Ground Truth
A blog by Nearmap
From imagery, to insights, to answers. Explore the latest posts and new perspectives emerging in the world of location intelligence.All
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Minimise cost blow-outs with automated EME change detection
Leverage the power of high-resolution aerial imagery and AI to reduce downtime, improve telco network reliability and minimise cost blow-outs.
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The 15 most viewed locations of 2024
Check out our very first annual list of the top 15 Aotearoa New Zealand locations our users viewed in 2024 using our aerial maps and data.
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What is geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI)?
is geospatial artificial intelligence? What is geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI)? Jan 2025 Jan 2025 Imagine understanding locations of interest with just a few clicks — no more lengthy site visits or guesswork. That’s the power of Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI). By blending artificial intelligence with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), GeoAI transforms how we analyse and interpret geospatial data. From automatically detecting materials, conditions, and spatial patterns, GeoAI speeds up decision-making and gives businesses the tools they need to act smarter and faster. For industries like insurance , government services, and urban planning, it’s a true game-changer that is reshaping how organisations approach spatial analysis. What is AI in GIS technology? AI in GIS is a way to take traditional geographic systems to the next level. By layering machine learning over vast spatial data, it’s no longer just about looking at maps but uncovering actionable insights from aerial and satellite imagery . With AI-powered location intelligence from Nearmap, you can instantly detect more than 130 key features like solar panels, roof materials, or surface permeability. This means less manual work and more time focusing on what really matters — making decisions based on highly accurate, up-to-date information. What is the role of AI in GIS? AI’s role in GIS is to completely transform how industries use geospatial data. Gone are the traditional methods of relying solely on static maps or historical geospatial data. Today, AI can analyse complex datasets across huge areas, automatically detect property features, and provide real-time insights. Nearmap GeoAI-based solutions, for instance, can identify everything from roof pitch to vegetation, giving decision-makers the critical data they need for planning, asset management, and risk assessments. How can GIS use artificial intelligence? Nearmap GeoAI offers practical, game-changing ways to use AI in GIS: Automated mapping and feature detection: With AI, over 130+ property features, such as building structures and yard objects, can be detected automatically, speeding up workflows and cutting out the need for manual inspections. Efficient workflow integration: Whether you want to integrate GeoAI insights into existing GIS platforms through an API or export them as vector layers, Nearmap makes it easy to enrich your data and manage projects efficiently. Frequent updates: Say goodbye to outdated data. Nearmap imagery is refreshed multiple times a year in urban areas, so you’re always working with the most current, accurate information. What are the benefits of GeoAI? GeoAI is changing the way industries operate by delivering faster, more accurate, and scalable solutions: Time savings: Automated AI insights eliminate the need for time-consuming on-site inspections, allowing users to assess property conditions remotely and make quick, informed decisions. Comprehensive analysis: GeoAI offers detailed analysis, detecting over 130 features across up to 75% of the Aotearoa New Zealand population . This gives you a complete picture of your site’s condition. Improved accuracy: Nearmap AI has been trained over 13 years on a massive dataset of 1.42 million images, powering greater reliability and accuracy. Scalable solutions: Whether you’re analysing a single building or an entire city, Nearmap AI scales to meet your needs, delivering the insights you need to tackle projects of any size. GeoAI for insurance: Transforming risk assessments and underwriting When it comes to insurance , GeoAI is particularly powerful. AI-powered imagery helps insurers quickly assess property risks , speed up claims processing, and improve underwriting accuracy. For example, by detecting roof condit i ons or solar panels from aerial imagery, insurers can evaluate a property’s risk profile without needing to visit the site. This leads to faster claims processing and more accurate decisions — benefiting both insurers and policyholders. Not just for insurance — GeoAI is also invaluable for government services . With precise, real-time data, government agencies can monitor infrastructure, plan public works, and manage transport systems more effectively. The benefits are clear, from maintaining compliance to improving service delivery. Nearmap GeoAI technologies offer precise, AI-powered insights that help companies understand locations more deeply without conducting labour-intensive on-site inspections. By automating the detection of over 130 property features, from roof conditions to vegetation, GeoAI is reshaping how industries approach spatial analysis. Ready to learn how you could revolutionise your organisation with GeoAI? Get in Touch
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What is machine learning in GIS?
