EagleView Technologies

EagleView Technologies is a technology provider of aerial imagery, data analytics and geographic information system solutions based in Bothell, Washington in the Seattle metropolitan area with operations in Rochester, New York.^[1][2][3] The company was founded by Chris Pershing and Dave Carlson in 2008.^[4][5] Pershing is the company CTO with Chris Barrow as the president and CEO.^[1][2][6] EagleView merged with aerial image company Pictometry International in 2013 and was acquired by Vista Equity Partners in June 2015.^[3][7]

History

EagleView was founded in 2008. After talking with his brother-in-law Dave Carlson, who was a roofing salesperson at the time, software engineer Chris Pershing came up with the idea to develop software that could measure a roof using photography.^[4][5][8] Pershing found that aerial photography provided a close view with high resolutions that were able to obtain accurate roof measurements.^[4][8] Using a birdhouse as a model, Pershing developed software that uses algorithms to infer size, shape, pitch and area of the roof.^[8]

Pershing filed the first EagleView patent in spring 2007.^[4] The company launched in early 2008 and brought on Chris Barrow, a tech executive, a few months later to be CEO with Pershing as the company’s CTO.^[5][8] On December 13, 2011, EagleView's first U.S. patent was issued.^[5] The company merged with aerial image company Pictometry International in 2013.^[3][9]

In 2012, EagleView provided tens of thousands of roof and wall reports in response to the damage done by Hurricane Sandy. The 3D modeling and measurements of the properties’ roofs and walls assisted in analyzing the storm’s effects on homes and buildings quicker and with more accuracy.^[10][11] The company provided the same service in response to the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes.^[12]

In January 2014, Verisk Analytics announced a $650 million acquisition of EagleView Technologies in order to add an image library encompassing about 90 percent of U.S. structures. 11 months later, the takeover failed following a vote by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) due to antitrust concerns.^{[13][14][15][16]}

They were ranked the 62nd fastest-growing company in North America on the 2014 Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500.^[1] The same year, EagleView was chosen by Seattle Business magazine as one of "Washington’s 100 Best Companies to Work For” for the third consecutive year.^[17]

In June 2015, it was announced that EagleView was acquired by Vista Equity Partners for an undisclosed sum.^[7]

Software

The first tool that EagleView invented and released in 2008 was aerial roof measurement technology.^[9] The software uses algorithms to infer size, shape, pitch and area of the roof.^[8] Aerial photos are collected from public sources such as county land records or private databases. The software matches edges, colors and shapes to create a 3D image of the roof.^[5]

In 2011, EagleView introduced a solar 3D-roofing report for solar integrators and solar installers that estimates solar exposure, rafter lengths, grid layout and overall roof orientation in degrees.^[6]

In fall 2012, EagleView added wall measurement reports that assess damage to siding, walls and windows to its products.^[9][18]

In 2014, EagleView introduced the QuickSquares report and QuickSquares app which allows contractors to create a customized estimate report including an aerial photo of the proposed property to give to the owner before a sale is made.^[19]

References