Patent ID: 8306258

Claim:
A method for assessing a condition of an insured property for insurance purposes, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a first spectral image of radiation emitted from ground objects and the atmospheric mixing layer at the insured property at a first timestamp; acquiring a second spectral image of radiation emitted from ground objects and an atmospheric mixing layer at the insured property at a second timestamp later than the first timestamp; generating a first spectral signature of a molecular constituent from the first spectral image, the first spectral signature comprising a first concentration of the molecular constituent; generating a second spectral signature of the molecular constituent from the second spectral image, the second spectral signature comprising a second concentration of the molecular constituent; comparing the first spectral signature to the second spectral signature to determine a spectral difference, the spectral difference comprising a concentration difference of the molecular constituent corresponding to a change in the condition of the insured property; determining if the spectral difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value associated with the molecular constituent; and initiating an insurance claim process for a particular type of insured loss associated with the change in condition producing the spectral difference exceeding the predetermined threshold value.