McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS), a firm specialising in geospatial intelligence and insurance technology, has announced a major achievement, reporting on more than 200 global catastrophic events through its Global Events Observer (GEO) platform since its launch in 2021.
The GEO platform covers an average of 66 catastrophic events annually. Its analyses span an array of perils, including hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and civil unrest. According to a news release, the platform combines artificial intelligence with military intelligence methodologies, leveraging multi-sourced data—such as satellite and aerial imagery and, where possible, ground-based intelligence—to provide insights.
Forbes McKenzie (pictured), founder and CEO of MIS, emphasised the significance of the accomplishment. “Reaching 200 event reports in GEO over just three years highlights the platform’s value to the industry and the increasing frequency of natural and human-made disasters,” he said.
MIS noted that, in 2024 alone, GEO responded to more than 50 major events across 37 countries. In the US, which accounted for 27 events, wildfires were the most frequently reported peril, followed by floods and hurricanes.
Some of the major events analysed through GEO include:
Hurricane Milton (2024): MIS issued 19 intelligence reports over 21 days, providing assessments that included aerial imagery and wind and flood claims grids.
Hurricane Ian (Florida, 2022): GEO evaluated 168,000 in-force client locations, providing damage assessments.
Hawaii Wildfires (2023): The platform delivered damage evaluations for 3,000 properties within 72 hours.
Turkey/Syria Earthquake (2023): GEO identified affected insured buildings within 12 hours, facilitating a rapid response.
MIS said it is improving GEO’s capabilities to address the challenges posed by more frequent and complex catastrophic events.
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