Pinellas County Uses 3D Modelling for More Precise Property Assessments

LAS VEGAS, IAAO Conference – September 25, 2017 – Florida’s Pinellas County has joined a growing number of counties that have adopted Esri Canada’s Assessment Analyst 3D, a powerful geospatial 3D assessment analysis solution. This technology allows appraisers to conduct detailed valuations of condominiums, commercial buildings and individual units using 3D geoprocessing and analytics from their desktop. Pinellas County will be using 3D modelling on about 8,000 condominium units in 168 condominium plans.

“Having the enhanced ability to visualize the drivers that determine property values in condominiums helps us to produce a more fair and equitable tax roll. Now, we can more effectively identify and view a property’s attributes, allowing for application of better mass appraisal modeling techniques,” noted Mike Twitty, Pinellas County Property Appraiser.

When determining assessed values, Pinellas County appraisers compare timely real estate sales transactions with comparable properties. They also consider a property’s location, age, condition, size and view. Having a current, accurate inventory base is vital to the process, but discrepancies between the assessed value and the sale price can arise and it is impractical to physically inspect every single unit in a building for inventory verification.

Complex 3D models of strata buildings allow appraisers to visually analyze the effects of some key drivers of value, such as view and floor height, on a unit-to-unit basis without the need for onsite inspections, without even having to leave the office. Appraisers can also use this tool to audit and correct data discrepancies, leading to more precise assessments.

“Integrating 3D visualization and spatial analysis into property assessment workflows increases the accuracy of valuations and facilitates the discovery of missing or incorrect property data. Pinellas County has joined others in revolutionizing property assessment practices throughout the industry," said Michael Lomax, Director of Assessment for Esri Canada.

Assessment Analyst 3D is based on Esri’s ArcGIS technology, the world’s leading geographic information system (GIS) platform used by more than 350,000 organizations. It is part of the Assessment Analyst Suite, an integrated suite of components that allows appraisers to create defendable assessments underpinned by well-organized, accurate data.

Visit Esri Canada booth #615 at the IAAO Conference for live demonstrations of Assessment Analyst solutions or learn more at: esri.ca/assessmentanalyst.

About Pinellas County
Pinellas County, on Florida’s West Coast, was established in 1912. It forms a 280-square mile peninsula bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. The County from tip to tip is 38 miles long and 15 miles wide at its broadest point. With a population of approximately 950,000, Pinellas is the most densely populated county in the state, appealing to singles, couples, retirees and families. While Pinellas enjoys a year-round reputation as a tourist destination, over 38,000 businesses also call Pinellas County home. Pinellas County’s top key business sectors are health services, tourism services, manufacturing and financial services. The Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s office (www.pcpao.org) has again been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) and is dedicated to producing fair and equitable Property Value Assessments of over 450,000 parcels annually.

About Esri Canada
Founded in 1984, Esri Canada provides enterprise geographic information system (GIS) solutions that empower businesses, governments and educational institutions to make timely, informed and mission-critical decisions by leveraging the power of geography. The company distributes the world's leading GIS software from Esri, Schneider Electric, Cityworks–Azteca Systems, LLC and other technology partners. Headquartered in Toronto, the company serves over 10,000 customers from 16 regional offices across Canada. Esri Canada joined the elite rank of Canada’s Best Managed companies in 2012 and became a Gold Standard winner in 2015. The company has also been named to the Branham300 and Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures. More information can be found at esri.ca. Follow Esri Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Esri Canada: press@esri.ca
Pinellas County: sleggett@pcpao.org