Farmers Insurance will now use Kespry unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to help assess damage to residential rooftops after significant weather events.

The Kespry drones will enable the insurance company to quickly and safely gather rooftop imagery and data, generate analytic reports, supplement ladder assist capabilities, and resolve claims with greater efficiency and accuracy, according to a news release.

“Farmers investments in technology and innovation are driven by our commitment to deliver a better experience for our customers at every point of engagement,” said Keith Daly, chief claims officer for Farmers Insurance, according to the release. “We believe our new drone program will help improve response time and safety for our claim representatives during their evaluations, and ensure Farmers maintains a leadership position in the insurance industry.”

Rather than hiring a third party service provider, Farmers will exclusively use claims professionals who are also FAA-licensed drone operators throughout the claim handling process.

Initially, Farmers will focus the drone program on areas affected by hailstorms and other severe weather events. The UAS will deliver high-resolution, 3-D imagery that’s capable of detecting granule loss and other physical damage. Farmers claim representatives will have access to comprehensive roof dimensions and automated damage detection.