Descartes and SERTIT Collaborate on CNES-Supported Project

Facilitated by support from CNES, the French national space agency, the French tech-driven insurer providing parametric insurance against climate and emerging risks, Descartes Underwriting and the public research lab specialized in remote-sensing and image processing, SERTIT, are advancing the application of data and science through its joint collaboration.

Following a highly competitive application process, Descartes and SERTIT have secured CNES support for the next two years via the Ambition Aval initiative. This mission aims to promote the development of sustainable services that address user needs, leveraging spatial data. This partnership reflects CNES’ confidence in the ability of Descartes and SERTIT to apply this data in innovative ways that could yield valuable insights for the broader application of satellite-derived information in future space missions. 

With assistance from CNES, Descartes and SERTIT will harness high-resolution Earth observation data—including optical satellite imagery, 3D data, and thermal infrared data—to conduct comprehensive assessments of damage in the aftermath of natural disasters, specifically wildfires and extreme wind events like hurricanes and tornadoes. The innovative application of sub-meter resolution data allows for unprecedented detail in understanding the impacts of these events on affected areas. By integrating this diverse dataset, Descartes and SERTIT aim to enhance the precision of damage estimations, quantify economic losses, and evaluate changes to the landscape.

As the collaboration progresses over the next two years, it has the potential to set new standards in the application of high-resolution satellite data and continue to support Descartes’ mission to address the insurability of weather risks through cutting-edge technology and data-driven solutions.