is machine learning in GIS? What is machine learning in GIS? Dec 2024 Dec 2024 In our fast-changing world, machine learning in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is reshaping how industries operate, from construction and engineering to government and insurance . By combining machine learning with geospatial data, organisations can gain fresh insights that inform smarter decisions. Explore what machine learning means for spatial analysis, learn its benefits, and examine how Nearmap is leveraging these technologies to drive innovation in this dynamic field. What is machine learning for geospatial analysis? Machine learning for geospatial data refers to the application of algorithms that enable computers to learn from and make predictions based on geospatial information. By integrating machine learning into GIS, organisations can enhance their spatial analysis capabilities, enabling more informed decision-making. Machine learning models thrive on diverse spatial data, such as terrain maps, population density statistics, and environmental conditions. This approach provides the foundation for valuable new applications, from urban planning to insurance underwriting. At Nearmap, we’ve integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into our aerial imagery processes, enabling us to deliver insights at an impressive scale. According to Dr Michael Bewley, Senior Director of AI Systems at Nearmap, “We do AI at the same scale that we do imagery.” With each aerial survey, our customers gain access to over 150 AI-derived insights about specific locations — covering everything from vegetation to construction sites. AI Layers Building Med & High Vegetation What are the advantages of machine learning in GIS? The combination of GIS and machine learning comes with some fantastic benefits for organisations: Enhanced accuracy : One of the standout benefits is improved accuracy. Machine learning algorithms minimise human error by leveraging large datasets, allowing for insights that manual methods might miss. Nearmap AI models boast incredibly high accuracy, delivering results that are hard to achieve through traditional labelling methods. Increased efficiency : By automating data processing, we can analyse billions of features across vast areas simultaneously, which means faster insights and time saved for our customers. Predictive capabilities : With machine learning, GIS can help anticipate future trends based on historical data. This is invaluable for sectors like urban planning, where proactive decision-making is crucial. Scalability : The power of machine learning means we can handle large datasets with ease. This scalability is essential for comprehensive geospatial analysis, particularly in complex fields like environmental science and urban development. Applications of machine learning in GIS Machine learning is already making waves in various applications, including: Urban planning : By analysing factors like population density and land use, machine learning can help urban planners make informed decisions about resource allocation and development. Environmental monitoring : By processing environmental data, machine learning uses image segmentation techniques to help track changes in land use, monitor deforestation, and assess climate change impacts. Transportation and logistics : Optimising route planning and analysing traffic patterns are just a couple of ways machine learning is streamlining transportation and logistics. The Nearmap approach to AI and machine learning We’ve developed a seamless system that combines aerial imagery with AI and machine learning to deliver enhanced insights to our customers. With our latest updates, users can access more than 130 data layers organised into AI Packs, providing valuable, scaleable geospatial intelligence on a wide range of features — from roof conditions to surface types. Gain fresh insights that inform smarter decisions. Get in touch with our team of experts today to learn how machine learning in GIS could transform your workflows. Get in touch
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Put your team on the same map with...
