Introducing Nearmap for Post-catastrophe Response
Post Catastrophe Imagery and AI-derived property damage and condition data unite to help insurers process customer claims more efficiently.
Post Catastrophe Imagery and AI-derived property damage and condition data unite to help insurers process customer claims more efficiently.
SYDNEY (13 May, 2021) — Leading aerial imagery company Nearmap announced today that it is enhancing its Australian post-catastrophe (post-cat) aerial imagery program, Nearmap ImpactResponse, to provide casualty insurance carriers, emergency services and government agencies with high-resolution aerial captures following all catastrophic events in Australia, within days of capture.
In the aftermath of natural disasters like floods or bushfires, situational information is critical for insurers to accurately determine the extent of damage and allocating loss adjusters to impacted properties. The post-cat imagery will
also assist in helping emergency services and government agencies better plan and carry out recovery and response efforts.
“Post-cat aerial imagery enables assessing the magnitude of the catastrophe in real time and guide the authorities towards aligning the right solutions to address the situation.” Said Dr Rob Newman, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Nearmap.
“Aerial imagery has always played a very important role in disaster management acting as proof points to evaluate the impact and in preparation to address any such events in the future. Nearmap is committed to leading the innovation in this space to provide disaster relief agencies and stakeholders with accurate and timely information, to bolster their work and deployment of resources in critical times.”
This is essential in providing clear and timely insights into property damage and the situation on the ground, which can be helpful in complex or risky situations that still require careful assessment.
“With our patented camera systems, capture expertise, and rapid processing capabilities insurers can rely on Nearmap to get critical property imagery online, to help carriers get their customers into recovery faster,” said Dr Rob Newman.
The program development is based on regular requirements from the industry and partners, such as Disaster Relief Australia, in the wake of the back to back disastrous natural disasters across Australia including 2019-20 bushfires, severe wind events and the most recent NSW floods. In 2020 alone, Nearmap captured more than 28,000 square kilometres of post-bushfire imagery across 30 survey locations.
This year, Nearmap is expanding the program to meet increased demand by insurance companies to equip their claims teams with the best available insights in the face of rising cat losses. In FY20, cat losses were estimated at $5.4 billion, representing 13% of gross earned premium. This is double the cat losses in FY19.
Nearmap post-cat program offers exclusive access to post-cat imagery for a limited period of time after publication, allowing users to promptly inspect affected areas to understand the extent of the damage and carry out response and recovery efforts.
Outside of the post-cat program, Nearmap’s regular capture footprint covers over 447,000 sq km comprised of residential, commercial and other properties in Australia, up to six times per year. Together, with its pre-event and post-cat content, Nearmap provides a set of high-resolution data to help insurers quickly assess and respond to major events as they occur.
Learn more about Nearmap ImpactResponse or schedule a demo.
