Machine Learning is a topic that a lot of people talk about but without really understand what it is about or what it entails. It has almost become a buzzword that unscrupulous salespeople or trendy-wannabe bosses would throw randomly in a conversation to sound like they know what they are on about. Today we are going to give you a very clear definition of Machine Learning and how we use it in combination with drones and 3D models to help you to **#ONEUPYOURBUSINESS**.

## WHAT IS MACHINE LEARNING?

First and foremost, we need to define Artificial Intelligence, commonly abbreviated as AI. In its most simplistic and colloquial definition, Artificial Intelligence is the ability of machines/computers to learn and solve problems by themselves.

Machine Learning, sometimes abbreviated as ML, is a subset of Artificial Intelligence and we could define it as the process by which machines/computers learn from the constant feeding of data, and by data we mean anything from images to 3D models, from words to numbers, and everything in between. With Machine Learning the data is analysed to find common patterns and apply them to new sets of data.

## HOW DO WE USE MACHINE LEARNING AND AI WITH DRONES AND 3D MODELS?

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are crucial tools for us to analyse the output from our drones and 3D scanners. 

The main outputs that we feed to our Machine Learning application are static images and 3D Point Clouds. In order to get the most out of Machine Learning we need to conduct regular and frequent inspections, as the more data we feed, the more accurate and precise the comparison results will be.

## COMPARE AS-DESIGNED VS AS-BUILT

One the most useful analyses that we produce is the comparison of **“as-designed vs as-built”**. This analysis is done in several steps:

  - Topographic survey and 3D Model of the land
  - Overlay of your CAD plans on top of the Topographic Survey
  - Conduct further inspections and feed them to the system

By overlaying your CAD on top of the Topographic Survey, we will have a precise geolocation of where the digging should take place and construction of the structures should go with an accuracy of 1 centimetre, and by regularly feeding new inspections to the system we can spot discrepancies very early on, therefore saving you money by preventing unnecessary delays. If the digging takes place 3 metres away or a wall is being erected somewhere it should not be, we can spot it and tell you. You can even see the results of the inspection in real-time with our remote feed.

This comparison of **“as-designed vs as-built”** is also helpful in cases of insurance claims to keep track of the repair progress and make sure that is being done according to specification.

Our system will create a timeline with the results of all inspections that we can navigate back and forth and produce side-by-side comparisons.

## WHAT THE ADVANTAGES OF USING MACHINE LEARNING WITH DRONES AND 3D MODELS?

By using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in combination with Drones and 3D Models you get several key advantages:

  - Keep track of changes in stockpile volumes and their precise locations
  - Detect discrepancies very early on, prevent unnecessary delays, and save money
  - Increase site operation’s efficiency and safety
  - All inspection records are organised in a timeline layout that can be navigated

We give you a clear and simple definition of Machine Learning and how we use it in combination with the results from drone inspections and 3D Models.

Machine Learning Explained

The insurance and legal sector truly benefit from employing the latest technology. We have been asked several times the same question by insurance adjusters and solicitors: **how can drones be useful for the insurance and legal sector?** In this new blog article we are going to look at how drones can be used to produce **legal evidence that can be used in court**, put an end to the boundary disputes with that pesky neighbour, how you can get better insurance loss percentages and help you to **#ONEUPYOURBUSINESS**.

## COURT EVIDENCE WITH ULTIMATE ACCURACY PRODUCED BY DRONES

We endeavour to provide inspections with the utmost accuracy in the most critical scenarios; utilising our fleet of RTK-equipped (Real-Time Kinematic) drones and bespoke software, we can read and analyse your ground control points to reference the mapping area. This referencing provides an in-depth report, eliminating guesswork and discrepancies when reanalysing the incident scenes at a later date.

Within our bespoke reports we include the original photos that were captured to produce the 3D models, along with a flyover video of the scene for you to review when analysing the incident and can be use as evidence in court.

For the most critical of cases, we can offer an **unrivalled resolution of 1 millimetre per pixel**.

## 3D MODELS FOR TRAJECTORY PREDICTION AND RESTORATION PRODUCED BY DRONES

Drones can produce immersive to scale 3D models with point clouds that allow you to measure distances, sizes, volumes with precision from different angles and viewpoints. Furthermore, you can export these models to a specialist software of choice to perform other calculations (like trajectory prediction).

## THOROUGH ROOF INSPECTIONS WITH DRONES

One of the offers we have to the insurance industry is assistance with risk improvement and post-loss surveys. As we safely operate from the ground, roof inspections will be done in minutes rather than days of traditional methods involving scaffolding or lifting equipment. This keeps costs down, streamlining the survey process for maximum efficiency. Our roof inspection reports have 99.4% accuracy, including full geometry of the roof, which can be delivered to you in the format to suit.

To read more about our comprehensive and detailed roof inspections, click [here](/blog/how-are-drones-useful-for-roof-inspections "drones and roof inspections").

## HIGH-DEFINITION THERMAL SURVEYS WITH DRONES

In cases of water or fire damage, we can undertake a fast and accurate survey, with high-resolution, blur-free thermal inspection reports with both images and videos. We use our industry-leading thermal camera (technical specifications include: a sensitivity (NEDT) of <50 mk @ f/1.0 and a resolution of 640 x 512). The high level of detail and data within our reports will help you quickly assess the initial damage and pinpoint the progression steps required in an easy to understand manner.

## FAIRER FARMING LOSS EVALUATIONS WITH DATA ACQUIRED BY DRONES

When the worst happens and you suffer a loss caused by a major weather event, the last thing you want is to to have a slow and unfair insurance adjuster’s evaluation. In this case, drones can inspect the area in a fast and extremely efficient manner, producing a detailed report that will allow the insurance adjuster to give you a much better loss percentage, since they have access to better data.

To find out about our dedicated drone services for farming, visit this [link](/blog/how-are-drones-useful-for-agriculture-and-farming "link").

## ENHANCED TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS WITH DRONES FOR BOUNDARY DISPUTES

When neighbours argue about boundaries and what part of the land belongs to whom, drones are an invaluable tool to produce an accurate topographic survey in a matter of minutes instead of days or weeks. By using Chartered Surveyors, the enhanced topographic survey made with drones will be legally binding.

Learn about our enhanced topographic surveys [here](/blog/how-are-drones-useful-for-topographic-surveys/ "here").

## MACHINE LEARNING TO CHECK THE STATUS OF REPAIRS

When a catastrophic event occurs and after the initial report, with recurring inspections the implementation of Machine Learning in our software will create a timeline with all the surveys, allowing to easily keep track of repairs, deterioration, and identify areas where the process does not follow the prescribed actions at a much earlier stage than previously available.


We analyse the different ways that drones are useful for the Insurance and Legal sector, from producing roof reports to ending boundary disputes.

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