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What Happened to Pictometry? The Story Behind EagleView’s Aerial Imaging Platform

For experts across numerous sectors such as construction, insurance, government, public safety, and geospatial, the brand Pictometry was often considered the go-to source for high-quality aerial photographs and precise property measurements. Their solution changed the way organizations viewed and analyzed locations from an aerial perspective, and their ability to provide photos of properties taken at an angle (oblique aerial imagery) gives traditional satellite image types, no angles or oblique image angles, a run for their money.


As the years have gone by, many individuals searching for Pictometry will find that the brand may have disappeared. Why? Because Pictometry has evolved into what is currently known as EagleView, a prominent supplier of aerial imagery, geo-spatial data, and analytics engagements.


Pictometry's Oblique Aerial Imagery
Pictometry's Oblique Aerial Imagery

The Origins of Pictometry


Pictometry International Corporation (Pictometry) was established in 2000 in an effort to enhance geographic visualization through innovative aerial photography. In contrast to traditional view-from-the-top aerial photography, Pictometry's innovation was to provide oblique photographs taken at various angles.


With this new technology, users can:


  • View the sides of buildings and structures.

  • Measure distance, height, and area remotely

  • Inspect the conditions of properties without visiting the site.

  • Enhance mapping and geographical analysis.


Pictometry's technology became widely utilized by:


  • Insurance companies

  • Local governments

  • Emergency responders

  • Utility providers

  • The real estate industry

  • Construction and engineering companies


Pictometry has enabled users to directly digitize measurements from aerial images, meaning fewer manual inspections and field surveys were required.


What Made Pictometry Different?


Vertical images were previously used extensively in aerial mapping solutions before the introduction of Pictometry. Vertical imagery can provide valuable assistance in mapping features of the land. However, vertical images alone often do not give enough context to analyze certain features and surfaces within a landscape accurately.


Depending on the oblique angle that the photographer chooses to capture the image from, the Pictometry patented oblique image solution has added to the value of traditional aerial images by adding a variety of benefits, including...


Visibility of Buildings is More Effective.


Users were able to see the building roofline, the walls, the window, and all other elements of the structure, which is something that can be very difficult to see with traditional aerial photography.


Measured remotely accurately.


The Pictometry Solution allows users to measure the following things remotely:


  • Building Roof Measurements

  • Height of the Building

  • Property Lines

  • Distance to Other Buildings


Better Awareness of their Environment.


Emergency responders and public safety organizations can gain a better understanding of the location of incidents and assess the risk of properties without sending inspectors to the site.


Making Informed Decisions Faster.


Organizations can gain immediate access to detailed geographic information, reducing the time and cost associated with an organization's operational delays.


The Transition to EagleView


The story of Pictometry took a dramatic turn in 2013 when Pictometry International and EagleView Technologies merged. The merger brought together two companies with complementary strengths.


EagleView's Experience


EagleView is recognized as a leader in the development of aerial roof measurement technology for the insurance and construction industries.


Pictometry's Image Capture Capabilities


Pictometry is the creator of advanced aerial image capturing systems, geospatial databases, and measurement technology.


Once the two merged, they operated under both brands for a period of time while they integrated their technologies, products, and services.


Ultimately, the organization will continue to operate under the EagleView brand and phase out the Pictometry identity.


Why Was the Pictometry Brand Retired?


The decision to discontinue the Pictometry brand was a result of the company's overall business strategy rather than a discontinuation of its technology.


The transition was influenced by several factors:


Brand Consolidation


A set of multiple brands can confuse the market. By consolidating under EagleView, the company can present the public with a unified image.


Expanded Product Portfolio


EagleView has moved beyond aerial imagery and is now offering:


  • Property Intelligence

  • Roof Measurement Reports

  • Geospatial Analysis

  • AI-Enhanced Image Analysis

  • Government Mapping Solutions


EagleView better reflects the larger technology ecosystem when operating with one brand name.


Market Recognition


As EagleView has expanded into the insurance, construction, and government sectors, the consolidation of all products under one name has increased its position in these markets.


How EagleView Expanded Beyond Pictometry


The combined company, EagleView, has made notable growth in product offerings since its merger.


Insurance Solutions


Insurance companies utilize EagleView for:


  • Underwriting and risk analysis of properties.

  • Evaluating claims.

  • Responding quickly to disasters.


Construction and Roofers


Roofing contractors utilize EagleView for:


  • Estimating the cost of roofing projects.

  • Minimizing the amount of time spent onsite for measurements.

  • Improving the accuracy of the bids provided to clients.

  • Speeding up project planning.


Government and GIS


Local governments and GIS professionals utilize the EagleView platform for:


  • Managing and tracking assets.

  • Evaluating property taxes.

  • Planning the use of urbanized areas.

  • Tracking the condition of infrastructure.


Public Safety


Emergency responders can use EagleView's precise location intelligence to make decisions more quickly and with greater precision.


How Pictometry Changed the Geospatial Industry


The geospatial industry has greatly benefited from Pictometry's influence on technology.


A few examples of the standards that were established by Pictometry in the industry are:


Remote Property Measurement


Many of today's property intelligence solutions can trace their roots back to the features offered by Pictometry.


Oblique Imagery


Pictometry accelerated the adoption of angled aerial imagery for applications in government, insurance, and engineering.


Data-Driven Field Operations


More organizations rely on aerial intelligence to help reduce the expense and time associated with site visits.


Digital Transformation


Pictometry was instrumental in moving many industries from a paper-based inspection process to a digital workflow based upon geospatial data.


The future of aerial imaging


The evolution of Pictometry to EagleView demonstrates the general trends in the geospatial technology market.


Future advancements will likely include:


  • Greater automation through AI

  • More frequent updates of images

  • Better 3-D modeling

  • Integration with drone imagery

  • Real-time geospatial analytics

  • Digital twinning technologies


As organizations continue to search for faster and more accurate property information, the aerial imaging platforms will remain vital tools across many industries.


Whatever happened to Pictometry?


Although the company is gone, its legacy has not — it has simply evolved. When Pictometry merged with EagleView in 2013, Pictometry’s innovative and ground-breaking aerial imaging technology was integrated into an overall geospatial intelligence platform. Although the Pictometry name was eventually retired, their innovation still accounts for a significant portion of today’s aerial image, measurement, and property intelligence solutions.


For those who have memories of the Pictometry company, EagleView represents the continuation of that story, combining high-quality aerial imagery and other analytics with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other geospatial data into a consolidated platform for today’s modern decisions.


As new technology continues to be developed for use in aerial imaging, the legacy of Pictometry is still an integral part of the tools and workflows that influence industries all over North America.


For more information or any questions regarding Aerial Imaging, please don't hesitate to contact us at


USA (HQ): (720) 702–4849

India: 98260-76466 - Pradeep Shrivastava

Canada: (519) 590 9999

Mexico: 55 5941 3755

UK & Spain: +44 12358 56710


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