Overview

Gen 4 is powered by a new raster model with the addition of 8 new AI Layers for roof condition and construction. Gen 4 also improves existing layers already available in Gen 3. Open World vectorisation has been expanded, enhancing some existing AI Packs and adding new ones. Gen 4 processing includes every survey from mid 2020 to present, and coverage now extends beyond Australia and the USA to include Canada and New Zealand.

Showcasing some of the new roof condition AI Layers

Gen 4 AI Layers

The Gen 4 model (gen4-building_storm-1.0) introduces a new raster model with eight of new layers to the AI Layer Glossary.

Some of these have not yet been included in generally available AI Packs from the first release of Gen 4, but will subsequently added to existing and new AI Packs:

Roof Condition layers:

• Ponding
• Rusting
• Structural Damage
• Temporary Repair
• Tile or Shingle Staining

Construction layers:

• Building Under Construction
• Construction Crane
• Construction Vehicle

New AI Packs

AI Pack: Roof Condition

The Roof Condition AI Pack includes these 5 layers visualised in MapBrowser, and AI Feature API + AI Offline vectorised data that intersects these with our building footprints. See the pack link for more details.

Roof Condition layers:

• Ponding
• Rusting
• Structural Damage
• Temporary Repair
• Tile or Shingle Staining

Enhanced AI Packs

AI Pack: Surfaces

• Water Body raster and vector has greatly improved performance.

AI Pack: Construction Sites

• Construction Site raster and vector has greatly improved performance.
• 3 other construction related layers are included in the Gen 4 model, but not yet added to the Construction Sites AI Pack. This will be done in future iterations.

AI Pack: Swimming Pool

• Swimming Pool raster and vector has improved performance.

AI Pack: Solar Panels

• Solar Panel raster and vector has improved performance.

Availability

Note that Gen 4 content is currently available via three methods:

• The AI Feature API
• AI Offline (Raster, Vector and Parcel)
• Visualisation of raster AI Layers in MapBrowser.

Gen 4 is NOT yet available for export through MapBrowser. If you wish to access Gen 4 data and have existing Nearmap AI credits, you may either do so via the AI Feature API (which can be added to your subscription), or by asking your Account Manager to organise an offline delivery of Gen 4 data.

Coverage

The big new change to coverage with Gen 4 is adding New Zealand and Canada to our coverage footprints. Initial coverage for Gen 4 is every survey captured in all four capture countries from mid 2020 until launch in May 2021 (and ongoing).

The one key caveat to New Zealand and Canadian data is that AI Offline Parcel is not yet available (that is, raster and vector can be provided, but summary information trimmed to property boundaries and address information are not yet available).

Version History

gen4-building_storm-1.0

The first production data released, as per the specifications above.

gen4-building_storm-1.1

Adds new "unclippedAreaSqm" and "unclippedAreaSqft" fields to connected classes behind AI Feature API (vegetation and surfaces AI Packs). "areaSqm" and "areaSqft" will continue to give the area of the feature returned from the API. The "unclippedArea" includes the full area of the connected feature, which may be very large. This is to make it easier to determine if e.g. a property borders on a small stand of trees vs a large forest, or a pond vs an ocean.

This upgrades all previously processed data from gen4-building_storm-1.0 to gen4-building_storm-1.1