EO data in insurance:: innovations in a traditional industry

Abstract

There is a noticeable increase in the demand for Earth Observation satellite services,
the availability of the necessary space technologies and the widespread access to space
data. The intended use of satellite data, in fact, is the most varied and pervades the public
as well as the private sector, hence also the insurance sector. A great deal of attention is now

being paid to future strategies for limiting catastrophic risks in agriculture through insur-
ance contracts (index-based policies) that are based on the use of images from Earth Ob-
servation satellites with a view to prevention and precaution. The spread of such insurance

instruments brings various advantages to both the insurer and the customer; nevertheless,
there are several issues that require further investigation.