Solutions that leverage unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) coupled with cost-free software facilitate the dimensional assessment of building rooftops without incurring financial outlay for the software itself. As an illustration, several open-source photogrammetry programs can process images captured by a drone to generate orthomosaics and 3D models, enabling area and slope calculations.
Employing these technologies offers advantages such as reduced personnel risk compared to manual measurement methods, increased speed of data acquisition, and the potential for enhanced accuracy depending on the quality of the UAV imagery and processing techniques. Historically, roof measurement relied on manual surveying, blueprints, or satellite imagery, all of which presented limitations in terms of precision, accessibility, or cost.