Your maintenance crew knows the problems are up there. Guys cutting across corners instead of walking the long way around. Climbing over pipe runs because the alternative is circling the entire building. Walking along an unprotected roof edge because it is the most direct path to the condenser that needs service every month. Everyone knows the shortcuts exist. Everyone knows the exposure is real.
But getting a proper fall protection assessment done means coordinating roof access, scheduling escorts, and pulling people off the floor while an assessor walks every section. That project keeps sitting on the list because the logistics never come together.
Fall protection topped OSHA's most-cited violation list for the 15th consecutive year in FY 2025, with 6,827 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501. Most of those violations exist because the hazard was never properly mapped in the first place.
A virtual rooftop assessment uses overhead imagery to identify fall hazards, map work zones, and build a preliminary protection plan before anyone steps onto the roof. It does not replace every on-site visit. It replaces the ones that didn't need to happen, and makes the ones that do happen faster, more focused, and better informed.
The technology has been available for years. What's been missing is honesty about what it can and cannot deliver.
Most fall protection companies that mention "satellite assessment" are not precise about what they mean. The resolution differences matter more than the marketing suggests.
| Imagery Type | Resolution / GSD | Source | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Maxar, Planet |
~30 cm ~12 in/pixel |
Commercial satellite | Layout planning: where edges are, where equipment sits, where access points exist. |
| Aerial Nearmap, EagleView, Google Earth Pro |
5-7 cm 2-3 in/pixel |
Fixed-wing aircraft | Hazard mapping: equipment proximity to edges, skylight identification, distance measurement. |
| Drone orthomosaic | 1-3 cm 0.5-1 in/pixel |
Part 107 pilot mission | Survey-grade precision: detailed measurement, documentation, complex geometry. |
Read the roof before you read the catalog.
A competent virtual assessment using high-resolution overhead imagery can identify the majority of fall hazards that drive guardrail and protection decisions. We map everything within fifteen feet of an unprotected edge as a safety zone: the threshold where OSHA 1910.28 starts imposing work restrictions for low-slope roofs.
From overhead imagery, an assessor can typically identify:
A virtual rooftop assessment gives your team a clearer view of fall hazards, access points, equipment locations, and likely worker travel paths before an on-site visit is scheduled.
Send Dakota Safety the property address, available roof photos, or basic site details. We can typically deliver a preliminary fall protection assessment within 48 hours so you know where the major hazards are and what protection options make sense.