Question on the Use of GIS

[ghrousseau]

I was considering taking some courses on GIS and it's use. From my research it seems that many more state and local governments are using GIS for planning and research. Is GIS a tool being used on a regular basis for commercial reports? Is there value in knowing GIS as a potential commercial trainee?

Thank you.

 

[Kali the Boston Terrier]

I use it all the time, especially where it is really strong. Typically I will use a GIS program and then use Snag It to add exhibits in my reports.

 

[Wendy]

When I worked for a fellow who did a lot of DOT/ROW work gis was wonderful. It is great for all sorts of maps and overlays - especially in databooks and proposals. (all using free shapefiles provided by our local governments - gotta like that!).

Learning curve is steep, but worth it.

http://www.esri.com/
Download the freebie version. You can also get their magazine for free - interesting stuff in there.

 

[PL1957]

Use of GIS is one thing I really wish I had a better handle on. From the little that I've messed around with it. it looks like an incredibly powerful tool for commercial appraisers. You certainly won't hurt yourself by learning how to use it.

 

[Lawrence R.]

I couldn't live without it in the Assessor's office. I am glad that I have been trained on it so that I can take that knowledge with me if/when I leave.

 

[Dennis J. Black ASA IFAS]

Its a must in today world.

 

[Scott Lanz]

I am currently spending a massive amount of time with GIS. Add GIS, statistical analysis and massive amounts of data and you have a recipe for a long term career in this field.

One of the biggest benefits of developing this skill set is that is transfers to other markets much better than only being an expert in your own market.

Plus, it's just plain cool.

 

[Metamorphic]

I took a GIS class about 6 years ago. I'm not sure what the software is like now, but at that time it was not the sort of software you can just pick up and start playing with; a full two or three steps back from the sort of windows-comparable intuitiveness we've come to expect.

I've been considering retaking the class just to re-acquaint myself with the software. I've been working a lot with large exports from MLS, massaged and graphed in excel, to show market reactions for my reports. But I've been frustrated by excel's inability deal with the data spatially which is GIS's raison d etere.

As a trainee trying to plot a way forward in a field filled with wage killing AMC's, AVM's, and Hacks, I'm trying to develop a skill set and tool bag that the AVM's and Hack's cant come near, and that a class of clients better than the AMC's will appreciate and pay well for, and I think GIS will be part of that package. I'm even kind of wondering if there may be a market for an appraiser providing GIS services to other appraisers.

My sense of industry, at least the residential side, is that we make very poor use of technology. I'm talking technology that benefit the users in understanding of the appraisal, not that makes our job's quicker. Things like well done, meaningful graphs, diagrams, and imaging. Seems like the URAR has set such a low standard for reporting and the Summary report has allowed appraisers to hide behind the "based on examples in appraisers files..." statement for so long that there's little or no willingness or ability to be through, complete, and articulate in this business.

 

[CBBoston]

I remember back in the mid-80s when the appraisal profession was just getting interested in GIS. I remember listening to an academic presentation when the authors were using GIS to value land in remote Alaska based on topography and other variables. The computers we had access to were finally powerful enough and the software was usable. Unfortanately the programs were also very expensive. There was lots of talk that GIS would become a basic tool of every appraiser. GIS certainly isn't a standard tool even today. I do see a few people using it and that might point to a niche market. The learning curve is steep but may be worth it.

 

[OSU Beavers]

GIS queries are user freindly now. No more need to write Small Macro Language like in the late 1980's.