Mobise, developer of enterprise iPad applications, and King County announce iRealProperty, the iPad solution, which manages thousands of properties combined with smart maps, camera, sketching and GPS, providing appraisers with a powerful device to manage property assessments in the field, while staying connected with the office. 

Previous property assessing

King County Appraisers in Washington State assess properties and homes with up to 150 variables to consider and multiple tools to carry such as a laptop, camera, measuring tape, compass, maps, clipboard, pen and paper for note taking. Older tablets are cumbersome to carry in the field, have a short battery life, poor readability in the sun and very limited communication capabilities. Using the tablet, assessors had to complete their work by re-typing data into the computer-aided mass appraisal (CAMA) system, transferring photos from a camera to the laptop and then uploading the information to a central database. Navigating maps was slow and laptops lacked GPS. While using the older tablet, appraisers could perform their work, but the process was slow and cumbersome. For the King County appraisers, the situation was ripe for newer technology.

Solution

The King County Department of Assessments chose the iPad to simplify and streamline field work. Now, with a simple tap of the finger, photos and data can be quickly reviewed and aerial and Google maps accessed. With simple drop down menus, data can be entered without typing. Horizontal tabs display the property and building information as well as historical values. Qualifying searches can be made and data filtered. The built-in camera allows photos to be taken and attached immediately to the parcel, saving time and effort. Built-in GPS capabilities allow appraisers to know where they are for accurate measurement and the screen offers great visibility. Notes can be taken via fingertip, stylus pen, keyboard or voice and attached immediately to the record. An integrated sketching program allows updates to be made on the go. Assessors now have a convenient lightweight device that integrates multiple tools, with a full-day battery life. They can easily review properties, photos, maps, make updates and synchronize securely with the central system in real time. 

Mobise worked closely with the county, customizing a solution that provides them with the same capabilities as the desktop CAMA application while taking advantage of the iPad’s features. Mobise successfully streamlined the back-end processes to allow the enterprise databases and applications to communicate easily together. The iPad appraiser application includes maps that have multiple GIS layers of components such as topography, grade, legal boundaries and building outlines. These components can be easily overlaid on the map. 

Colored graphical layers or renderers give appraisers business intelligence, allowing them to quickly review their work and check for consistency and anomalies.  

“What was needed was a device that was light, bright and seamlessly connected to the database; that’s the iPad. Developed in partnership with Mobise and with invaluable early input from the staff test team, iRealProperty is an app that facilitates the department’s work in a collaborative, effective and innovative way.” said John Arthur Wilson, chief deputy assessor for King County.

The technology

iRealProperty is designed to work in connected or disconnected modes. In areas where there is poor wireless coverage, it is essential that the appraisers can remain productive.

Mobise wrote the application natively in Objective-C for the iPad in order to provide the best user experience. An appraiser can carry information about several hundred thousand properties across King County, and many maps, including aerial images of the county. The solution takes advantage of the built-in GPS to help locate properties and the integrated camera.

On the back-end, the solution provides secure web services and synchronization to manage the data changes and keep everyone in the office and in the field on the same “electronic page.” Security is maintained via Active Directory (AD) and there is no additional burden on the IT department, as the users log on with their desktop credentials. There is also the capability to remotely wipe the application if the iPad is lost or stolen, protecting information security. An additional PIN access ensures that the application is not misused.

Mobise has a platform that allows similar mobile applications to be developed for other field professionals. iRealProperty was deployed last summer. Appraisers now enjoy the power and portability of the iPad to improve their effectiveness for managing property assessments in the field.