Previsico pioneers Instacasting to boost flood alert accuracy
- Written by
Stephanie Hendries
Surface water flood forecasting specialist, Previsico, is launching their new, next generation flood mitigation solution, Instacasting. The Instacasting suite of products uses the market’s most accurate observed (not predicted) rainfall data to predict surface water flood risk, enabling clients to respond faster and with greater certainty.
Instacasting works alongside Previsico’s other flood data by leveraging the most complete and geographically precise rainfall data available to help insured clients with their flood resource allocation, loss control, and risk mitigation efforts. It has the potential to save insurers tens of millions in surface water – flash flooding – losses.
Surface water flooding is currently the biggest flood risk in the UK, affecting more than 2.8 million people in England (source: The Environment Agency). With this innovative new solution, Previsico’s clients – including National Grid, Network Rail, and Zurich Insurance – will have the insight and capabilities to significantly reduce their flood-related losses.
As an industry first, Instacasting uses a range of data sets, including rainfall RADAR, to determine observed (rather than predicted) rainfall. It then runs that data through Previsico’s modelling tool to predict the likelihood of flooding, with up to 80% accuracy.
“With Instacasting, our next generation, rainfall-based flood risk solution, Previsico gives clients far greater confidence and control over their flood mitigation efforts. Our new radar-derived observable data provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and timeliness far in excess of any other solution available today.”
Instacasting will be available in three different formats: Instacast Outlook, displaying flood footprints from observed rainfall in a flood intel dashboard; Instacast Playback, allowing clients to view flood footprints from observed rainfall up to 12 hours prior using the same dashboard; and Instacast On-Demand, enabling clients to request bespoke retrospective analysis of events for further investigation.
The current Previsico flood warning system, which also includes IoT sensors, is underpinned by two decades of research at Loughborough University. Instacasting will cement the company’s position as a world-leading surface water flood modelling and risk mitigation solution provider.