Aerial roof estimation systems and methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for roof estimation are described. Example embodiments include a roof estimation system, which generates and provides roof estimate reports annotated with indications of the size, geometry, pitch and/or orientation of the roof sections of a building. Generating a roof estimate report may be based on one or more aerial images of a building. In some embodiments, generating a roof estimate report of a specified building roof may include generating a three-dimensional model of the roof, and generating a report that includes one or more views of the three-dimensional model, the views annotated with indications of the dimensions, area, and/or slope of sections of the roof. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating a roof estimate report, the method comprising:
 receiving a first aerial image of a building having the roof;   receiving a second aerial image of the building having the roof, the first and second aerial images of the building having been taken independent of each other, the first and second aerial images of the building providing different views of the roof from each other;   calibrating at least one of the first and second aerial images of the building using calibration information received from a calibration module;   correlating, without using a preexisting three-dimensional model of the building, the first aerial image of the building with the second aerial image of the building, the correlating including registering pairs of points on the first and second aerial images of the building, each pair of points corresponding to a same point on the roof depicted in each of the first and second aerial images of the building;   generating, without using a preexisting three-dimensional model of the building, based at least in part on the correlation of the first and second aerial images of the building, a three-dimensional model of the roof that includes a plurality of planar roof sections that each have a corresponding pitch, area, and edges;   determining a pitch of a plurality of sections of the roof; and   generating a roof estimate report that includes at least one top plan view of the three-dimensional model annotated with numerical indications of the determined pitch.