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Spatial analysis with Street Atlas USA 2004 Plus[TM]--much more than a comp map.

Article Excerpt
More often than not, appraisers use digital mapping products solely for comparable sale map reporting purposes. Too many appraisers, however, fail to make use of the vast suite of affordable mapping products available and neglect to embrace features that spatially analyze and manage data in a practical way.

One practical map software tool many appraisers use-without utilizing many of its added features--is Delorme Street Atlas USA 2004 Plus[TM] 4.0. Available from www.delorme.com/software.htm for $99.95, the Plus version is a scalable mapping software program that provides basic GIS tools at an affordable price, is easy to use and is integrated with several other tab-driven functions to work more efficiently. The standard version of Street Atlas USA 2004 is $59.95, but does not have the increased functionality that this article addresses.

Street Atlas Plus has a different feel than most map software packages. It is not menu-driven but rather has tabs located across the bottom that provide specific functionality associated with each tab (Figure 1). The Control Panel on the right side of the interface, under the product logo, displays information about the map, such as the latitude and longitude position of the cursor, and contains tools to change the map view.

The software contains functionality that appeals to users new to GIS including the ability to geocode, routing and generating map layouts. The basic built-in GIS features are one of the key benefits. How many times do you walk to the file cabinet or perform multiple keyword queries on your hard drive to search for an archived appraisal?

* Think GIS for appraisal solutions....