Simbach in Bavaria, Braunsbach in Baden-Württemberg, and Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia – three places that stand for the risk of unanticipated heavy rains with catastrophic consequences. The Earth Observation Center (EOC) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has developed a rapid and research-based methodology for classifying built-up areas into risk zones. Up to now the EOC system has been used exclusively by the insurance industry. Now the analyses are available on the open market.
on-geo GmbH, a Germany-wide service provider offering real estate valuations, has obtained the rights to use the system as part of its financing and credit market activities. Customers of on-geo GmbH can rely on this analytical tool for real estate assessment in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In the future, cities and townships will also be able to benefit from DLR’s heavy-rain zoning tool for risk mapping. Toward this end, EOC will collaborate with CADFEM International GmbH, an expert in 3D urban modelling. Partner communities are now actively being sought for pilot projects in Bavaria. With the help of EOC heavy-rain zoning, endangered regions can be identified and protective measures taken to minimize damage caused by heavy rains.
The system does not require hydrological and meteorological baseline data; it builds on a statistical analysis of terrain models. This makes possible risk modelling for large areas at a variety of scales, from highly precise local analyses to global estimates.
This innovation project was sponsored by DLR’s Technology Marketing department.
