Insurers turning to mapping data in rail, flood disasters

As the community of Lac-Megantic continues to pick up the pieces following the horrific train crash that killed and injured hundreds this summer, one company that provided much-needed mapping data during the Calgary flood used that same technology to assess the damage in Quebec.

Risk Management News

By

As the community of Lac-Megantic continues to pick up the pieces following the horrendous train crash that killed and injured hundreds this summer, one company that provided much-needed mapping data during the Calgary flood used that same technology to assess the damage in Quebec.

“When catastrophes happen, it becomes evident that the correct data, partnerships and timeliness are crucial to efficiently and effectively helping people in need,” said Phil Kaszuba, the vice president and general manager of DMTI Spatial Inc. based in Markham, Ont. “In the case of the Calgary flooding, working with our client First Calgary, we were providing information so they were reaching out to people within a day. We were able to take the exact emergency information from the Alberta government, rebuilt it, and show our clients what is happening.”

Kaszuba says that DMTI Spatial has a wealth of granular mapping available from across Canada – information that has attracted a wealth of clients.

“We have the data, and a wealth of information,” he told InsuranceBusiness.ca. “Our client list includes TomTom, Apple, Nokia, Google, Garmin, OnStar, Genworth… it is a lot of metadata (data about data) with all of the elevations in Canada, and all of the water data.” (continued.)

#pb#

In the case of Lac-Megantic, DMTI Spatial had a geographical layout of the impact zone, and through its partnership with ERIS (Environmental Risk Information Services) could provide a comprehensive model of what had happened.

“We have a data base of all the train lines, the power lines and cell towers in Canada – and throughout partnership with ERIS, a model of the environmental situation,” said Kaszuba. “We can provide a model of potential risk using this data anywhere in Canada – and have it available in literally milliseconds.”

Just recently a Quebec judge unlocked $250,000 so that Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway can buy insurance required to obtain an operating licence. MM&A had been operating under court supervision while the short-haul railway sorts out massive claims arising from the deadly derailment.

The licence had been temporarily removed August 13.

The Canadian Transportation Agency had earlier announced it was reversing a suspension of the MM&A’s certificate of fitness after ruling it didn’t have sufficient third-party liability insurance. That decision was overturned after the agency determined that the railway had sufficient coverage to operate in the short-term.

The railway’s licence is now valid until October 1. (continued.)

#pb#

A statement issued by the agency explained the new decision is based on new information provided by the company. It stressed the extension is for a short time period.

“Based on the new evidence provided today, the agency is satisfied that this provides adequate third party liability insurance coverage for operation from August 20 to October 1, 2013,” the statement said.

MM&A is implicated in the devastating July 6 derailment that killed 47 people and wiped out part of downtown Lac-Megantic.

The cash-strapped U.S. company still faces a number of financial hurdles and its future remains in doubt.

A criminal investigation is underway, several lawsuits have been filed, and the provincial government has demanded money from MMA for the massive cleanup efforts.

MMA has been granted creditor protection in Canada and bankruptcy protection in the United States.
 

Keep up with the latest news and events

Join our mailing list, it’s free!