Aerial Imaging for Insurance Purposes

Abstract

In a computer-implemented method, one or more digital aerial images of a property are received, and processed according to one or more image analysis techniques to determine one or more features of the property, including one or more features of a tree located on or near the property. A time of year corresponding to at least one of the digital aerial images is determined, and the feature(s) of the property and the time of year are analyzed to determine a risk of damage to a structure located on the property. Based at least in part on the risk of damage, a risk output is generated that includes an indication of whether action should be taken to mitigate the risk of damage to the structure, an indication of whether insurance coverage associated with the structure should be offered, and/or a measure of the risk of damage to the structure.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, one or more digital aerial images of a property of a current or potential policyholder;   processing, by one or more processors, the one or more digital aerial images according to one or more image analysis techniques to determine one or more features of the property, wherein processing the one or more digital aerial images includes determining one or more features of a tree located on or near the property;   determining a time of year corresponding to at least one of the one or more digital aerial images;   analyzing, by one or more processors, the one or more features of the property and the time of year to determine a risk of damage to a structure located on the property; and   generating, by one or more processors and based at least in part on the risk of damage to the structure, a risk output that includes one or more of (i) an indication of whether action should be taken to mitigate the risk of damage to the structure, (ii) an indication of whether insurance coverage associated with the structure should be offered, or (iii) a measure of the risk of damage to the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more features of the tree include one or more features of leaves of the tree. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more digital aerial images includes receiving one or more digital aerial images obtained using at least one of (i) a sensor mounted on a satellite, (ii) a sensor mounted on an airplane, or (iii) a sensor mounted on a drone. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the one or more digital aerial images includes receiving one or more digital aerial images obtained using at least one of (i) a camera, (ii) a spectrometer, (iii) a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device, (iv) a semi-global matching (SGM) device, or (v) a Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (IFSAR) device. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving the one or more digital aerial images includes receiving a plurality of digital aerial images (i) obtained using a camera and (ii) including at least two digital aerial images having different angles of incidence with respect to the property;   determining the one or more features of the tree includes (i) processing the at least two digital aerial images having the different angles of incidence to determine a height of the tree, and (ii) processing at least one of the plurality of digital aerial images to determine a distance between the tree and the structure; and   analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine the risk of damage to the structure includes analyzing the height of the tree and the distance between the tree and the structure to determine a risk of the tree falling on the structure.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving the one or more digital aerial images includes receiving a plurality of digital aerial images that includes a LiDAR, IFSAR or SGM image of the property;   determining the one or more features of the tree includes (i) processing the LiDAR, IFSAR or SGM image to determine a height of the tree, and (ii) processing at least one of the plurality of digital aerial images to determine a distance between the tree and the structure; and   analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine a risk of damage to the structure includes analyzing the height of the tree and the distance between the tree and the structure to determine a risk of the tree falling on the structure.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more features of the tree includes determining an orientation of a branch of the tree with respect to the structure. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more features of the tree includes determining a species of the tree. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 determining the one or more features of the tree includes
 determining one or both of a height of the tree and a crown width of the tree, and 
 using (i) the species of the tree, and (ii) one or both of the height of the tree and the crown width of the tree, to determine a stage of a life cycle of the tree; and 
   analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine a risk of damage to the structure includes analyzing at least the stage of the life cycle of the tree to determine the risk of at least a portion of the tree falling on the structure.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 receiving the one or more digital aerial images includes receiving a spectrometer image obtained using a spectrometer; and   determining a species of the tree includes analyzing the spectrometer image to determine the species of the tree.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a type of a roof of the structure,   wherein analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine a risk of damage to the structure includes using (i) the one or more features of the tree, and (ii) the type of the roof, to determine the risk of damage to the roof.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining environmental stressor information with respect to an area that includes the property, the environmental stressor information including one or more of (i) whether the area is or has been subject to prolonged drought, (ii) whether the area has water-logged soil, (iii) whether the area is or has been subject to an ice storm, (iv) whether the area is or has been subject to a wildfire, or (v) whether the area is or has been subject to a tree disease or insect infestation,   wherein analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine a risk of damage to the structure includes using (i) the one or more features of the tree, and (ii) the environmental stressor information, to determine the risk of damage to the structure.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining weather forecast information with respect to an area that includes the property,   wherein analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine a risk of damage to the structure includes using (i) the one or more features of the property, and (ii) the weather forecast information, to determine the risk of damage to the structure.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the one or more digital aerial images to determine the one or more features of the property includes determining one or more features of a snow or ice formation located on a roof of a structure located on the property. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the risk of damage to the structure exceeds one or both of (i) a threshold likelihood of damage, and (ii) a threshold predicted amount of damage,   wherein generating the risk output includes generating the indication that action should be taken to mitigate the risk of damage to the structure in response to determining that the risk of damage exceeds one or both of (i) the threshold likelihood of damage, and (ii) the threshold predicted amount of damage.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the risk output includes causing an automated electronic message indicative of the risk output to be sent to one or both of (i) an employee of an insurance provider of which the policyholder is a customer, and (ii) the policyholder. 
     
     
         17 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive one or more digital aerial images of a property of a current or potential policyholder;   process the one or more digital aerial images according to one or more image analysis techniques to determine one or more features of the property, wherein processing the one or more digital aerial images includes determining one or more features of a tree located on or near the property;   determine a time of year corresponding to at least one of the one or more digital aerial images;   analyze the one or more features of the property and the time of year to determine a risk of damage to a structure located on the property; and   generate, based at least in part on the risk of damage to the structure, a risk output that includes one or more of (i) an indication of whether action should be taken to mitigate the risk of damage to the structure, (ii) an indication of whether insurance coverage associated with the structure should be offered, or (iii) a measure of the risk of damage to the structure.   
     
     
         18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more features of the tree include one or more features of leaves of the tree. 
     
     
         19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 receiving the one or more digital aerial images includes receiving a plurality of digital aerial images (i) obtained using a camera and (ii) including at least two digital aerial images having different angles of incidence with respect to the property;   determining the one or more features of the tree includes (i) processing the at least two digital aerial images having the different angles of incidence to determine a height of the tree, and (ii) processing at least one of the plurality of digital aerial images to determine a distance between the tree and the structure; and   analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine the risk of damage to the structure includes analyzing the height of the tree and the distance between the tree and the structure to determine a risk of the tree falling on the structure.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 determining the one or more features of the tree includes (i) determining a species of the tree, (ii) determining one or both of a height of the tree and a crown width of the tree, and (iii) using the species of the tree, and one or both of the height of the tree and the crown width of the tree, to determine a stage of a life cycle of the tree; and   analyzing the one or more features of the property to determine the risk of damage to the structure includes analyzing at least the stage of the life cycle of the tree to determine the risk of at least a portion of the tree falling on the structure.