Free Access & Limits
No API key needed for AI assistant access. The MCP server is designed for conversational lookups, not bulk export.
| MCP (AI Assistants) | REST API (PRO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | None | API key (sign up) |
| Rate limit | 50 queries / hour | 1,000 calls / month |
| Results per query | Top 10 detections | Up to 50 per page, full dataset |
| CSV export | No | Yes |
| Before/after imagery | No | Yes |
Setup
Add SubGrade to your AI tool in under a minute. No API key, no signup, no auth.
Claude.ai
Recommended- Go to Settings → Connectors → Add Connector
- Enter URL:
https://www.subgrade.io/mcp - Done. Ask Claude about construction activity.
ChatGPT
New- Go to Settings → Connectors → Create
- Enter name:
SubGrade - Enter URL:
https://www.subgrade.io/mcp - Done. Ask ChatGPT about construction activity.
Requires ChatGPT Plus or Pro. Uses the same MCP server as Claude.
Claude Desktop
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"subgrade": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://www.subgrade.io/mcp"]
}
}
}
Claude Code
Run in your terminal:
claude mcp add subgrade --transport http https://www.subgrade.io/mcp
Cursor / VS Code / Windsurf
Add to .cursor/mcp.json or .vscode/mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"subgrade": {
"url": "https://www.subgrade.io/mcp"
}
}
}
Tools
search_construction_activity
Search for satellite-detected ground disturbance near any location in a covered state. Returns a summary with total count, disturbed acreage, and the 10 largest detection sites with coordinates and imagery dates.
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| location | string | required | Address, city, county, or place name |
| radius_miles | integer | 10 | Search radius (1–50 miles) |
| years | list[int] | [2025] | Detection years to include (2021–2025). Query historical data. |
get_construction_summary
Get a statewide overview of construction activity across all covered states. Optional state parameter for per-state stats. Returns total detections, regional hotspots ranked by volume, major construction corridors, and seasonal patterns. No parameters needed.
What You Can Ask
Real Estate
- What construction is happening near Newark, NJ?
- Which areas of Philadelphia have the most new construction?
- Compare construction in Lancaster, PA vs Columbus, OH
Market Research
- Give me a summary of construction across all states
- What's the most active construction area in New Jersey?
- How much land clearing is happening in Maryland?
Due Diligence
- Is there construction within 5 miles of Stamford, CT?
- What's being built near the I-95 corridor in Delaware?
- Show me ground disturbance near Hartford, CT
Local Government
- How many construction sites are near Columbus, OH?
- What ground disturbance has been detected in Baltimore, MD?
- Show me all large development sites near Pittsburgh
How It Works
Every 5 days: Sentinel-2 satellite captures covered states at 10m resolution
↓
Monthly: SubGrade compares imagery to detect vegetation loss (NDVI drop)
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Filters: NDBI built-up index confirms construction, not just clearing
↓
Filters: Heterogeneity analysis distinguishes construction from agriculture
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Result: Each detection gets coordinates, area, and date
↓
MCP: AI assistants query this data in natural language
All results have been verified through multi-feature satellite analysis including spectral change detection, texture analysis, and cropland filtering.
Coverage
| Region | Status | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| Loading coverage data... |
Beyond MCP
The MCP server provides read-only search access. For full capabilities:
Interactive Explorer
— Map, filters, data table, before/after satellite imagery
REST API
— Authenticated endpoints, CSV export, 1,000 calls/month
Build With SubGrade Data
Copy a prompt, paste into Claude, Cursor, or Lovable, and get a working app in minutes.
1.Construction Intelligence Dashboard
▼
Build me a web dashboard that queries the SubGrade API (https://subgrade.io/api/v1/public/search) for construction detections near Lancaster, PA within 10 miles. Display results on an interactive Leaflet map with markers sized by area. Include a sortable data table below the map showing lat, lon, area in acres, and detected date. Add summary stats at the top: total detections, total disturbed acreage.
2.Investment Lead Scorer
▼
Using the SubGrade API (https://subgrade.io/api/v1/public/search), build an app that searches for construction detections near a user-provided address. For each detection, display the area in acres, coordinates, and a Google Maps link. Rank results by area size and label them as Residential (<5 acres), Commercial (5-25 acres), or Institutional (25+ acres). Include a summary showing how many sites are in each category.
3.County Comparison Tool
▼
Build a tool that queries the SubGrade API for two cities side by side. Show a split-screen map with detections for each city, plus a comparison table showing total detections and total disturbed acreage for each. Let the user change cities via dropdown selects.
4.Score Leads Dashboard
▼
Build a Next.js construction intelligence dashboard that combines SubGrade's satellite detection API (docs at https://www.subgrade.io/api-docs, base URL https://subgrade.io/api/v1) with free Pennsylvania county GIS data. The app should let users search a location, display SubGrade's construction detections on an interactive map with a sortable list, then enrich each detection with parcel ownership and zoning data by reverse-geocoding the detection lat/lon against county ArcGIS REST parcel layers (start with Lancaster County at https://gis.co.lancaster.pa.us/arcgis/rest/services, and Allegheny County at https://gisdata.alleghenycounty.us/arcgis/rest/services). Where available, cross-reference permits using open data portals like OpenDataPhilly or Pittsburgh's WPRDC. Enrich lazily — render SubGrade results immediately, then fetch parcel/permit data on click so you don't batch-hammer municipal GIS servers.
Each detection should show a lead score (0-100) computed from real signals: detection area, parcel acreage, zoning classification (commercial/industrial scores higher than residential/agricultural), and whether a matching permit was found. Show the score breakdown so users understand how it's calculated. Include a detail panel with owner name, parcel ID, zoning, assessed value, permit status, and a before/after satellite imagery viewer using SubGrade's /public/imagery endpoint. Support filtering and sorting by lead score, area, or date. Include CSV export.
Dark, dense, utilitarian UI — this is a professional tool for building material sales reps and real estate investors, not a consumer app. Every data point must come from a real API response. If a county GIS lookup isn't configured or fails, show "Parcel data unavailable" — never generate synthetic owner names, permit numbers, or assessment values.
Try It Now
Explore the interactive map with all 11,000+ detections, before/after satellite imagery, and CSV export.
Explore Active Sites Or sign up for API access →