--- title: The Risks of Hazard Blog | Intermap | Analytics description: Analytics | A blog that shows the power of location-based solutions in the world of insurance underwriting & risk management. --- [Investors](https://www.intermap.com/investors-2018-0) |[ Partners](https://www.intermap.com/partners-2018-0) |  [WebStore](https://store.intermap.com/MapShop.aspx?GeoLocation=World) [![Intermap Technologies Inc.](https://www.intermap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Intermap%20Logo%202019%20-%20White.png?width=1656&height=277&name=Intermap%20Logo%202019%20-%20White.png "Intermap Technologies Inc.")](http://intermap.com) # [The Risks of Hazard](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog) ## [Data and Models… or Success and Ruin Await](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/05/data-and-models-or-success-and-ruin-await) Posted by [Ivan Maddox](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/ivan-maddox) on May 24, 2017 8:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/Blog/HiRes-199136-edited.jpg) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/05/data-and-models-or-success-and-ruin-await) Early last month RIMS published a great article called [Flaws in the Data](http://www.rmmagazine.com/2017/04/03/flaws-in-the-data/) – it’s about data, analytics, and “data driven decisions” (another term for using data in analytics). From the start, it was begging for a blog post, but all the action on private flood (missed it? try [this](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/04-the-naic-does-flood-in-denver), [this](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/04/the-actuaries-speak-flood-and-the-protection-gap), and [this](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/05/more-support-for-private-flood-the-gao-and-the-senate) … and even [this](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/05/the-cfip-california-ponders-a-flood-program-clone-all-its-own)) has consumed us here for the past month. Let’s take a look at what “flaws in the data” is about. The crux of the article is that more and more businesses are investing (hugely) in collecting data, and then exploiting it to make better decisions. Pretty uncontroversial stuff: *Cutting-edge companies like Amazon, Google, Netflix and Uber have exploited data from the get-go, developing advanced models and algorithms to facilitate business decisions, and are leaders in the persistent use of data collection and analysis.* Because: *Ultimately, the effort can also help to put a business on the path toward the wider use of predictive analytics and automation systems, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, which could lead to faster and more efficient decision-making.* Right? Cool! But here is where it gets interesting: [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/05/data-and-models-or-success-and-ruin-await) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/05/data-and-models-or-success-and-ruin-await#comments-listing) Topics: [Analytics](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/analytics), [Data and Models](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/data-and-models) ## [On Elephants and Blind Underwriting](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/05/on-elephants-and-blind-underwriting) Posted by [Ivan Maddox](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/ivan-maddox) on May 11, 2016 7:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/Blog/elephant_by_Hanabusa_Itch.jpg) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/05/on-elephants-and-blind-underwriting) Two weeks ago, we published a post on how [analytics aren’t so smart after all](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/04/who-said-analytics-are-so-smart). It has been a sensation (only our [Cat Modeler’s Guide to the Protection Gap](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/02/a-cat-modelers-guide-to-the-protection-gap) has been read more this year), so it is only natural that we pursue the topic further. The blog that lit up a little corner of the web was about the limitations of analytics, specifically [flood risk analytics](https://www.intermap.com/software/insitepro/flood-risk-assessment). It turns out there is some interesting science and folklore about the topic, so let’s take a look. Analytics are an attempt to measure an immeasurable phenomenon. Cat risk analytics (flood, quake, hail, etc.) are perfect examples, as they aspire to determine the chance of something happening in a given location during a given timeframe – it is not possible. However, by evaluating a combination of different types of information, they can begin to produce results that are useful for underwriters who need those unknowable answers. [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/05/on-elephants-and-blind-underwriting) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/05/on-elephants-and-blind-underwriting#comments-listing) Topics: [Flood Risk](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-risk), [Effective Underwriting](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/effective-underwriting), [Analytics](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/analytics) [All posts](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/all) ## [The Risks of Hazard Blog](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog)   [![rss-feed](https://www.intermap.com/hs-fs/hub/395294/file-2218415117-png/images/rss-feed.png?width=27&name=rss-feed.png)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/rss.xml) Welcome to The Risks of Hazard, brought to you by Intermap Technologies®. From the latest industry news and trends, to insight from thought leaders around the globe, stay tuned for a variety of content aimed at helping you better understand the role of location-based intelligence in the world of insurance underwriting and risk assessment. To see how Intermap delivers analytics tailored to your underwriting, visit our [InsitePro](https://www.intermap.com/software/insitepro) page. ### Subscribe to the Risks of Hazard blog! ### Posts by Topic - [Flood Insurance (64)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance) - [Insurance Underwriting (62)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-underwriting) - [Flood Risk (43)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-risk) - [Risk Management (42)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/risk-management) - [Insurance Protection Gap (32)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-protection-gap) - [Private Flood (29)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/private-flood) - [Flood Modeling (28)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-modeling) - [Property Insurance (26)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/property-insurance) - [Natural Hazard Risk (25)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/natural-hazard-risk) - [Natural Catastrophe (24)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/natural-catastrophe) - [Floods (23)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/floods) - [InsitePro (21)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insitepro) - [Risk Scoring (17)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/risk-scoring) - [Wildfire (17)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/wildfire) - [Insurance Software (16)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-software) - [Insurance Technology (16)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-technology) - [Effective Underwriting (15)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/effective-underwriting) - [Earthquake (12)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/earthquake) - [Other Risk Models (11)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/other-risk-models) - [NFIP (10)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/nfip) ©2026 Intermap Technologies®. 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