Introduction
Investigating deforestation outcomes can be a time-consuming process.
Traditionally, teams had to jump between Google Earth, GIS software, comparison tools, and multiple exported file formats just to verify what was happening on the ground. This was not only slow and fragmented, but it also made scaling investigations nearly impossible.
The Visual Inspection feature in Meridia Verify changes this. By bringing high-resolution satellite imagery and analysis tools directly into the platform, you can start your desk investigations immediately, without exporting data or juggling external systems.
What’s new in 1.1:
Visual Inspection now includes high-resolution PlanetScope imagery (~3.7 m) for tropical origin plots, an extended Sentinel-2 timeline reaching back to 2015 and is available on every farm plot, no longer gated behind a specific test. The interface has also been simplified to a single true-colour view.
Why is it important?
If you’re responsible for monitoring farm plots or validating deforestation alerts, you know how costly and slow field visits can be. Desk verification is indeed possible, but the process can be hasty, especially when more GIS tools are introduced.
With the Visual Inspection feature in Meridia Verify:
You can check whether a plot really shows forest loss or regrowth without leaving Verify.
The feature integrates high-resolution historical satellite imagery and contextual reference layers — giving you confidence in your decisions.
With PlanetScope imagery at roughly 3.7 m resolution for tropical origin plots — nearly three times sharper than Sentinel-2’s 10 m — you can make confident determinations that were previously difficult at coarser resolutions.
It’s designed to save both time and resources while making the verification process easier to manage.
How to use the Visual Inspection feature
Step 01: Visual Inspection mode
Visual Inspection is now always accessible. You no longer need to filter by the DEF04 or DEF01 test to unlock the mode. Any farm plot shown in the Query Builder Map View can be inspected, regardless of its risk classification.
Identify farm plots: From the ‘Summary’ board, you can review how your plots are distributed across risk profiles and tests. Visual Inspection is available for all of them.
View farm plots: In the example below, the summary indicates that 14 plots are flagged as “critical” for the DEF04 test. Click on ‘View Farm Plots’ to show all the relevant farm plots.
View on Map: You can display farm plots by any risk profile. In the example below, the query builder is used to filter farm plots classified as “critical.” Click on ‘View on Map’ to begin viewing the plots visually on the map, or you can click on the map icon if you want to see the condition of the farm plot individually.
Activate Visual Inspection mode: Once the map loads, you’ll notice a ‘Visual Inspection’ button for each plot. Click the button, and the dedicated inspection mode opens.
Tip: You can also use the query builder to filter farm plots by any risk profile (low, high, or critical) for visual inspection. The Visual Inspection tool applies to all farm plots, regardless of their risk classification.
Step 02: Explore Visual inspection mode
The dedicated visual inspection mode includes these capabilities for your investigation:
High-resolution satellite imagery. For tropical origin plots, Visual Inspection provides PlanetScope imagery at approximately 3.7 m resolution — nearly three times sharper than Sentinel-2’s 10 m — with year-by-year switching from 2017 onwards. Standard true-colour Sentinel-2 imagery remains available as the baseline integration.
(Planetscope Imagery)
(Sentinel-2 Imagery)
Historical timeline. Use the historical timeline to compare changes in the farm area over time. The Sentinel-2 timeline now extends back to 2015, and PlanetScope imagery is available year by year from 2017.
Ideally, the farm geometry should be evaluated against satellite images captured:
before 2020,
during 2020 (EUDR cut-off date), and
after 2024.
This approach enables users to identify and assess land-use changes in order to uphold due diligence commitments under EUDR requirements. The extended 2015 timeline also supports DCF investigations that require imagery from before 2018.
Legend pane showing the farm plot layer as well as two external reference layers that are included:
DEF04 map sourced by Space Intelligence.
DEF01 map containing publicly available maps.
Click through different plots to view them directly on the map.
Contextual test information: When clicking on Show more for each plot, users can view additional details such as the percentage of overlapping area or other relevant attributes. This helps align the visual map view with the corresponding quantitative test results.
Zoom in and out to check the detail at the right scale.
Use the built-in screenshot function to download a snapshot to your laptop. Screenshots include key details automatically, and these can then be uploaded straight into the Reclassification tool as supporting evidence.
Step 03: Exit Visual Inspection mode
After completing a visual inspection, you can 'Exit' the Visual Inspection mode and then choose whether to proceed with reclassifying the farm plot based on preliminary evidence indicating whether the plot is contested or not.
By following these steps, you can conduct a desk-based investigation inside Verify without exporting data or switching between multiple external tools. This creates a faster, more integrated workflow for deciding whether to reclassify a plot, escalate the case, or close the issue.
This means less manual work, reduced reliance on field visits, and more confidence in the accuracy of your decisions.
Important Considerations
Visual Inspection is not intended to replace every other tool, but to serve as a strong starting point.
PlanetScope high-resolution imagery (~3.7 m) is available for tropical origin plots, with year-by-year switching from 2017. Coverage may vary depending on the plot’s location.
Sentinel-2 imagery is available from 2015 onwards; earlier changes cannot be reviewed within this feature.
Visual Inspection now uses a single true-colour view. NDVI mode has been removed to reduce noise and simplify the interface.
Screenshots automatically include metadata — be sure to keep them organised for your records.
Summary
The Visual Inspection feature in Verify streamlines what used to be a fragmented, manual process. Instead of exporting datasets or depending on third-party software, you can now perform initial investigations directly in the platform — with sharper imagery, a longer history, and fewer steps to get there. This means quicker decisions, better evidence, and less reliance on costly field checks.
In short, this tutorial should help you get started with visual inspection and see how it can make your verification work both easier and more effective.