Feb 19 2011
The new Aerial Sketch™ tool in the latest version of Xactware’s industry-leading property repair estimating solution helps insurers and contractors use high-resolution aerial photos to dimension roofs.
With Aerial Sketch, now available in Xactimate 27.3, property insurance professionals can download aerial images and then trace key roof features, such as edges, ridges, and valleys, to produce fully functional 3-D roof sketches that can be used to estimate replacement costs.
“Obtaining roof measurements can be a nerve-racking adventure,” said Jeffrey C. Taylor, Xactware’s assistant vice president of Xactimate, “especially when weather or site conditions make it difficult to get access to all the areas of a roof that need to be measured. Aerial Sketch makes it easier, faster, and safer to get dimensions. Estimators can have roof dimensions in Xactimate even before they visit the site.”
When a claim involving roof damage is assigned, an estimator can download images of the loss site to Aerial Sketch. By outlining the shape of the roof, the estimator can generate a detailed roof plan and a 3-D rendering of the roof. Roof measurements can be adjusted easily, and quantities are automatically calculated so estimators can quickly determine the materials needed to repair the roof.
When a building is a total loss, the aerial images provide dimensions that are no longer available at the site and other critical details, such as the number of roof penetrations, the type of roof, exterior finishes, and so forth.
“Aerial Sketch is an important new tool that will help estimators work more efficiently and more effectively,” Taylor said.
Source: http://www.xactware.com/