Retrieve Aerial Images

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Creating takeoffs and estimates for exterior projects on existing buildings can be challenging, especially when you don't have the plans. You either have to rely on poor quality satellite images, which can lead to inaccurate measurements, or actually visit the job site to manually measure which is time-consuming and dangerous.

STACK has partnered with Nearmap to make it much easier to create accurate takeoffs and estimates for these types of projects - roofing, concrete, landscaping, snow removal, etc. STACK's Retrieve Aerials feature allows you to quickly import high-quality aerial images of your project location from Nearmap directly to your project in STACK.

If we're able to retrieve the roof area for a Structure on the Nearmap image, STACK's Roof AI feature makes things even easier by automatically creating a roof takeoff and drawing the measurement for you.

How it Works

Once you enter the project location in STACK, just click a button, choose the image type, and a high-quality, top-down image of the location will be imported right in STACK. The image is auto scaled so you don't have to go through the process of manually setting the scale. If we're also able to retrieve the roof area for a Nearmap Structure image, STACK's Roof AI feature will automatically generate a roof takeoff in your STACK Project with the measurement drawn for you.

Image Types

You have two options when retrieving aerial images - Structure or Site Area.

Structure - This option is best if you are doing roofing or other work directly related to the building. It will provide a top-down image of the main structure at the address entered. For United States addresses, the image area is based on the property line (supplied by the local government) for the specific address entered. For Canadian addresses, the image is based on a 50-meter radius around the latitude and longitude of the address.

In addition to the top-down image, you may receive up to four side angle view images for reference. This can help you get a better understanding of the job like the pitch, number of stories for roof levels, and if there are trees or other structures that may impact accessibility to the main building.

If the image data retrieved from Nearmap includes the roof area of the structure(s) in the image, STACK's Roof AI feature will automatically generate a roof takeoff (with the measurement drawn) in your project for each structure.
Site Area - This option is best if you are doing landscaping, concrete, snow removal, or other work around the property. It will provide a top-down image of the location. The address entered will be converted to longitude and latitude and the image will show the area in a 650-foot radius of the location point.
(Roof AI takeoff generation is not available with this image option.)

What to Know

STACK always imports the most up-to-date images available from Nearmap at the time of retrieval. Nearmap captures imagery at least once a year, and at most three times a year.
Images are high-resolution images taken from planes. They are not satellite images.
You will receive at least one image (top-down view) per location.
With the Structure option, you may receive up to four additional images (side views - north, south, east, and/or west) if they are available.
STACK automatically applies scale to the top-down image.
Side view images are not automatically scaled. (Since they do not scale properly, we recommend only using side view images for reference.
The Retrieve Aerials feature is an add-on to your STACK subscription.
STACK is not responsible for any issues with the images retrieved as they are taken and provided by Nearmap.
Images are only available for addresses in the United States and Canada. (Best coverage of metro areas; less coverage of rural areas.)
With the Structure option, if we're able to retrieve the roof area for the building(s) at the listed address from Nearmap, STACK's Roof AI feature will automatically create either a Pitched Area takeoff (if there is a slope) or an Area takeoff (if there is no slope) in your project.
- If multiple buildings are listed for the address, a separate takeoff will be created for each building.
  NOTE: The Retrieve Aerials and Roof AI features do not currently support multi-parcel addresses.
As part of the Roof AI takeoff creation, a measurement covering the entire roof area will also be drawn on the takeoff. (The dominant pitch of the roof will be used as the slope input of the measurement.)
NOTE: STACK's Roof AI feature will only provide a measurement if the model has at least a 60% confidence level that it created an accurate measurement of a roof.
The takeoffs created with Roof AI may not be 100% accurate; they are meant to be a starting point. You are responsible for reviewing the measurements for accuracy.
Takeoffs and measurements created using Roof AI can be edited just like any other takeoffs or measurements you manually create in STACK.

See below for instructions to:

Retrieve Aerials Images

Retrieve Aerial Images

NOTE: The Retrieve Aerials function is an add-on to your STACK subscription. Contact your STACK Account Manager for pricing and access.

Go to the project’s HOME screen.
Scroll to the Location section and enter or update the location as needed.
Location data must be entered in order to retrieve aerial images. See Create a Project and Add Project Information if you need help entering/updating location data.
Click the Retrieve Aerials button at the top right of the Location tile.
NOTE: If the Retrieve Aerials button is grayed out and you see a message that states, If you would like to retrieve aerials images for this project please contact your account manager, when you hover over the button, it means this feature is not currently part of your subscription. Please contact us for pricing and activation.
Select the type of image you want - Structure or Site Area.
Image(s) will be automatically uploaded to the project's Plans folder.
NOTE: Site Area images are very large and can take a few minutes to appear.
If you selected Structure, Roof AI will automatically try to generate a takeoff and measurement after the image is uploaded. The takeoff(s) will be listed on the project's Takeoff List/Takeoff tab.
You'll receive progress updates related to the image retrieval and takeoff generation in the Notifications section (bell icon) on the main navigation bar. This is also where you will receive notifications if we are unable to retrieve images or generate a takeoff.

To View Retrieved Images

Go to the PLANS & TAKEOFFS section of the project and click on the Plans tab. Images will be in the Plans folder under the Plans and Documents list.