Release the drones! Insurers are deploying tech to speed up claims post-disaster
Look up in the sky… Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is an insurance drone! It is a sight becoming more common following natural disasters. And one that is helping impacted policyholders to get back on their feet sooner.
The insurance industry is embracing technology like drones, sensors, satellites and big data, to revolutionise disaster claims.
Previously, things like damage assessments were done by sending a claims adjuster to the site once it was safe to physically inspect the damage – it could be weeks before the all-clear was given and then being on-site could prove perilous. Today, that loss assessor can send up a drone to survey damage immediately and from a point of safety. With that speed of assessment, payouts can be processed sooner, and the policyholder can begin the recovery process.
Insurers typically use data from three different sources to accurately assess property damage after a natural disaster – satellite data, aerial photography and/or evidence from on-the-ground inspection. But new technology is enabling that data to be pooled together to provide a more accurate assessment after a natural catastrophe.
Following natural catastrophes and severe weather events, insurers’ response teams need to undertake property assessments that involve inspecting, estimating and reporting on damage. The use of satellites, sensors, drones and aerial imagery enables the assessments to be completed remotely.
Sensors attached to buildings can detect motion, hailstone impact on roofs and water penetration. Drones can be used to gather images to assess damage to buildings that are unsafe or impossible to access for human inspection. Satellites and small aircraft armed with high-resolution cameras and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors can help create 3D maps of areas.
Comparing aerial images of properties pre-disaster (e.g. using satellite images) and post-disaster (e.g. using drone footage), enables the assessor to evaluate the degree of damage. The high-resolution images also offer a detailed view of the required quantities and materials for repair and replacement. Supplies can then be ordered sooner to expedite repairs and rebuilds.
The claims process is being further enhanced by combining aerial imagery with data technology.
For example, one company is using the combination to provide better information for insurers and their loss adjustors, enabling them to speed up claims. Using an advanced aerial imaging camera system, more than 20 petabytes of data can be captured and stored. Then using artificial intelligence (AI), over 100 features are automatically detected on each high-resolution image. Instead of looking through every image to find something, the detection technology allows insurers to go straight to a feature, like a damaged roof, in seconds.
Another company uses Matterport cameras, drones and laser scanners to create spatial data and visual information from a site and convert it for insurance purposes into a fully-immersive, navigable digital twin. The images are 3D and include accurate measurements of a damaged site. The imagery means assessors do not have to travel to site, reducing the amount of time it takes an insurance company to gather sufficient claims information – from the usual five to 10 days, to just 48 hours.
Yet another company is amalgamating highly-accurate geotagged data from a range of sources to identify and track damage to property and infrastructure caused by natural disasters. The technology combines high-quality real-time data from space and ground-based sensors (including optical satellite images and radar) to provide detailed monitoring during and after a catastrophic event. As it also houses historical data for every global peril since 1979, it can provide valuable pre- and post-disaster comparisons. The company then combines the on-the-ground insight with AI to analyse the data.
Big data is also being tapped to improve post-disaster claims processing. Sources of structured and unstructured data, including weather patterns, satellite imagery and earth observation data, social media feeds, and historical claims data, are being harnessed and analysed to enhance the claims process and validate claims more efficiently. By comparing claims information against actual event data, such as satellite imagery, aerial surveys, or on-the-ground assessments, insurers can expedite claims, enabling faster payments to policyholders.
The use of AI and machine learning (ML) is also influencing damage assessments after natural catastrophes. These advanced technologies enable the rapid processing and analysis of vast amounts of data, such as satellite imagery, internet of things (IoT) sensor data, and social media inputs, resulting in more accurate and timely damage assessments. Employing AI and ML algorithms enables insurers to assess damage severity which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain through manual methods.
As technology advances, the insurance industry will be able to better harness the power of real-time insights to further revolutionise the claims process.
