Case Studies
18 months before the hazard
Subsidence - $1B Losses, 98 Deaths · 2021 ·
On June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed, resulting in 98 deaths and over $1 billion in settlements- the largest in U.S. construction disaster history.
Caelus analyzed satellite data from 2018 to 2021, revealing signs of ground movement and structural instability around the building 18 months prior to the collapse. Despite being classified as a stable, fully insured residential tower, the data indicated it ceased to be so a year and a half before the first claim was made.
36 months before the failure
Subsidence - $120M Losses · 2023 ·
San Francisco's Millennium Tower faced settlement and tilting issues from 2016 to 2023, leading to a $120 million perimeter-pile foundation reconstruction starting in 2023.
Caelus's analysis revealed instability signs about 36 months prior to the reconstruction, highlighting a clear trend.
12 months before the failure
Subsidence - >$15M Losses · 2025 ·
Amazon data center, completed in late 2023 with over one billion dollars invested, experienced ground subsidence by June 2025, necessitating tens of millions in structural repairs.
This issue was detectable a year earlier, allowing for preventive engineering measures. The analysis also identified ten additional high-value properties in the area at risk of similar failures. One ground issue, eleven vulnerable assets; accumulation risk can come from shared slopes, not just hurricanes.
CAR - 2 months before the failure
Sinkhole- >$40M Losses · 2021·
In June 2021, a sinkhole at Shaare Zedek Medical Center caused hospital closures, raising concerns about the ground under vital infrastructure.
Prevention - Retaining Wall
Subsidence - <$20M Prevented · 2026·
A retaining wall supporting an entire street began to settle and develop signs of geotechnical failure. Early detection enabled the municipality to intervene and prevent further deterioration. Had the wall collapsed, 20 homes supported by it would have been at risk of collapse.
CAR - 7 Months Before Failure
Sinkhole · 2023 ·
On September 24, 2025, a road section collapsed outside a major hospital in Bangkok, creating a 30-meter-wide, 20-meter-deep void that damaged utility poles and closed nearby streets.
