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How is Pictometry different than satellite imagery?

1. Image quality/resolution

Satellite imagery is taken from 200-300 miles above the earth to capture images whereas we use aircraft flying between 2,000 � 5,000 feet above the ground. What that gives you is much clearer, higher resolution images. Satellite imagery providers don�t make public what their pixel resolution capabilities are, but rumors are that the highest resolution images you see on satellite imagery are about 1-meter pixel resolution � meaning each pixel equals about 3 feet on the ground. Pictometry imagery is up to 4-inch pixel resolution, which is a significant difference (4 inches vs. 3 feet).

2. Pictometry lets you see all sides of a structure, not just rooftops.

The second most notable difference is that our imagery gives you the ability to see all sides of structures. With satellite imagery you can only see rooftops, with the exception of street view where it�s available. However, even with street view, you still can only see the front of a house or property so you have no idea what the backyard may contain or look like. Also, if the property is set back from the street or has trees lining the front, you won�t be able to see the property at all. Pictometry is currently in the process of adding a street-view feature to compliment our aerial imagery, so soon, there won�t even be a difference there.

3. The third biggest difference is the measurement capabilities Pictometry can provide

Satellite-imagery providers offer a paid version of their technology which have some measurement capabilities, but not to the extent that Pictometry offers. For example, satellite-imagery providers allow you to measure area to determine square feet but if you can only see the rooftop, you have no idea how many floors a house/building has to determine what the total square footage is. And, if you are working with a residential structure and can only look down on the roofline, you could inadvertently be adding the garage, screened-in porch, awnings, etc. into the square footage without knowing it. Also, without the ability to see the sides of properties like we provide you can�t measure height. We also provide the ability to measure elevation/slope/grade, pitch and area of a roof, etc.

4. Scalability

Our technology is completely web based. There are no downloads, plug-ins or extensions needed to make it work. All you need is Internet access. So it can be very easily adopted by any company with no IT involvement and scaled across an organization of any size. Satellite-imagery providers, on the other hand, offer software which that needs to be downloaded and installed on your computer to work and have the ability to use their different tools (assuming you have a paid subscription to it).

5. Image dates

With Pictometry Online the date the image was taken on is always clearly displayed. We also provide access to images that we took on previous dates, allowing you to see what a risk looked like at various points in time. Satellite imagery very rarely provides image dates.
Below are some Pictometry images compared to satellite images taken by a leading satellite-imagery provider. The pictures are of the same building and the difference is very obvious.