Elementa.org: a new open-access digital platform for multi-hazard risk assessment and prevention in Germany

Increasing exposure to climate-related natural hazards such as riverine flooding or large hail makes the systematic implementation of preventive measures imperative. Effective risk reduction requires the integration of actions across multiple scales, ranging from individual property owners to municipal authorities. However, both public risk awareness and, critically, the actual implementation of preventive measures remain insufficient to substantially mitigate damage to buildings and infrastructure.

To address this shortcoming, a new open-access online platform “elementa.org” has been developed under the umbrella of the public insurers in Germany. The platform combines location-specific hazard assessment with specific, actionable guidance for risk reduction. It is explicitly designed to serve different target groups, including private homeowners, planners and architects, as well as public-sector practitioners, by providing tailored content and differentiated levels of technical detail.

Low-threshold, interactive features such as risk maps, clickable house models and AI-based visualizations are employed to enhance risk comprehension and to foster a sense of agency among potentially affected property owners. Furthermore, the platform includes a structured register of building components and construction elements that have been systematically tested with respect to their resistance to hazards such as hail impact, standing water, and flowing water. Continuous engagement is supported through the active integration of social media channels and a regularly updated news feed on natural hazard events and prevention strategies.

Currently, elementa.org focuses on pluvial and riverine flooding, as well as hail, with planned extensions to other natural hazards including wildfires, storms, and earthquakes. While information on hazard assessment and reduction has previously been scattered across multiple sources in Germany, elementa.org is the first platform to provide an integrated, user-guided toolbox that leads from objective, site-specific risk assessment directly to concrete preventive measures. The platform thus represents a scalable approach to strengthening preventive action and resilience in the context of increasing climate risks.