System and method for assessing a condition of property

• US 8,081,795 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Patrick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jingge
• Application Number:
  US12/117,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382141-141
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/58 relating to hyperspectral data
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/194 using hyperspectral data, i.e. more or other wavelengths than RGB
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/40 Controlling or monitoring, e.g. of flood or hurricane; Forecasting, e.g. risk assessment or mapping

Abstract

A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the difference attributed to a change in the condition of the property, such as a fire or flood. In response to the change, an insurance company initiates an insurance-related action such as processing a claim.

Claims

1. A method for assessing a condition of an insured property for insurance purposes using a remote sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying the insured property in a database comprising a plurality of insured properties;

acquiring a first spectral image of the insured property at a first timestamp;

acquiring a second spectral image of the insured property at a second timestamp later than the first timestamp, the remote sensor operating in at least a non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum;

generating a first spectral signature from the first spectral image;

generating a second spectral signature from the second spectral image;

storing at least the first spectral signature in the database of insured properties;

comparing the first spectral signature to the second spectral signature to determine a spectral difference, the spectral difference corresponding to a change in the condition of the insured property;

determining if the spectral difference exceeds a threshold value corresponding to a predetermined vertical concentration profile of a molecular constituent; and

initiating an insurance-related action related to a particular type of insured loss associated with a condition producing the predetermined vertical concentration profile, if the spectral difference exceeds the threshold value.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes the infrared spectrum.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes the ultraviolet spectrum.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes the microwave spectrum.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing a radiative transfer computer model, the model processing an input comprising the second spectral image and generating an output comprising the second spectral signature, wherein the processing includes a plurality of forward models and at least one inverse model.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the input of the radiative transfer computer model further comprises the first spectral image and the output of the radiative transfer computer model further comprises the first spectral signature.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of converting the first spectral image to a first spectral radiance plot, the input to the radiative transfer computer model comprising the first spectral radiance plot.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising a step of storing the first spectral radiance plot in a database.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the database is a public database.

10. The method according to claim 5 further comprising a step of converting the second spectral image to a second spectral radiance plot, the input to the radiative transfer computer model comprising the second spectral radiance plot.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of initiating an insurance-related action comprises initiating a claim.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of initiating an insurance-related action comprises underwriting.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of initiating an insurance-related action comprises sharing the condition of the target property with a third party.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the type of insured loss is at least one of structural damage, chemical contamination, or presence of a biological agent.

14. A method for assessing a condition of an insured property for insurance purposes, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a first spectral signature, the first spectral signature obtained from a public database, the database created at a first timestamp;

generating a second spectral signature at a second timestamp later than the first timestamp, the second spectral signature acquired from a remote sensor;

accessing the first spectral signature from the public database and comparing the first spectral signature to the second spectral signature to determine a spectral difference, the spectral difference corresponding to a change in the condition of the insured property; and

initiating an insurance action in response to the spectral difference, wherein the first spectral signature and the second spectral signature indicate at least one molecular constituent concentration, and the insurance action relates to a particular type of insured loss associated with a condition producing a predetermined vertical concentration profile of the molecular constituent.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the change in the condition of the target property is fire damage.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the spectral difference indicates a partial loss by fire.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the condition of the target property is flood damage.

28. The method according to claim 14, wherein the condition is at least one of chemical production or presence of a biological agent.

18. A system for assessing a condition of an insured property comprising:

a data storage device configured to store a first spectral image, a second spectral image, and one or more threshold values associated with the insured property and with one or more types of insured loss, including structural damage and/or chemical contamination;

a server coupled to the data storage device to receive the first spectral image, the second spectral image, and the threshold value; and

a radiative transfer computer model in communication with the server, the radiative transfer computer model having a plurality of forward models and at least one inverse model;

wherein the server is adapted to determine a first and second spectral signature utilizing the radiative transfer computer model, each spectral signature corresponding to a vertical concentration profile of a molecular constituent indicative of a condition likely to result in a type of insured loss, and to compare the first and second spectral signature for determining a spectral difference, and to compare the spectral difference to each threshold value to determine if an insurance-related action appropriate to the associated insured loss should be initiated.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a remote sensor coupled to the server, the remote sensor configured to acquire the first and second spectral image, the remote sensor operating in at least a non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the server being adapted to receive the first and second spectral image for storage on the data storage device.

20. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a data storage medium disposed between the remote sensor and the server, the data storage medium for storing the first and second spectral image; and

an image processor disposed between the remote sensor and the data storage medium for receiving the first and second spectral image and storing the first and second spectral image on the data storage medium.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the data storage medium is a public database.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first and second spectral image are converted to a first and second spectral radiance plot, the server further adapted to receive the first and second spectral radiance plot and utilize the radiative transfer model for determining the first and second spectral signature.

23. The system according to claim 22 wherein the server is further adapted to store the first and second spectral radiance plot on the data storage device.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the infrared spectrum.

25. The system according to claim 19, wherein the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the ultraviolet spectrum.

26. The system according to claim 19, wherein the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the microwave spectrum.

29. The system according to claim 18, wherein the condition is at least one of fire, flood, chemical emission, or presence of a biological agent.