Understanding the Cause: When Slopes Fail
Landslides and rockfalls occur when the gravitational forces acting on a slope exceed its structural stability. This can result from long-term degradation or sudden environmental stress. Common contributing factors include:
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Prolonged Water Exposure:
Intense rainfall or continuous water infiltration adds mass and reduces soil cohesion, eventually causing the slope to fail. -
Soil and Rock Weakening:
Weathering, erosion, and freeze-thaw cycles degrade the bonds holding soil and rock together, undermining slope integrity. -
Coastal Erosion:
Ocean waves and storm surges erode the base of sea cliffs. As support disappears, cliffs steepen and collapse—often without warning. -
Creeping Slopes:
Some slopes shift imperceptibly over time due to gravity and environmental stressors. This slow movement can lead to sudden catastrophic failure when the slope becomes critically unstable.
Years of erosion, one moment of collapse
Global Financial Impact
Landslides are responsible for over $20 billion in global economic losses each year.
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In the United States, landslides account for approximately $4 billion in insured losses annually.
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These events frequently affect critical infrastructure: roads, railways, pipelines, and insured residential assets.
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In Norway (2020), a quick-clay landslide destroyed a village section, triggering over $107 million in insurance payouts.
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In California (2024), a bluff collapse in Dana Point placed several multimillion-dollar homes on the verge of destruction—an event that could have resulted in $10+ million in claims.
Dana Point, California, Winter 2024: Erosion meets liability
Caelus empowers insurers and infrastructure operators with early-warning capabilities that can detect slope movement and predict collapse zones before they fail.
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Satellite-Based Monitoring:
Using InSAR radar from space, we detect slope movement down to just a few millimeters—even when imperceptible to the human eye. -
AI Risk Prediction Engine:
We analyze environmental, geological, and meteorological data to forecast landslide-prone areas—months or years in advance. -
Proactive Mitigation Planning:
Timely insights allow clients to stabilize terrain, relocate assets, and refine underwriting strategy to minimize exposure.
This predictive approach transforms landslide risk from a reactive cost center to a manageable, preventable liability.
Our Solution: Early Detection and Predictive Risk Intelligence
Case Study: Dana Point, California (2024)
In early 2024, consecutive winter storms saturated coastal soil in Southern California. A section of bluff in Dana Point collapsed without warning, slicing away the rear sections of three cliffside homes.
While no lives were lost, insured structures valued at over $10 million were suddenly at risk.
Had slope instability been flagged earlier, proactive relocation or reinforcement could have eliminated the loss.
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Case Study: Quick-Clay Landslide, Norway (2020)
A catastrophic quick-clay failure swept away roads, homes, and infrastructure, resulting in 10 injuries and total insurance payouts of $107 million.
This event, like many others, occurred in a region with subtle pre-event ground movement—detectable by satellite had monitoring been active.
Insurers cannot afford to overlook slope stability risks—particularly in hilly, coastal, or weather-vulnerable regions.
Our platform delivers:
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Portfolio-wide monitoring of slope and cliff movement
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Real-time alerts and risk scores per asset or region
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Insight-driven recommendations for mitigation and pricing
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Long-term risk trend analysis across your geographic footprint
Act Before the Claims Arrive
Let us help you identify subsidence risks across your insured asset before the damage becomes irreversible.