Introduction
AIM Capture has been designed by surveyors who fully understand real on-site workflows, ensuring the app works for you, not against you. Every feature is shaped around the realities of field surveying—poor signal, tight schedules, varied property types, complex layouts, and the need for fast, accurate and reliable data.
AIM Capture supports complete offline data collection so you can confidently capture a full site anywhere, anytime.
AIM Capture works seamlessly with Insta360 X4 & X5 cameras and the AIM cloud processing pipeline, forming a true end-to-end capture → processing → model delivery workflow inside the AIM Platform.
How AIM Capture Works
AIM Capture fully automates the technical side of data collection, allowing surveyors to focus on simply walking the property. The app controls the camera, manages files, synchronises data, and optimises every image for digital model creation.
Automatic Camera Control
When a capture begins, AIM Capture:
Connects to the Insta360 camera
Pushes AIM-optimised camera settings
Configures resolution, ISO, exposure, HDR, stabilisation
Applies an optimised 0.5-second timelapse interval
Ensures consistent, high-quality imagery suitable for digital reconstruction
This consistency ensures accuracy and reliability across all surveyors and all properties.
Second Timelapse for Digital Modelling
During capture, the camera takes a 360° image every 0.5 seconds, producing:
Dense, continuous frame coverage
High overlap needed for photogrammetry
Stable feature detection in every area
A complete visual walk path
This high-frequency input is essential for generating the precise, stable digital models used in the AIM Platform.
Additional Capture Types
High-Resolution 360° Photos
Captured at 72MP HDR
Linked to predefined room names or custom labels
Used for clarity, deep detail and texture accuracy
Phone Photos
Ideal for serial numbers, defects, assets, and condition evidence
Can be tagged with POIs – (You can create custom PI categories/types withing the platform)
Notes and voice-to-text supported
Voice Notes
Allows fast dictation of context
Stored and linked to a POI location
This blended capture approach ensures complete visual coverage and detail for each survey.
Smart Site Management & Location Safety Checks
AIM Capture includes intelligent proximity-based filtering and distance validation so data always goes to the correct project.
Sites Sorted by Proximity
When the site list loads, the app:
Detects the user’s GPS location
Sorts sites by nearest distance
Shows the closest sites first
This makes identifying the correct property fast and intuitive, especially in areas with clusters of similar sites.
Distance Warning – 250m Confirmation
If a user selects a site more than 250m away, AIM Capture displays:
“You appear to be more than 250m away from the selected site. Are you sure you want to proceed?”
This prevents:
Accidental mis-selection
Uploading data to the wrong project
Time-consuming admin corrections
Surveyors can override this for large estates, rural boundaries, or multi-building sites.
Complete Offline Capture – Works Anywhere
AIM Capture is fully functional even with zero signal.
Full Offline Functionality
Surveyors can:
Select or create sites
Start timelapse capture
Take 360° high-res photos
Record phone photos and voice notes
Complete checklist items
Store all data locally
Transfer files from camera to phone
Everything works without an internet connection. Once you’re back online, AIM Capture uploads all captured data to the AIM platform.
Offline Site Creation
If a site is missing or connectivity is unavailable, AIM Capture allows:
Offline Site Creation
Create a temporary offline site entry
Capture full walkthrough and POIs
Store it locally until back online
Once signal returns:
Link the capture to an existing AIM site
Or create a new official site in AIM
This ensures capture can always proceed regardless of location or last-minute schedule changes.
Offline Camera Control
Camera communication uses local Wi-Fi, meaning:
No signal or mobile data is needed
Full control is available anywhere
Perfect for all situations.
Checklists & On-the-Go Tagging
AIM Capture ensures consistent output through guided capture flows and smart tagging tools.
Checklists & On-the-Go Tagging
AIM Capture ensures consistent output through guided capture flows and smart, flexible tagging tools.
Smart Checklists (Customisable)
AIM Capture includes fully customisable smart checklists designed to ensure every required asset, component, or detail is captured accurately during the survey.
Checklists are created and managed in the AIM Platform and automatically sync into the app based on user access levels.
They can be tailored at:
Client level – organisation-wide templates
Project level – scheme-specific
Site level – property-specific capture items
This allows complete flexibility so every client, site, or project can maintain its own standards and evidence requirements.
Tapping a Checklist Item
When a user taps a checklist item:
AIM Capture automatically opens the correct capture workflow with the POI type pre-selected.
This ensures:
Correct classification
Faster capture
Zero mistakes in tagging
Fully structured data for processing
Tailored checklists guarantee consistency across surveyors and make sure nothing is missed.
Points of Interest (POI) – Tagging on the Go
AIM Capture makes it easy to record important details during your walkthrough using Points of Interest (POIs). These help your wider team understand exactly what has been found on site and where it is located in the property.
Easy POI Creation
At any time during a capture, you can create a POI by taking:
A phone photo
A high-resolution 360 photo
A voice note
You simply choose the POI type from your organisation’s custom list, then add a title or comment.
This keeps information structured and consistent.
Automatic Model Placement
The first photo taken for a POI is used to help position it inside the digital model.
When the capture is uploaded, AIM automatically:
Syncs all POIs
Aligns them with the 360 imagery
Places them directly into the model so teams can see the full context
If a POI Can’t Be Automatically Placed
If a POI doesn’t have enough visual detail to auto-locate it, AIM flags it for manual placement.
You’ll be taken to the correct pano so you can place it easily.
Why POIs Matter
POIs make it simple to capture and share:
Asset details
Defects
Safety issues
Compliance items
Observations or notes
Everything appears clearly inside the AIM Platform, giving your team a complete, contextual view of the site.
Automatic Sync into the Digital Model
After upload, all POIs sync automatically into the digital model inside AIM.
This means:
Every POI is anchored spatially
Images appear exactly in context
Teams see the issue or asset within the surrounding space
Office-based teams get the same clarity as on-site surveyors
This greatly enhances collaboration, clarity, and decision-making across departments.
File Transfer & Upload
Camera → Phone Transfer
After the capture ends:
Files transfer wirelessly from camera to phone
Phone stores the files safely until upload
Camera SD card retains the images as backup until automatically cleaned
Upload Settings – Mobile Data or Wi-Fi
Users choose:
Upload using mobile data
Ideal for surveyors on the move
Continuous flow of work
Upload on Wi-Fi only
Useful for data-restricted policies
Ensures no mobile data use
Uploads automatically pause/resume depending on connectivity.
Data Management & Auto-Cleanup
AIM Capture includes built-in storage controls so users never need to manually clear space.
Auto-Cleanup Options
Clear data every 3 days
Clear data every 7 days
Never (manual-only)
The app removes:
Local camera-transferred data
Embedded frames
High-res 360° photos
Phone photos
Voice notes
Camera SD card cleanup can also be automated.
This keeps phones running efficiently and prevents storage issues.
Syncing, Permissions & Visibility
Sites sync automatically from AIM
Data visibility matches user permissions
Site list is cached offline
Pending uploads displayed clearly
Recent and assigned sites available for quick access
The process requires no setup from the surveyor.
End-to-End Workflow Summary
AIM Capture → Upload → Cloud Processing → AIM Platform
Start capture
Camera runs a controlled 0.5s timelapse
Add POIs, high-res 360° photos, phone photos, voice notes
End capture and transfer files to phone
Upload via mobile data or Wi-Fi
AIM processing reconstructs the digital model
POIs auto-populate inside the model
Data appears in AIM for inspection, collaboration, and reporting
This provides a true end-to-end digital capture workflow, designed by surveyors, for surveyors.