and share Put your team on the same map with... Dec 2024 Dec 2024 At Nearmap, when we ask for your feedback, we’re always listening. Many of you had let us know that you’d love to be able to collaborate and comment in real time on projects in MapBrowser. Now you can! The challenge: collaboration bottlenecks 25% of productivity is lost through ineffective project collaboration 1 . 70% of workers agree that poor collaboration is limiting their productivity and wasting their time 2 . 61% believe better collaboration would result in greater business growth opportunities 3 . The solution: Share MapBrowser projects Now you can easily share a project in MapBrowser with others on your subscription or in your organisation, making teamwork more seamless by helping you all work together on the same map. When you share a MapBrowser project, you can choose view or edit permissions, to ensure your projects are managed according to your preferred access settings. How to create a project: When you browse any location in MapBrowser, the area is saved by default as ‘Untitled Project’. You can name your project by clicking on the name and typing a title, or to create a new project you can click the Projects icon at the top of the sidebar menu, and in the dialog window, click NEW PROJECT. If you don’t wish to create a project, just leave the title as is and continue browsing as normal. You can also add labels to projects to help keep track of your work. Projects are saved automatically as you work, so there’s no need to manually save changes. Collaborate in real time Collaboration is a huge improvement for teamwork. Once you’ve shared project in MapBrowser, other people with access to the same project can see comments and mark-ups in real time. Clearer communication across your projects helps reduce delays and minimising errors. Commenters can tag tag other team members in the project, with all comments viewable in a single panel. To add a comment, click the Comment icon in the top toolbar in MapBrowser. You’ll see a comment callout appear on the map — you can drag that to the relevant location on the map and click to insert. Roofing contractors, we’ve got your back. To streamline commercial and residential roofing projects, make notes about features on a roof and share them with your team without having to export and make annotations in other software – do it it all in MapBrowser. Get the window seat for airport logistics Simplify managing complicated traffic in and out of airport properties, and keep track of critical maintenance issues with a view of changes over time. Ensure the details are reflected across your team, helping keep to schedule for time-critical repairs and replacements. Supervise asset management, remotely Assign portions of the areas you’re managing to different team members so everyone is working with a consolidated source of truth – removing confusion and saving the need for each employee to export and then consolidate different annotated maps. Bring intelligence into urban planning Work with a single source of truth to make notes and share with teams including utilities and roadways , with the ability for all contributors and decision-makers to make notes and ensure everyone is informed. This brings a new level of efficiency into MapBrowser, helping you and your team work smarter, with clearer information and a real-time view of who’s doing what in your MapBrowser project. With collaboration, you can see measurements and comments made by other stakeholders in the same project, giving you a clear view of the latest project updates. Along with these updates, you’ll also notice that we’ve updated the dashboard in the MapBrowser MyAccount view. The new grid layout displays your projects in an intuitive layout. Each project tile has an action menu where you can open, duplicate, rename, or archive a project. You will also be able to see who’s currently working on a project, and their access level. Your notifications window in MapBrowser will appear in the top right of the screen, directly under the bell icon. What’s your view on these updates? We’d love to hear how these MapBrowser enhancements are helping you do more – let us know in this survey. Your feedback helps us shape future product updates coming your way. Take Survey
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Mapping minds, shaping the world: GIS Day 2024
GIS Day 2024 is dedicated to sharing, teaching, and inspiring others with GIS. This year, Nearmap celebrates the 25th anniversary of GIS Day with highlights from customers and employees!
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Do more with MapBrowser
more with MapBrowser Do more with MapBrowser Nov 2024 Nov 2024 Play Thanks for all your feedback! We’ve listened and put your suggestions into action with 5 new MapBrowser enhancements to help you get the results you need, faster and more easily. From collaboration to property insights, large-area exports, more than 50 new AI layers, and a new-look MyAccount dashboard, a new way of working in MapBrowser is at your fingertips today. 1. Collaborate and share – put your team on the map “This is a game-changer!” said one of our first customers to use the new real-time collaboration tool in MapBrowser – one of our most requested features. Use the collaboration and sharing tool to share map projects and annotations in real time with others in your organisation. With collaborative editing for up to 20 different users, you can view real-time comments, tag other users, and share or receive notifications by email or in the MapBrowser app. Smarter collaboration Urban planners : collaborate with real-time map updates on city planning projects. Emergency managers : share critical disaster response maps for fast decision-making. Civil engineers and project leads : collaborate instantly with AEC teams on projects and structural changes. Insurance claims adjusters: review property damage and work with a current view. Insurance risk managers : share accurate risk views with underwriters and clients. 