate report based on the determined measurements of the roof, the roof estimate report including at least one of the aerial images, at least one line drawing of the roof, an indication of the identified ridges of the roof, and at least some of the determined measurements.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein receiving the request for measuring the roof includes receiving the request from at least one of:

a building tenant, a building owner, a roofing contractor, a solar panel installation company, a gutter insulation company, a HVAC company, and an insurance company.

38. The method of 37 wherein determining the measurements of the roof includes constructing, based on the aerial images, a three-dimensional geometry of the roof.

39. The method of claim 39 wherein constructing the three-dimensional geometry of the roof includes co-registering, based on a set of reference points, the aerial images.