FAQ
Questions land buyers actually ask
Straight answers about what a satellite land report can tell you — and, just as importantly, what it can't.
How do I check if land floods before buying?
Run the parcel through LandBenchmark: the report reads the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer for the mapped flood zone, checks USFWS wetlands, and adds what a map can't — surface water actually observed on the parcel across years of satellite imagery. Each value states its source and observation date. It is a desk screen, not an official flood determination, so a flagged parcel still warrants a surveyor's elevation certificate.
What is a perc test, and can you do one?
A percolation test digs holes on the parcel and times how fast water drains — it's what most counties require before approving a septic system. No, we can't do one: a satellite cannot dig a hole. The report screens soil drainage from soil-survey data and then puts the perc test itself on the human-verify checklist — it is a question only someone standing on the parcel can answer.
How do I find out what a parcel's soil is like?
The report reads the USDA SSURGO soil survey for US parcels and SoilGrids elsewhere — soil type, drainage and productivity, each cited to its source and date. That tells you what the survey mapped for that ground; for a decision that depends on soil bearing or septic suitability, the on-site tests on the report's checklist are still the final word.
Can I build on a steep slope?
Often yes, but it costs more — grading, foundations and access all get harder. The report measures slope from a digital elevation model and estimates usable acreage after removing steep ground, floodplain and wetlands, so you see how much of the parcel is realistically buildable. For genuinely steep ground it points you to a geotechnical engineer rather than pretending a satellite settled it.
Is the report free?
Yes — running an analysis is free today, and the lite report takes about a minute from boundary to verdict. Paid tiers for live monitoring and deeper reports are still being finalised; billing is not live yet.
Does it work outside the United States?
Yes. You can analyze a parcel anywhere on Earth — 35 checks run globally from satellite imagery and worldwide datasets. Coverage is deepest in the US, where federal layers like FEMA flood zones, USFWS wetlands and the SSURGO soil survey bring the total to 57 checks.
Where does the data come from?
Public, authoritative sources: FEMA for flood zones, USFWS for wetlands, USDA SSURGO and SoilGrids for soil, digital elevation models for slope, and multi-year satellite imagery for what's observably on the ground. Every signal on a report cites its source, method and observation date — and the Accuracy Ledger publishes how often our reads agree with independent checks, including the word UNMEASURED where we haven't checked yet.
What can't satellites tell me?
Anything that lives in paperwork or under the ground: title, liens, easements, zoning, water and mineral rights, septic approval, well yield, soil bearing capacity. The report doesn't guess at these — each one goes on a human-verify checklist that states what to confirm before you buy.
Informational screening only — not a survey, flood determination, or a substitute for on-site inspection and professional advice.