What's an Orthomosaic, and why could it benefit me?
Google Maps is a massive example of an orthomosaic! Satellites take a bunch of pictures, and stitch them together into one (earth sized) orthomosaic. That is exactly what we're doing with drones- just around 22,000 miles closer to the ground.
We're able to fly, process, & view our data usually within the same day, even for projects over 1,000 acres thanks to our workhorse of a server. You'll be able to overlay your orthomosaic ontop of Google Maps, overlay engineering drawings, & even overlay specific photos or panoramas so you can see exactly where the image was taken on your site- all right from your browser.
Orthomosaics are utilized across a range of industries; Real Estate, Construction, Renewable Energy, Utility Companies, & so many more! We've included an example of some use cases below.
Construction is where Orthomosaics truly shine. Clients often find value to have progress photos & orthomosaics captured on a regular basis for a clear & up to date view of work that has been completed & where the project stands. All without needing to commute & walk the site themselves. That value compounds for teams operating out of a regional office overseeing multiple projects at once.
• Accurate measurements & stockpile volumes. Paired with Ground Control Points (GCPs) and RTK (real-time kinematic) positioning, orthomosaics support centimeter level accuracy, & precise stockpile volume calculations.
• Up-to-date site logistics. Label your site for guests or presentations, keep egress routes and muster points current on the map as your site evolves, so safety documentation always reflects real conditions.
• Design overlay & discrepancy detection. Overlay drawings directly onto your orthomosaic to confirm work is being completed as expected, catching discrepancies early.
• Liability protection. Maintain a clear, time stamped record of site conditions from the time work begins — valuable evidence if damage is ever claimed to have been caused by construction activity.
Utilities find the most value in Orthomosaics for Right of Way Management. You can easily see which ROW's are being maintained properly, and which ones need attention. Linemen also love to be able to see conditions around the poles before they ever leave the office.
Orthomosaics also lay a footprint for ZenSpect, our custom software designed just for Utility Pole inspections.
Take a look at how seamlessly your orthomosaic will overlay with satellite imagery in ZenSpect.
Solar farms can span thousands of acres, making manual inspections slow, expensive, and easy to fall behind on. With Drone Based Orthomosaics, you get repeatable, scheduled inspections that cover your entire site in a fraction of the time it'd take a ground crew; all from the comfort of your desk.
Easily spot cracked or damaged cells, degraded connections, and underperforming panels before they cause costly problems. Document performance over time to support warranty claims and insurance filings with clear, georeferenced evidence.
• Fast, full-site coverage. Capture hundreds of acres in a single flight, instead of days of manual panel-by-panel checks.
• Higher energy yields. Catch underperforming panels, strings, and connections early so your site keeps producing at full capacity.
• Lower fire risk. Identify overheating connections and electrical faults before they escalate into safety hazards.
• Warranty & insurance-ready documentation. Build a time-stamped visual and thermal record tied to exact panel locations.
• Repeatable, comparable data. Fly the same site on a schedule and track degradation trends instead of relying on one-off snapshots.
Drone roof inspections save time, money, & decrease liability. Use orthomosaics to easily show clients & insurance adjusters exactly where damage is such as missing, cracked, or curling shingles, granule loss, and general wear without ever stepping foot on the roof.
Property Managers find value in documenting roof conditions prior to & after an event like hail, strong wind, or impact damage.
Damage documentation. Clearly show clients & insurance adjusters visible roof damage. This speeds up claims and eliminates disputes over what condition the roof was actually in.
Thermal Inspection. Identify water intrusion hidden beneath the surface. This catches damage the naked eye could miss entirely.
Pre-purchase inspection. Get a clear picture of roof condition before purchasing a property, so there are no surprises after closing.
Centimeter accurate. Using RTK (real time kinematic) positioning, get precise area & pitch measurements. Quote clients faster & reduce material waste.
It's easy to be overwhelmed managing many large properties, & often times can be nearly impossible to keep a current, first hand view of every property at once. But orthomosaics & 3D captures allow you to oversee all these properties from the comfort of your desk, easily documenting issues & verifying vendor work without needing to physically visit each property.
• Fast, full property coverage. Document property conditions immediately following an event such as hail, strong wind, or impact damage.
• Parking lot assessment. Easily assess parking lots for issues like cracking, potholes, faded markings, or water pooling that need to be addressed.
• Ground work. Verify grounds work & snow removal is being completed as expected across HOAs & communities, & shared amenities.
• Liability & Insurance. Document the condition of shared amenities like pools, playgrounds, or walkways for maintenance & liability purposes.
• Marketing, leasing, & way-finding. Capture high resolution images for marketing & leasing, and create a map for new tenants to easily navigate their new environment.
• Digital Twin creation. Build a digital twin of the entire building to track issues on exterior walls over time.
• Drive down energy & gas costs. Identify areas of heat loss that would otherwise drive up costs for tenants & shared areas.
• Repeatable, comparable data. Fly the same property on a schedule and track degradation trends instead of relying on one off snapshots.
★★★★★
I recently had Zenith Media do the aerials and listing photos for my latest property, and I couldn’t be more impressed! Their attention to detail, quality of work, and professionalism made my listing stand out beautifully. The aerial shots captured the property perfectly, and the photos were crisp, bright, and inviting exactly what I needed to showcase the home at its best.
I highly recommend Zenith Media to any realtor or homeowner looking for top-notch real estate photography and aerials. They truly take your listing to the next level!