More than just the big picture

New IT can take risk professionals to every house in every street inthe UK, and check individual properties against a range of physical,claims- and climate-related data - and all without them having to leavetheir seats. Gavin Lewis reports on the emergence of desktop 'geographicintelligence'

With the growing threat of terrorism and a rise in the number ofnatural catastrophes, such as the flooding across the UK in recent years,insurers are placing an even greater importance on understanding theirrisk portfolios.

The ability to manage risk effectively is dependent upon a solidunderstanding of the location, type and accumulation of risk. It is vitalto know who your customers are, what kind of policies they hold, wherethey are located - and, crucially, the risks associated with