CatNet - a worldwide Natural Hazard Atlas on the internet

The electronic atlas powered by ArcIMS 3.0 consists of the following map tools, which enables the user to work interactively.

Map tools and buttons

   I-tool, identification of almost all available datasets

   World extend, returns to world extend

   ZoomIn, click or drag a rectangle to zoom in

   ZoomOut, click or drag a rectangle to zoom out

   Pan, move in a desired direction

   Eraser, erase a label resulting from a specified search

To display and query natural hazard information, the user uses the following buttons:

  
Opens a new window and displays a list with all hazard data available

Natural perils

• Seismic hazard
• Volcanoes
• Wind hazard
• Flood hazard (selected countries only)

Historic event collection on:

• Earthquake epicenters
• Tropical cyclone tracks
• Tornadoes in the US

    and

• CRESTA zones
  

A new frame opens, allowing the user to search:

• Locations (approx. 0.5 million)
• Countries
• Named Tropical cyclones (approx. 2500, recorded between 1900 - 2000)
• Earthquakes (important earthquakes named after their location)
• Volcanoes (approx. 1500)

After the appropriate selection the feature is labeled

Displays the key of the current topic(s)

Displays sources and processing methods

Prints the desired map area including key and source

Describes the various tools and buttons

Data sources

Different data sources have been chosen for orientation. We mainly use data from Infotech Europe as well as Esri datasets and a world map of Chalk Butte. Most of the hazard data have been processed by the Swiss Re's Cat Perils group (hazard and GIS specialists) which is also responsible for the maintenance.

Country Information

CatNet currently offers detailed information about country-specific insurance conditions for Australia, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK and the US. The country pages offer in-depth information about the insurance situation, natural catastrophes and economic figures, which are difficult to acquire from other sources. New countries are added on a regular basis and are developed jointly with the market divisions.

Events

CatNet also supplies information on natural catastrophe events (fatalities, losses etc) and their respective impact on insurance (based on sigma figures).

A comprehensive manual, glossary and a short demo give the non-registered user detailed information on CatNet's service offer.

How to work with the electronic atlas - example

By way of example, let's say an insurance company located in Germany has a facultative risk, located in Baldwin, Lousiana, USA, and the company needs information on potential natural hazards.

One way to get the required information is to go directly to the Hazard Atlas and use the location finder (search button) for Baldwin, Lousiana. By choosing the desired city from more than half a million locations, the user will zoom in automatically to Lousiana and the city is labelled. The hazard button will display all available perils, which the user can either alternate among or cascade, depending on the topic. Activating seismic hazard with earthquakes, for example, shows clearly that Baldwin is not very much exposed to seismic hazard. The user chooses flood and pushing the key button opens a window with the corresponding key for the active topic(s). The next hazard topic "Tropical Cyclone tracks" shows that Baldwin is highly exposed to Cyclones. With the i-tool button, the user can query each individual track as well as Baldwin itself to get a risk rate in permille as a first indication. Additionally, the Cresta SubZone information has been added to locations where applicable.

Activating the source button not only shows information on the data supplier, but also explains data processing and links specific terms to a comprehensive glossary, which is part of the manual.

Outlook