Landchecker combines high-resolution aerial imagery with comprehensive property data, enabling you to conduct thorough desktop site assessments without visiting the property. View current and historical imagery, measure site features, assess property characteristics, and export images for reports—all from your desktop.
This article guides you through conducting a complete desktop site assessment using Landchecker's high-resolution aerial imagery tools.
What is a desktop site assessment?
A desktop site assessment involves evaluating a property or development site remotely using digital tools and data. In Landchecker, you can assess site conditions, measure dimensions, review historical changes, and gather planning information without physically visiting the location.
Who uses desktop site assessments?
Desktop site assessments are valuable for:
Architects and town planners: Conducting initial site analysis and feasibility studies
Property developers: Evaluating potential acquisition sites and development opportunities
Valuers: Assessing property characteristics and surrounding context
Real estate agents: Preparing property listings and market appraisals
Legal professionals: Conducting due diligence for property transactions
Builders and contractors: Planning site access and construction logistics
Before you begin
High-resolution aerial imagery is available to Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise plan members. If you cannot access high-resolution imagery, contact your account administrator to assign the appropriate permissions to your user account.
High-resolution aerial imagery provides coverage across all metropolitan areas and key regional centres in Australia, with imagery captured approximately three to four times per year.
Step 1: Activate high-resolution aerial imagery
High-resolution aerial imagery provides six times higher resolution than standard satellite imagery, allowing you to see fine details of properties, structures, and site features.
Follow these steps:
Navigate to the property or area you want to assess using the address search bar.
Locate the Map Type button in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
Click Map Type to open the imagery options menu.
Select High-Res Aerial Imagery from the available options.
The map view updates to display high-resolution aerial imagery for the area.
If the high-resolution aerial imagery option appears locked or greyed out, this indicates you do not have the required permissions. Contact your account administrator to enable high-resolution imagery access for your user account.
Once activated, high-resolution imagery remains selected as you navigate across the map until you manually switch back to standard satellite imagery or other map types.
Step 2: View historical imagery using the timeline
The timeline feature allows you to compare how a property or area has changed over time, helping you identify modifications, assess development history, and understand site evolution.
Follow these steps:
Ensure high-resolution aerial imagery is activated (the timeline only appears when high-resolution imagery is turned on).
Locate the timeline control in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
Click the drop-down arrow on the timeline to view all available image capture dates for the selected area.
Select a date from the list to display imagery from that time period.
Use the left and right arrows on the timeline to move between consecutive image dates.
Compare different time periods by switching between dates to identify changes such as new construction, demolitions, landscaping changes, or vegetation growth.
Understanding near-infrared imagery
Some dates in the timeline appear in red text. These dates indicate near-infrared (NIR) imagery, which is particularly useful for assessing vegetation health and vigour.
Near-infrared imagery highlights:
Vegetation density and health
Irrigation effectiveness
Tree canopy coverage
Garden and landscape conditions
Agricultural crop health
Property professionals managing parks, gardens, agricultural land, or assessing vegetation overlays find near-infrared imagery especially valuable for site assessments.
Step 3: Measure site features with drawing tools
Landchecker provides measurement tools that enable you to calculate distances, areas, and dimensions directly on high-resolution aerial imagery without visiting the site.
Available measurement tools include:
Any Shape tool (most popular)
The Any Shape tool measures irregular areas such as building footprints, land parcels, or specific site features.
Click the star-shaped icon on the right-hand toolbar to activate the Any Shape tool.
Click multiple points around the perimeter of the area you want to measure.
Continue clicking to define the shape's boundary.
Double-click on the final point to complete the measurement.
The total area displays automatically in square metres (or your selected unit of measurement).
Distance tool
The Distance tool measures linear distances such as road frontages, setbacks, or distances between features.
Click the ruler icon on the right-hand toolbar.
Click your starting point on the map.
Click subsequent points to measure multi-segment distances.
Double-click to complete the measurement.
The total distance displays in metres (or your selected unit).
Rectangle tool
The Rectangle tool measures regular rectangular shapes such as pools, sheds, or building sections.
Select the rectangle icon from the right-hand toolbar.
Click and drag to draw a rectangle on the map.
Release to complete the measurement.
The area displays automatically.
Circle tool
The Circle tool measures circular features and displays area, radius, and diameter.
Select the circle icon from the toolbar.
Click the centre point of the circle.
Drag outward to set the radius.
Release to complete the measurement.
