GfK GeoMarketing has released a new map edition of the Philippines, including a highly detailed map of the country's four-digit postcodes. These digital postcode and administrative maps offer a precise, reliable foundation for regional risk analyses.

September 16, 2010 — New postcode maps for the Philippines - GfK GeoMarketing The Philippines are particularly at risk from natural catastrophes such as tsunamis, typhoons, floods and volcanic eruptions. In 2008, the environmental organization Germanwatch ranked the Philippines eighth among countries hardest hit by natural disasters. At the same time, the country draws a significant number of investors, particularly in the energy and hotel real estate branches. Up-to-date, detailed maps with coverage of postcode and administrative boundaries comprise the foundation for risk management among insurance and reinsurance companies.

GfK GeoMarketing comprehensively redigitized, refined and expanded its maps of the Philippines using the latest cartographic sources. The level of detail corresponds to a scale of at least 1:300,000 when compared to conventional paper maps. In many instances - such as coastlines - the coverage is significantly more detailed.

The map edition comprises a total of 14 maps. New additions to the GfK map edition of the Philippines include maps of the country's four-digit postcodes.

The administrative levels - 17 regions and 82 provinces - have been completely updated and reflect the latest status following the administrative and regional reforms carried out in recent years. The digitization of the cities has also been improved. The maps now feature around 27,000 cities, organized into four population size categories with coverage down to a size bracket of under 20,000 inhabitants. The maps also depict the most important streets and bodies of water, providing a detailed cartographic basis for all possible applications in the insurance industry.

"The Philippines pose particular challenges to insurance and reinsurance companies due to the unusually elevated risk of natural disasters capable of causing substantial damage," explains Klaus Dittmann, head of cartography at GfK GeoMarketing.

"A precise cartographic basis is essential for risk management in this region. Special postcode maps are the basis for geocoding location-specific insurance data. These maps are used to associate data on the location, size and value of palm oil plantations, hotels for the tourist and investor sector as well as commercial real estate for the international call center branch, which has a particularly strong presence in the Philippines."

The new maps of the Philippines fit seamlessly with the worldwide, official CRESTA natural disaster zones, for which GfK GeoMarketing is the official provider. In addition to worldwide map coverage, GfK GeoMarketing has many years of experience in the production of maps custom-tailored to the needs of the insurance and reinsurance industry.

Better risk modeling through precise cartographic basis
GfK GeoMarketing's maps bridge actual risks, software- and statistics-based risk models and the objects to be insured. By using postcodes contained in the addresses of insured objects, regional accumulation risks can be determined and then precisely localized and evaluated on digital maps. A comparison of the occurrence probabilities generated through computer modeling and the possible extent of damages makes it possible to calculate long-term factors of interest to both insurance and reinsurance companies.

Worldwide coverage of postcodes and highly detailed coastlines are distinguishing characteristics of GfK GeoMarketing's maps as well as qualities essential for the successful evaluation of risk by insurance and reinsurance companies. Many insured objects are located near coastlines and are therefore at increased risk from natural disasters such as storms and floods. The detailed depiction of coastlines facilitates localized risk modeling, and the worldwide postcode boundaries provide a consistent, unified basis for reporting natural catastrophe-related damages.

All map objects feature both native and international place-name attributions. As such, the new maps integrate seamlessly with the worldwide labeling schema used by GfK GeoMarketing.

Like all of GfK GeoMarketing’s digital maps, the new maps of the Philippines are available in all standard digital map formats, including *.shp (ESRI), *.mid/*.mif (MapInfo), *.gdb (Geodatabase) and Oracle. Features of GfK GeoMarketing's maps include comprehensive coverage, seamlessly fitting and overlap-free boundaries and map levels, national and local place-name attributions and infinite zoom capability.

Additional information on the GfK maps of the Philippines can be obtained from Thorsten Lauszus at +49 (0)7251 9295145 or Email Contact.

Print-quality illustrations can be found at
www.gfk-geomarketing.com/maps_philippines-2010 (approx. 0.7 MB)

Download press release (approx. 160 KB)


About GfK GeoMarketing

GfK GeoMarketing is one of the largest providers of geomarketing services in Europe for customers and users from all branches of trade. Key business areas include:Consultancy

• Market data
• Digital maps
• Geomarketing software RegioGraph

GfK GeoMarketing offers the world's largest collection of digital administrative and postcode maps, with coverage of 240 countries.

The company is a subsidiary of the globally active GfK Group. Ranked fourth among the world's market research institutes, the GfK is represented in 100 countries with over 150 subsidiaries and 10,000 employees.
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