Insurer uses drones to inspect bushfire damage in Australian first

They may one day deliver books and diapers to your front door, but for now, drones are being useful helping people rebuild after a traumatic start to the bushfire season in Australia.
Australasian insurer IAG announced Friday it had used drones — in what it said was an Australian first — to inspect the catastrophic damage caused by bushfires along Victoria's Great Ocean Road.

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In an emailed statement, IAG said the drones allowed the insurer to take a look at burnt properties before physical access could be allowed by emergency services due to dangerous conditions. It said the use of drones would allow those affected to have their insurance assessments fast tracked.

A drone-captured image of a bushfire-damaged property.

Image: IAG

According to an IAG spokesperson, the drone used was a DJI Inspire 1 Pro with ZENMUSE X5 AND X5R and 4K Camera with twin remote control. A DJI Phantom 3 Professional was also used as a back-up model.
"The impact caused by the Victorian bushfires was incredibly stressful for the homeowners affected and using drone technology as part of our assessment process allowed us to make the experience safer, simpler and faster for our customers," Andy Cornish, chief operating officer for IAG, said in an emailed statement.

A drone-captured image of a bushfire-damaged property.

Image: IAG

"We are proud to be the first insurer in Australia to use drones to assess damage following a major bushfire ... We are already working with our property repair partner to develop how we can use this technology to help more customers in the future."
The insurer said it had worked with fire authorities to ensure the drones did not impede emergency response. In October 2015, the Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority warned drone users they could face steep fines for flying near bushfires and putting firefighting aircraft and firefighters at risk.
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