Text labels
Add annotations and notes directly on the imagery to mark important features or add context.
Click the Tt icon on the right-hand toolbar.
Click where you want to place the text label on the map.
Type your annotation text.
The label remains visible on the map for reference.
All measurements remain visible on the map until you delete them, allowing you to build up a comprehensive site analysis with multiple measurements and annotations.
Step 4: Export high-resolution imagery
Export high-resolution aerial images for use in reports, presentations, CAD packages, or BIM software.
Follow these steps:
Locate the export icon at the bottom of the right-hand toolbar (it appears as a download or image export symbol).
Click the export icon to activate the image export tool.
Draw a rectangle on the map to define the area you want to export, or click to select a pre-defined area.
Check the colour coding of the selected area:
Green shading: High-quality export (recommended)
Orange shading: Medium-quality export
Red shading: Low-quality export
If the area shows orange or red shading, zoom in further on the map or draw a smaller export rectangle to improve export quality.
Select your preferred export format:
JPEG: Standard image format, smaller file size
PNG: Higher quality with transparency support
Geo-referenced image: Includes spatial coordinates for use in CAD or BIM packages
If exporting a geo-referenced image, select the appropriate projection option to match your CAD or GIS software requirements.
Click Export or Download to save the image to your device.
Exported images include any measurements, annotations, or labels you have added to the map, making them ideal for client presentations or technical documentation.
Step 5: Review comprehensive property information
Complement your visual site assessment with detailed property data available in the property information panel.
Follow these steps:
Click directly on the property boundary on the map, or search for the property address using the search bar.
The property information panel opens on the right-hand side of the screen.
Review the available property data, including:
Land size: Total land area in square metres or hectares
Property attributes: Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, car spaces, and property type
Sales history: Recent sale prices, contract dates, and settlement information
Planning information: Zones, overlays, and planning scheme links
Planning permits: Current and historical permit applications on the property
Click the blue hyperlinked text in the planning section to access the relevant planning scheme schedules directly from state or local government sources.
Distance-To tool
The Distance-To tool uses intelligent routing technology to calculate travel times and accessibility.
Locate the Distance-To section in the property information panel.
Select your transport mode: walking, cycling, or driving.
Enter a time frame (for example, 10 minutes or 30 minutes).
The map displays the reachable area within that time frame, helping you assess proximity to amenities, transport, and services.
Council information
Access local government contact details directly from the property panel:
Council name
Phone number
Email address
Website link
This information is useful when you need to contact council planning departments for additional enquiries about permits, planning schemes, or development requirements.
School information
View nearby educational facilities to assess family-friendly locations:
Locate the School Information section in the property panel.
Review the list of nearby schools, including:
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Private schools
Distance to each school is displayed to help assess accessibility.
Google Street View
View street-level imagery to assess the property's streetscape and surrounding context.
Locate the Google Street View thumbnail in the property information panel.
Click the expand icon (square symbol) on the Street View thumbnail.
The Street View window expands to full size.
Use the arrow controls to navigate along the street and view different angles.
Rotate the view by clicking and dragging to see the property from multiple perspectives.
Street View provides valuable context for understanding the property's neighbourhood character, street frontage, and immediate surroundings that may not be visible from aerial imagery.
Tips for effective desktop site assessments
Compare multiple time periods
Always review historical imagery from at least two or three different dates to identify:
Recent construction or demolition activity
Changes in vegetation or landscaping
Property modifications or extensions
Changes in surrounding development
Use measurements strategically
Take measurements of:
Building footprints to verify floor area claims
Setbacks from boundaries to check planning compliance
Road frontage for development potential assessment
Distances to neighbouring structures for context
Combine imagery with property data
Cross-reference what you observe in the imagery with the property data:
Verify building attributes match what's visible
Check planning zones align with current land use
Compare sales history with visible property improvements
Review permit history for visible structures
Export images for documentation
Create a comprehensive site assessment report by exporting:
Current imagery with measurements
Historical imagery showing site evolution
Annotated images highlighting key features
Multiple angles and perspectives
High-resolution imagery coverage
High-resolution aerial imagery is available across:
All Australian capital cities and metropolitan areas
Major regional centres in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia
Selected growth corridors and development areas
Imagery is captured approximately three to four times per year in metropolitan areas, with less frequent updates in regional locations.
Standard satellite imagery provides coverage across all remaining areas of Australia where high-resolution imagery is not yet available.