CDS/EQECAT Alliance Targets Underwriters

Taking advantage of the Internet's role as an effective information delivery channel, an alliance has been formed between CDS Business Mapping, the Boston-based provider of RiskMeter.com, a Web-based online property lookup source for underwriters, and EQECAT, Inc. (Oakland), a catastrophe risk management software provider.

As a result of the alliance, RiskMeter.com—which provides real-time distance-to-shore, state windpool eligibility, rating territories and flood zone information to underwriters so they can check geographic risk in property—will now be able to additionally offer information for evaluating earthquake and wildfire hazards.

EQECAT is known for its earthquake analysis, according to Dan Munson, vice president of sales and marketing, CDS Business Mapping, and initiator of the alliance. Previously, RiskMeter.com's earthquake analysis offerings were limited to distance from fault and an overall earthquake risk score based on a scale from one to five. Now the service can offer MMI (Modified Mercalli Intesity) and AP fault zone information, as well as soil conditions and landslide susceptibility information.

CDS Business Mapping's "product and ability to deliver information over the Internet with its established client base helps us to provide enhanced services to our customers," says Rick Clinton, president, EQECAT. "We have a detailed underwriting capability product for individual risk which is very sophisticated. For customers wanting to address basic information they can use the RiskMeter product. This provides an interim step."