In addition to the pre-hurricane data, Intermap has also completed the collection of post-hurricane data over the hardest hit regions of the Gulf Coast. This new collection will provide a post-Katrina comparison of beach erosion, sand deposition and changes to drainage patterns. The pre-Katrina and post-Katrina data sets will be extremely helpful in planning the reconstruction efforts. One of the critical factors in the planning is modeling of future storm surge events. Intermap's data will be an important asset for those modeling efforts.
3D radar images of New Orleans before and after hurricane Katrina can be viewed on Intermap's web site at www.intermap.com.
"Immediately following the disaster, we offered FEMA and other federal agencies our pre-Katrina data at no cost to assist with the recovery effort," commented Garth Lawrence, Intermap's Senior Vice President of Business Operations. "We now have data that was collected prior to and immediately following this unprecedented event. Such a unique dataset will allow scientists to examine the extensive change in the coastal regions as well as help plan for the immense reconstruction effort that lies ahead."
Intermap's credentials in providing data for flood risk assessments was established by its precedent setting project called NEXTMap Britain. NEXTMap Britain is the first time an entire country was mapped to an accuracy of 1 meter. The first application of the NEXTMap Britain data was for flood risk assessments. The tremendous success of the flood modeling effort in Britain has now turned the heads of the leaders of the re-insurance industry. Katrina has underscored how important careful risk assessment is to the property and casualty insurance industry.
"Given the unprecedented scale of the Katrina disaster, those who plan the reconstruction work can use these remarkable new data sets to insure that we are better prepared for these kinds of events in the future," added Garth Lawrence.
Intermap's product offerings under the NEXTMap USA program include terrain elevation data products as well as orthorectified radar imagery. Datasets for many areas of the United States are now available for purchase through Intermap's online data store, accessible through the Company's web site at www.intermap.com. New data is being added monthly, and Intermap plans to complete the entire project in the next three to five years. In addition to its standard data products, Intermap provides orthorectified color imagery products upon request.
About Intermap
Intermap is digitally remapping entire countries, building unprecedented national databases, called NEXTMap, of highly accurate digital topographic maps (including elevation). Customers purchase Intermap's high-quality, low-cost data to facilitate better decision-making for numerous commercial, governmental, military and consumer applications.
Demand for NEXTMap data is growing as new commercial applications are emerging, including geographical information systems (GIS), engineering planning, transportation, automotive, navigation, flood, irrigation, environmental management and planning, telecommunications network planning, aviation, simulation and 3D visualization. Internet applications include virtual tours, topographic maps and computer games. The products are also used to add interactive intelligence to airborne and satellite images.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap employs more than 260 people worldwide, with offices in Calgary, Ottawa, Munich and Jakarta. Intermap is publicly traded on the TSX under the symbol IMP. For more information, visit www.intermap.com.
Corbet Pala
Investor Relations
E-vestor Communications Inc.
(416) 657-2400
cpala@evestor.com