Capella Space and Floodbase unite to enhance Parametric Flood Insurance with Advanced SAR Imagery

Capella Space and Floodbase unite to enhance Parametric Flood Insurance with Advanced SAR Imagery
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 24, 2024

Capella Space Corp., an American space technology firm known for its advanced data and satellite solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Floodbase, a key player in the parametric flood insurance market. This collaboration is set to introduce high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data into Floodbase's comprehensive solution for parametric flood insurance, a move that is expected to significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of flood insurance products.

In an era where climate change and its associated risks are escalating, the traditional insurance paradigm falls short in adequately addressing the growing challenges. Parametric flood insurance emerges as a pivotal tool in augmenting flood resilience. It operates on a model that utilizes specific data points to trigger insurance payouts, making it a more efficient alternative to traditional methods in certain scenarios. The integration of Capella's state-of-the-art SAR imagery into Floodbase's solutions marks a novel approach in the insurance sector, particularly in the context of flood risk management.

The SAR technology from Capella is renowned for its ability to capture detailed images of the Earth's surface, independent of weather conditions or daylight. This capability is especially vital for accurately assessing flood extents and impacts, which is critical for the certification of payout triggers in parametric insurance products. The partnership enables Floodbase to enhance its multi-sensor fusion approach, integrating Capella's high-resolution SAR data to optimize policy design for clients and verify flood magnitudes at specific locations.

Dan Getman, VP of Product at Capella Space, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: "We are thrilled to partner with Floodbase to leverage the value of Capella's all-weather SAR imagery and automated tasking system to help close the flood insurance gap." This statement underlines the potential impact of this collaboration in addressing the insurance needs in flood-prone areas.

Annbjorg Medhaug, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Floodbase, also highlighted the significance of this partnership: "Floodbase has a high bar for accuracy and reliability when evaluating new sensors. We were incredibly impressed with the resolution and reliability of Capella's SAR sensor, and especially excited about the ability to automate tasking via API." She further noted the superiority of the combined solution of Floodbase and Capella data over competing solutions for a broad range of use cases and clients.

The alliance also grants Floodbase the status of a certified Capella Analytics Partner, opening up a range of exclusive benefits including open access to Capella's imagery archive for research and development, and opportunities for product and sales collaboration. These advantages are set to further expand Floodbase's analytical capabilities, increase customer value, and accelerate product development.

This partnership represents more than just a technological advancement; it signifies a commitment from both companies to utilize earth observation science and machine learning in enabling communities to better prepare for and respond to climate disasters. The utilization of SAR data in parametric flood insurance could mark a different and more effective approach to managing the increasing risks of flooding due to climate change.