Isn't the digital age wonderful? Google Earth allows householders to see their properties from space, and new online technology will allow residents and companies to determine individual risk profiles.

The new web-based system is expected to have applications for insurers, mortgage providers and even emergency managers by ranking the probability of different natural disasters striking a chosen location.

The technology - developed by Macquarie University branch Risk Frontiers and mapping group MapData Sciences - is also available to individuals, businesses or any group concerned about the likelihood of natural catastrophes in their region.

Risk Frontiers Director John McAneney says is it now part of the due diligence process before buying a property to obtain engineering reports on the structure.

"Similarly, purchases should be transacted with some understanding of natural hazard threats to the property."

Professor McAneney says the technology is an ancillary to risk profiling, rather than a substitute.

MapData Sciences MD Laurie Edwards says the applications for insurers in particular are wide-ranging.

"For example, a corporate system can determine the risk rating of a property in real time to determine the premium for house and contents insurance," he said. "This enables organisations to speedily handle phone or web-based inquiries from prospective customers, or to assess the risk of the existing customer's properties."