US 2014/0278570 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING A ROOF

Abstract

A damage assessment module operating on a computer system automatically evaluates a roof, estimating damage to the roof by analyzing a point cloud of a roof. The damage assessment module identifies individual shingles from the point cloud and detects potentially damaged areas on each of the shingles. The damage assessment module then maps the potentially damaged areas of each shingle back to the point cloud to determine which areas of the roof are damaged. Based on the estimation, the damage assessment module generates a report on the roof damage. The report may be used to determine the financial cost of the damage and/or determine whether the roof should be replaced or repaired. In addition to eliminating the need for an estimator to physically climb onto a roof for evaluation purposes, the damage assessment module improves the consistency and accuracy associated with estimating damage to a roof.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method of estimating damage to a roof, the method comprising:

causing a processor to generate, from a first point cloud representing a roof, a second point cloud representing a shingle;
causing a processor to compare the second point cloud to a model point cloud, the model point cloud representing a model shingle;
causing a processor to identify, based on the comparison, a first set of points, correlating each point within the first set of points to a representation of a point of damage;
causing a processor communicatively connected to a memory to identify a second set of points, the second set including at least one point from the first set, correlating the second set to a representation of a damaged region of the roof;
and
generating and storing to the memory a report based on the second set for subsequent retrieval and use in estimating damage to at least part of the roof.

3 more elements

A computer system for generating a model undamaged roof shingle exhibiting expected wear and tear, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories including non-transitory computer readable instructions that, when executed at the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
identify a first point cloud representing a first shingle and a second point cloud representing a second shingle;
identify a set of points, the set comprising points from a first point cloud representing a first shingle and points from a second point cloud representing a second shingle;
calculate an average nearest-neighbor distance for the set;
calculate a threshold distance based on the determined average;
and
store the set to one of the one or more memories, as a point cloud representing a model roof shingle, to be later retrieved and compared to one or more point clouds representing individual shingles.

6 more elements

A tangible computer-readable medium including non-transitory computer readable instructions that, when executed at one or more processors of a system for identifying roof damage, cause the one or more processors to:

generate, from a first point cloud representing a roof, a second point cloud representing a first shingle;
compare the second point cloud to a model point cloud, the model point cloud representing a model shingle;
identify, based on the comparison, a first set of points;
correlate each point within the first set to a point of damage to the first shingle;
identify a second set of points, the second set including at least one point from the first set,
correlate the second set to a damaged region of the roof;
and
store the second set to the memory for subsequent retrieval and use in estimating a condition of at least part of the roof.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and methods for assessing a roof

Life of this patent

System and methods for assessing a roof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19