Florida Streamlines Admitting Satellite And Mapping Images Into Evidence

Satellite and mapping imagery has an important role in the litigation of property insurance claims, from its use to question a witness under oath, its use as a demonstrative aid at trial, to even being admitted into evidence at trial.

Over the years, commercially available satellite imaging and mapping imaging technology has advanced. What decades ago was grainy imaging technology has now developed into satellite and street-level images that, with clarity, document the historical condition of a property, sometimes with such high resolution that it is possible to identify individual missing shingles on a roof covering.

In this year's legislative session, the Florida Legislature recognized the reliable nature of this technology by unanimously passing SB 634, which Florida's Governor quickly signed into law. SB 634 comes into effect on July 1, 2022.