Digital Agricultural Services has launched a fire monitor to help insurers quickly identify which buildings have been damaged in affected areas.

The business, backed by IAG’s Firemark Ventures, says its tool uses frequently updated Geoscience Australia bushfire boundary data and inputs from state emergency services and government agencies.  

It can provide building-level impact information within minutes of an incident, with data uploaded to any client system “in hours not days”.

DAS says the system can help insurers offer targeted service more quickly.  

“This new capability is the first step towards a system where technology will allow those affected by a disaster to simply confirm their situation rather than report it. This takes a huge burden off those affected,” CEO Anthony Willmott said.

“Knowing which of your customers are impacted is at the heart of being a great insurer.”

DAS’ Rural Intelligence Platform was launched five years ago. Its 140 customers include IAG, Rabobank, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and agricultural company Cargill.

It says it offers the intelligence needed to “insure, lend, invest and sell better”, including data on locations, climate, productivity, sustainability, risk and carbon.