HDI launches weather forecasting service for construction risk managers
HDI Risk Consulting, the subsidiary of HDI Global, has developed a joint solution with Vienna-based weather forecasting firm the Institute for Ubiquitous Meteorology that gives customers advance notice of major weather changes to help mitigate risk.
HDI said that the service will be particularly useful for the construction industry. “The impacts of climate change are palpable in Europe. Heatwaves, storms with strong wind gusts, heavy rain – weather events are growing in frequency and intensity, affecting the construction industry among other sectors. Particularly during the erection and construction phase, optimal protection against unexpected weather events is often unavailable,” it said.
The German-based global insurer said that unplanned delays, resulting in additional costs and damage to construction projects, can now be more readily avoided thanks to a professional weather application.
Up to four people in charge of the building project can be granted access to the weather cockpit HDI Predict & Prevent, which delivers highly accurate weather forecasts several days in advance. The results are improved planning reliability and more certainty for construction projects, said HDI.
The bad weather alerts and alarms are based on an individualised real-time severe weather warning system that delivers a high level of spatial and temporal precision and are certified according to EN ISO 9001, explained the insurer.
The service is initially available for the Benelux countries and Germany for a test period of up to six months. The service will be provided free of charge for contractors’ all risks (CAR) projects in which HDI Global is the lead insurer.
“With model accuracy of 100m x 100m, the application far exceeds the industry standard. Radar, satellite, lightning and weather station data are combined with proprietary local and global model data using artificial intelligence to obtain optimal and unparalleled accuracy at the selected location,” said the insurer.
“Furthermore, SMS and email alerts can be sent to warn of critical weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, wind gusts, heavy rainfall, freezing rain or snow. Site managers then have sufficient time to put in place expert preventive safeguards and, if necessary, adjust or postpone certain construction activities,” continued HDI.
The risk management offering also helps come up with potential mitigation approaches in collaboration with HDI Risk Consulting that specialises in contractors’ all risks (CAR) projects.
Philipp Wolf, senior risk engineer at HDI Risk Consulting Engineering, said: “HDI Predict & Prevent enables site managers to prepare their construction location for a critical weather scenario and optimally harmonise the various activities. The application thus has a crucial part to play in mastering current and increasingly common climate challenges.”
On 7-8 June 2023, Commercial Risk will host its fourth Construction Risk Management Conference in Europe. For more information about attending, speaking or partnering please visit: https://events.commercialriskonline.com/CRM-Europe-23
