GIS as a tool for real estate

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Although many of the professions that are accessible with a geographic information systems (GIS) degree are in civil service, the capabilities of GIS technology can be applied to the private sector as well. The field of real estate serves as a notable example where expertise and experience in GIS is likely to be quite beneficial.

Students who are currently in a GIS degree program, or those who have their diplomas and are now searching for gainful employment, will want to learn as much as they can about the relationship between real estate and GIS before they begin their coursework or start filling out job applications.

Educational tools and research papers about GIS and real estate

Individuals enrolled in GIS courses, or who are looking to enter such classes, will be working in a middle ground, of sorts, between research and hands-on training to learn the best practices for GIS technologies. The following resources offers examples of what students may be working with during their course of study.

Data and Tools for Comprehensive Real Estate Analysis: The tutorial provided on this webpage is an effective example of how GIS data sets and maps are used to collect and display comprehensive information on the real estate properties in a given area. Detailed nstructions on how to use the demo is also provided.

Real Estate Problems and GIS: This highly detailed research paper explains how geographers and other professionals in real estate began to rely on GIS data due to its reliable analytical capabilities.

Articles and research papers about the connection between GIS and real estate

Although GIS is now frequently used in conjunction with various aspects of real estate, this was not the case until the early-to-mid 1990s. The information below discusses how these technologies were initially implemented into real estate and how they have been used more recently.

Earth Observation Magazine: This extended article from 1994 discusses the beginnings of the relationship between GIS and real estate, which may be of use to students enrolled in GIS degree programs.

Using GIS to Improve Real Estate Analysis: Written in 1995 and originally published in the Journal of Real Estate Research, this paper explains how GIS data's application to real estate had become quite extensive even then. The abstract summarizes the contents, and the full text can be downloaded through the webpage.

Directions Magazine: As a more recent example of research into the use of GIS in real estate, the case study provided here details the developing use of the technology in the Chinese property market and how it has not yet been fully, successfully integrated.

Esri: This extensive, 25-page guide explains the basics of GIS for real estate and also provides information on how the technology has been utilized in connection to the commercial and residential property markets, with a number of anecdotal case studies as examples.

Government GIS data used in real estate

Professionals in real estate who need to use GIS data in their work often utilize property information provided by agencies of local and county governments. Students pursuing their GIS degree and have an interest in real estate can examine this type of information to supplement their education and their search for employment.

Botetourt County, Virginia: Information such as that provided through this county's GIS webpage - addresses, political boundaries, utility information, topography and aerial photographs - may be used by real estate professionals to help learn where to buy property and determine how to market a given home. Students in GIS graduate programs may find that their home counties have similar GIS offices in place.

King County, Washington: The King County parcel viewer, provided here, allows users to easily search for and view the region's real estate information. GIS students will need to know these systems inside and out, and also to understand ones that are more complex to operate.

Tucson, Arizona GIS maps: Among the GIS maps provided by this city's government is a research map for real estate information, providing a wide range of valuable data.

Assessor's Department, Saco, Maine: Using this webpage, GIS graduate program students can bolster their understanding of how property tax information is often used in the real estate profession.

Jefferson County, Tennessee: This GIS website provides aerial photographs, tax assessment data and other information regarding properties throughout Jefferson County.

James City County, Virginia: The property information system described on this webpage is a typical but no less useful example of a comprehensive GIS system that could be of value to those employed in real estate positions.