Aerial roof estimation system and method

Abstract

Image analysis systems and methods are disclosed including a computer system executing instructions to receive a plurality of aerial image files of a building having a roof including a first aerial image file taken from a first viewpoint of the building and a second aerial image file taken from a second viewpoint of the building different than the first viewpoint; determine a pitch and an area of one or more roof sections based on image analysis performed on the aerial image files, wherein the image analysis comprises constructing a three-dimensional model of one or more roof sections; generate a roof report that includes the pitch and the area of the one or more roof sections based on the determined pitch and area of the one or more roof sections, wherein the pitch is indicative of a vertical rise of a roof section over a horizontal run of the roof section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roof estimation computer system, comprising:
 at least one computer processor;   one or more non-transitory memory storing a set of instructions that when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one computer processor to:
 receive a plurality of aerial image files of a building having a roof including a first aerial image file taken from a first viewpoint of the building and a second aerial image file taken from a second viewpoint of the building different than the first viewpoint, wherein at least one of the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file has calibration information associated with the at least one of the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file; 
 determine a pitch and an area of one or more roof sections of the roof based on an image analysis performed on the plurality of aerial image files, wherein the image analysis comprises:
 constructing a three-dimensional model of one or more roof sections by:
 calibrating at least one of the first and second aerial image files using the calibration information associated with the at least one of the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file to convert a distance in pixels between two points on the respective aerial image file into a physical length; 
 identifying common reference points depicted in at least the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file; 
 identifying, for all such reference points, a location in three- dimensional space by triangulating the reference points by projecting a first line originating from the first viewpoint through one of the reference points and a second line originating from the second viewpoint through the same reference point and determining an intersection of the first and second lines; and 
 determining physical length between at least two of the reference points in three-dimensional space based at least in part on the calibration; 
 
 
 generate a roof report that includes the pitch and the area of the one or more roof sections based on the determined pitch and area of the one or more roof sections, wherein the pitch is indicative of a vertical rise of a roof section over a horizontal run of the roof section; and 
 output the roof report having the determined pitch therein. 
   
     
     
         2 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the roof report includes an orientation and a geometrical shape of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         3 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the roof report includes an estimate of a number and type of solar panels to be installed on the roof of the building based on at least one of the area of the one or more roof sections, the geometric shape of the one or more roof sections, and the orientation of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         4 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the roof report includes one or more top plan views of the three-dimensional model of the roof annotated with numerical values that indicate a corresponding slope, area, and length of edges of at least two of the one or more roof sections using at least two different indicia for different types of roof properties. 
     
     
         5 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the roof report includes one or more top plan views of the three-dimensional model of the roof and includes numerical values on the one or more top plan views that are numerical values of a corresponding slope, area, or length of an edge of at least one of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         6 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the roof report indicates whether each of the numerical values are either of the corresponding, slope, area or length of an edge of the one or more roof sections at least in part by where the numerical values are placed on the top plan view relative to the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         7 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the numerical values are placed adjacent to corresponding edges of the one or more roof sections on the top plan view to indicate the at least two of the numerical values are each lengths of the corresponding edges to which the at least two of the numerical values are adjacent. 
     
     
         8 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the numerical values is placed generally in a center of the one or more roof sections on the top plan view to indicate the at least one of the numerical values is an area of one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         9 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the roof report indicates whether at least two of the numerical values are either of the corresponding slope of the one or more roof sections, area of the one or more roof sections or length of an edge of the one or more roof sections at least in part by an annotation next to each of the at least two numerical values. 
     
     
         10 . The roof estimation computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two of the numerical values are of the corresponding slope of the one or more roof sections and the annotation is an arrow adjacent to the numerical value to indicate the numerical value is of the corresponding slope of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         11 . One or more non-transitory computer memory storing a set of instructions that when executed by at least one computer processor cause the at least one computer processor to:
 receive a plurality of aerial image files of a building having a roof including a first aerial image file taken from a first viewpoint of the building and a second aerial image file taken from a second viewpoint of the building different than the first viewpoint, wherein at least one of the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file has calibration information associated with the at least one of the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file;   determine a pitch and an area of one or more roof sections of the roof based on an image analysis performed on the plurality of aerial image files, wherein the image analysis comprises:
 constructing a three-dimensional model of one or more roof sections by:
 calibrating at least one of the first and second aerial image files using the calibration information associated with the at least one of the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file to convert a distance in pixels between two points on the respective aerial image file into a physical length; 
 identifying common reference points depicted in at least the first aerial image file and the second aerial image file; 
 identifying, for all such reference points, a location in three-dimensional space by triangulating the reference points by projecting a first line originating from the first viewpoint through one of the reference points and a second line originating from the second viewpoint through the same reference point and determining an intersection of the first and second lines; and 
 determining physical length between at least two of the reference points in three-dimensional space based at least in part on the calibration; 
 
   generate a roof report that includes the pitch and the area of the one or more roof sections based on the determined pitch and area of the one or more roof sections, wherein the pitch is indicative of a vertical rise of a roof section over a horizontal run of the roof section; and   output the roof report having the determined pitch therein.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the roof report includes an orientation and a geometrical shape of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 12 , wherein the roof report includes an estimate of a number and type of solar panels to be installed on the roof of the building based on at least one of the area of the one or more roof sections, the geometric shape of the one or more roof sections, and the orientation of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the roof report includes one or more top plan views of the three-dimensional model of the roof annotated with numerical values that indicate a corresponding slope, area, and length of edges of at least two of the one or more roof sections using at least two different indicia for different types of roof properties. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the roof report includes one or more top plan views of the three-dimensional model of the roof and includes numerical values on the one or more top plan views that are numerical values of a corresponding slope, area, or length of an edge of at least one of the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 15 , wherein the roof report indicates whether each of the numerical values are either of the corresponding, slope, area or length of an edge of the one or more roof sections at least in part by where the numerical values are placed on the top plan view relative to the one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 16 , wherein at least two of the numerical values are placed adjacent to corresponding edges of the one or more roof sections on the top plan view to indicate the at least two of the numerical values are each lengths of the corresponding edges to which the at least two of the numerical values are adjacent. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the numerical values is placed generally in a center of the one or more roof sections on the top plan view to indicate the at least one of the numerical values is an area of one or more roof sections. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 15 , wherein the roof report indicates whether at least two of the numerical values are either of the corresponding slope of the one or more roof sections, area of the one or more roof sections or length of an edge of the one or more roof sections at least in part by an annotation next to each of the at least two numerical values. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer memory of  claim 19 , wherein the at least two of the numerical values are of the corresponding slope of the one or more roof sections and the annotation is an arrow adjacent to the numerical value to indicate the numerical value is of the corresponding slope of the one or more roof sections.