The Problem: Unseen Ground Movement, Rising Insurance Losses
Ground subsidence refers to the sinking or settling of the Earth's surface. While it may progress gradually or occur suddenly, its long-term structural impact is profound and costly.
Key causes include:
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Excessive groundwater extraction
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Mining activities and underground voids
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Soil compaction
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Climate extremes: drought and heatwaves
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Shrink-swell behavior in clay-rich soils
These factors weaken the soil’s ability to support built structures. Over time, buildings begin to tilt, crack, or ultimately collapse often without prior visible signs.
Ground displacement at the millimeter level detected months before physical damage appears
Global Impact: Subsidence Is Already Costing Billions
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$145 billion total insured losses from natural disasters in 2024
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Nearly 40% of catastrophe claims in Europe are now linked to ground movement
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France: Subsidence accounted for 60% of all catastrophe losses over the past decade, totaling $5.2 billion in 2024 alone
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United States:
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34 million people live in subsiding areas
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A 2025 satellite study of 28 major U.S. cities found that 20%+ of urban land in each city is actively sinking
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Over 29,000 buildings are already situated in high-risk zones
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Each of those buildings represents a potential insurance claim in the making.
Small signs. Big danger. Ground movement doesn’t warn twice
Caelus provides insurers with the ability to detect early signs of subsidence before structural damage becomes visible or irreversible.We use multi-fusion satellite sensors and AI models to monitor ground movement at scale, detecting sub-centimeter shifts in the Earth’s surface.
This enables:
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Early identification of high-risk zones
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Precision dispatch of ground engineers to prevent escalation
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Preventative reinforcement at a fraction of the cost
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Fact: Preventative stabilization costs up to 95% less than post-failure structural repairs.
Our Solution: Predictive Risk Monitoring with Satellite-Based AI
Case Study: Cour-Cheverny, France
Between 2015 and 2020, over 250 homes in the village of Cour-Cheverny suffered structural damage due to drought-induced ground shrinkage.
Cracks appeared in masonry, foundations split, and floors buckled.
The total repair bill exceeded €30 million in this small town alone.
No monitoring was in place. No warnings were given. All claims were paid.
Insurers are increasingly exposed to slow-developing, geophysical threats that traditional tools cannot detect in time. Our satellite-based platform provides:
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Continuous, high-resolution ground movement monitoring
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Real-time alerts with location-specific risk indicators
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Portfolio-wide oversight of insured infrastructure
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Substantial reduction in high-value claims through early intervention
Act Before the Claims Arrive
Let us help you identify subsidence risks across your insured asset before the damage becomes irreversible.