The PerilAUS CD-ROM is the result of a 3 year project funded by the Insurance Foundation, which is a division of the Insurance Council of Australia. PerilAUS combines a searchable database of natural perils in Australia with mapping software in a simple, easy-to-use program with a user-friendly interface. The natural perils data are compiled from information collected by the Natural Hazards Research Centre, supplemented with data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Geological Survey Organisation. There are nine perils covered in the database - Bushfires, Tropical Cyclones, Floods, Earthquakes, Landslides, Gusts, Hail, Tornadoes and Tsunamis - for the period from 1900 to 1999. PerilAUS contains the most comprehensive collection of Australian natural peril data available. PerilAUS allows the user to search for information on natural perils by peril type, date, event magnitude, damage and location. Detailed information is available about events and the effects they had on specific locations.

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The results of a search can be mapped. PerilAUS features the ability to create summaries for a postcode, ICA Zone or state from the map simply by clicking on the area.

In addition to the map, other outputs from PerilAUS include printable graphs and reports to summarise the data. A Damage Index has been included for nearly 1200 events.

The first version of PerilAUS was released in late 1999. The second CD-ROM, released in January 2001, features an indicative rating scheme which identifies, for 2573 postcodes and 49 ICA Risk Accumulation Zones nationwide, the relative importance of each natural peril. This allows users to compare relative risk ratings (RRR) between postcodes or ICA Zones. The development of RRR is conducted using a well-established multi-criteria evaluation (MCE)-GIS methodology in a rational manner.

The CD-ROM will be marketed principally to the insurance industry. Other businesses with an interest in natural perils information will also find the CD-ROM an invaluable reference.

PerilAUS is priced at differently for Insurance Council members and non-members. Discounts are available for bulk purchases. GST must be added for purchases within Australia.

For further information please contact John McAneney or Keping Chen. Phone: +61-2-9850 9683. Fax: +61-2-9850 9394.
Email: riskfrontiers@els.mq.edu.au