The ‘Montana Parcel App’ leverages mobile GIS, phone-based GPS, and other web services to access publicly available property data and geometry from two Montana databases.
Missoula, Montana – GCS Research,
developers of advanced geospatial technology solutions,introduced a
downloadable property information application that allows users to view
location-specific information from smartphones running the Android operating
system. The ‘Montana Parcel App’ leverages mobile geographic information system
(GIS), phone-based GPS, and other web services to access publicly available
property data and geometry from two Montana databases.
“GCS Research has combined the power of mobile GIS with the
GPS-based sensor suite of an Android-enabled smartphone to create a
cost-effective location-based service for Realtors, title companies and state
and local governments,” said GCS Research President Alex Philp, PhD. “This
thin-client application is a practical, cost-effective business tool that puts
geographic information and geospatial functionality into the palm of anyone’s
hand.”
The Montana Parcel App allows smartphone users to access real
estate information remotely from anywhere in the world or while standing on a
property in Montana. Users can rely on the phone’s built-in GPS to pinpoint
their current location in the state, or they can zoom into a mapping interface
to select an area of interest by “double-tapping” the touch screen. Within
seconds, the application retrieves location-specific property information for
the selected site from two web-enabled databases.
The first is a parcel boundary file maintained in a Montana
cadastral database. This cadastral information is managed in an ArcSDE
geodatabase and served over the web by ESRI Inc.’s ArcGIS Server solution. The
smartphone application traces the property boundaries in red on the phone’s map
display. Next, the application accesses the State of Montana CAMA
(Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal) System where it retrieves property details
such as owner name, parcel legal description, acreage, assessed value, and
zoning code. The mobile mash-up leverages the Android mobile operation systems
to deliver an easy-to-use, personal solution for anyone wanting to have the
information at their fingertips.
“The advanced functionality of Android OS has finally made it
possible to bridge the gap between the enterprise business GIS database and the
mobile phone,” said Philp. “Cost-effective, location-based business tools can be
created in a matter of days with this technology. We built this Droid App so our
customers can see how they can leverage the explosive mobile app market to help
them fulfill their business needs”
Users may download Montana Parcel App for free by searching for
“GCS” in the Google Android Marketplace on their Android OS phones. GCS Research
will soon migrate the Montana application and other mobile GIS tools to
additional smartphone operating systems. GCS plans to continue development of
location-based services that harness the GPS-based sensors, other embedded
sensors, and video/still imagery cameras on smartphones for mobile GIS
applications involving augmented reality, geospatial analytics, and advanced
geometric calculations.
About GCS Research
GCS
Research (www.gcs-research.com) is an
internationally-recognized leader in advanced geospatial information technology
solutions. Based in Missoula, Montana, the
GCS Research team has over 180 years combined professional experience in
geographic information systems, extensive knowledge of custom solutions, and has
delivered a variety of award-winning applications for businesses and
governments. In 2009, GCS Research spun off one of its internal operating units
to form TerraEchos Inc., which applies advanced geospatial and sensor-system
technologies for surveillance and security solutions. For more information about
how GCS can help your organization design, build, and deploy mobile location
application on smartphones, please contact info@gcs-research to speak with a
solution specialist or call 406-532-3254.
GCS Research Delivers Mobile GIS Application for Android Smartphone
March 24, 2010
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