Automated Property Damage Image Capture System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current process for processing property damage insurance claims is labor-intensive, costly, slow, and unsafe, with manual on-site inspections by adjusters often resulting in inconsistent assessments and delays, especially after catastrophic events.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a data storage facility with knowledge base parameters for image acquisition, an imaging device, and a processing device to automatically capture and process images of property damage using aerial drones or handheld devices, analyzing images to identify damage and generate claims based on pre-defined criteria, reducing the need for manual inspections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual on-site inspection by adjusters is used, then detailed damage assessment can be performed, but the process becomes labor-intensive and slow
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service claim filing where policyholders can submit claims and upload damage images themselves through mobile devices, eliminating the need for manual adjuster dispatch for initial assessment and significantly speeding up the claims process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection by adjusters with automated image recognition systems that use machine learning algorithms to analyze uploaded photos and automatically assess damage, maintaining accuracy while dramatically improving processing speed
2Loss of information
If adjusters manually survey and document damage on-site, then comprehensive damage data can be collected, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary damage assessment automatically through image recognition before any human intervention is needed, allowing insurers to quickly triage claims and only dispatch adjusters for complex cases that require physical inspection
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves multiple functions including claim filing, image capture, automated damage assessment, and communication, consolidating what previously required multiple separate manual processes into a single integrated system
3Measurement precision
If adjusters climb ladders and roofs to inspect damage, then complete roof damage assessment is possible, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates digital copies of the property through photographs and images uploaded by policyholders or captured by remote devices, allowing assessors to evaluate roof damage without physically climbing to the damaged areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mobile devices and image recognition technology as intermediaries between the assessor and the damaged property, enabling remote assessment that eliminates the need for adjusters to physically access dangerous locations
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjusters independently assess the same property, then different perspectives can be gathered, but assessment consistency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system standardizes assessment parameters by using consistent image capture protocols, lighting conditions, and angle requirements, ensuring that all assessments are performed under identical conditions which improves consistency across different assessors
Data Source
AI summary
A system for capturing property damage images includes an imaging device and a knowledge base of property damage incident types. The knowledge base also includes, for each category, one or more image acquisition parameters that are associated with the category. A processor receives a property damage incident type for a property damage claim that is associated with a property that reportedly experienced an incident, retrieves from the knowledge base one or more image acquisition parameters that are associated with the received incident type, and uses the one or more applicable image acquisition parameters to automatically cause the imaging device to capture digital images of the property using the retrieved one or more image acquisition parameters.