2. See property insights in one view The new location list and property panel feature gives you even more information about an address or property at a glance. Simply select a property to see all relevant AI features in one view, and add custom metadata. Your locations will be saved in an easily accessible list helping you see all marked properties for reference, exporting and sharing. Property Insights requires a Nearmap AI subscription for relevant AI values to be populated. Succeed with smarter insights City planners: track property parcel changes, building footprints, surrounding infrastructure and property data. Public works authorities: prioritise maintenance and allocate resources by understanding changes to infrastructure, vegetation, and surface conditions. Architects: design with real-world data and visualise potential obstacles or opportunities. Construction managers: Mark key areas on site maps, track project progress, and view changes over time with AI-powered insights. Commercial real estate: assess project feasibility and make better-informed investment decisions with AI property insights. 3. Save your place(s) with project marker lists Keep a closer eye on your MapBrowser projects in one place with project marker lists showing all your added locations. In each marker list, you can add specific attributes – creating a shareable dataset about any details relating to a particular location or property. You can also filter the marker list, and download the data as a CSV file. (The property details listed in the image above are for illustration purposes only and are not factual.) Streamline your property data Construction managers: Mark key areas on site maps and collate crucial property data in one source. Residential real estate agencies: highlight and share important property features or condition details internally and with clients. Facilities managers: understand key property aspects at a glance, reducing siloed information to improve FM services. 4. Export large-area imagery Now you can export high-resolution 2D vertical aerial imagery in any-shaped polygon of your choice covering areas up to 2,700 square kilometres – more than twice the size of Flinders Island! Previously, large-sized exports of this needed to be requested and processed by our geospatial team, which meant a longer wait for the file to be delivered. This feature puts export capabilities at your fingertips. The ability to select irregularly shaped areas gives you scope to export imagery of areas such as construction sites, roads, campuses, hospitals, suburbs and more. Now, you simply identify your area of interest using the polygon tool, select the desired resolution and size of the imagery, then download and save your large-scale imagery export. 2D export requires 3D export permissions and available export credits. Export at scale Planning teams: export and analyse irregular-shaped areas such as highways or mixed-use development zones. Emergency responders: export specific disaster-zone imagery for quicker assessment and more effective triage. GIS professionals: export areas such as roadways and utility corridors into GIS platforms, without the need to mosaic multiple image tiles. Surveyors: reduce the time needed for field surveys data acquisition by exporting imagery covering any shaped area. 5. Deepen your insights with 50+ new AI features Now, with significantly enhanced machine learning capabilities powering Nearmap Gen 6 AI, you can access a total of more than 130 AI layers to conduct remote inspection and assessments, classify and detect damage, and optimise workflows to enable fast and accurate decision-making AI packs consolidate the AI attributes relevant to specific areas of interest, including Building Structures, Roof Shape and Roof Materials, Pavement Markings, Pavement Condition, Utilities, Yard Objects and more. Please note: AI Layers Library (currently only available as vector layers): A subscription for Nearmap AI and AI packs are required to view raster AI layers. A subscription for Nearmap Advanced AI Viewer is required to view vector AI layers. Enhance risk management Underwriters: gain a deeper understanding of risk factors and changes over time. Quoting : identify crucial property details to pre-fill quotes with accurate data. Loss control: analyse property condition and hazards for proactive loss prevention. Claims: assess damage with greater confidence, detect change and verify repairs remotely. Customer care: engage with agents and policyholders to recommend preventative measures. Along with these updates, you’ll also notice that we’ve updated the dashboard in the MapBrowser MyAccount view. The new grid layout displays your projects in an intuitive layout. Each project tile has an action menu where you can open, duplicate, rename, or archive a project. You will also be able to see who’s currently working on a project, and their access level. Your notifications window in MapBrowser will appear in the top right of the screen, directly under the bell icon. What will you achieve with MapBrowser? We’d love to hear how you’re using these new features. And let us know about any improvements or developments you’d like to see in future – we’re always listening. Take your work to a whole new level in MapBrowser . Login now
But wait, there’s more!
Across the globe, GIS professionals are using Nearmap to advance their understanding of the world. Learn more about how these geospatial experts in commercial, government, and insurance sectors are optimising their efficiencies with our solution.Customer Stories
Go behind the scenes with GIS pioneers to see how they’re using Nearmap.
Webinars
Tune in for a lineup of industry experts highlighting how they’re changing our liveable world