System and method for performing flood zone certifications

• US 6,678,615 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sourceprose Corporation (TransUnion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sourceprose Corporation (TransUnion Corporation)
• Inventors: Higgins, Darin Wayne, Scott, Dan Martin, Howard, John Willard
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Victor J.
• Application Number:
  US10/127,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 702/5, 702/34, 702/104, 702/1, 702/3, 701/200, 701/208, 395/135
• US Class Current: 702/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/40 Controlling or monitoring, e.g. of flood or hurricane; Forecasting, e.g. risk assessment or mapping

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for evaluating a characteristic or trait present at a geographic location in a plurality of non-georeferenced maps. In operation, the method comprises constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps, and then defining a virtual rectangular geographic grid system covering the total area covered by the maps. For each grid rectangle that intersects an inset bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset. If there is intersection of a grid rectangle and an inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle, geocoding the location of the geographic location, and examining the insets contained in the list associated with the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location, and performing the evaluation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of evaluating a characteristic or trait present at and in the vicinity of a geographic location from plural, initially non-georeferenced maps that depict the characteristic or trait being evaluated and other related data and that have been georeferenced, which comprises:

(a) constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps;

(b) defining a virtual rectangular geographic grid system covering the total area covered by the maps;

(c) for each grid rectangle that intersects an inset bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset;

(d) if there is Intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle;

(e) geocoding the location of the geographic location; and

(f) examining the insets contained in the list associated with the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location and, using the data thereon, performing the evaluation.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

step (f) includes examining insets contained in the lists associated with grid rectangles that do not contain the geocoded location but abut and are proximate the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

the data for performing the evaluation is properly obtainable only from one of the maps, which method further comprises;

(f₁) examining the list of insets contained on the list associated with the grid rectangle containing the geocoded location; and

(i) if there is only one inset on the list, using the data on its map to complete the evaluation, or

(ii) if there is more than one inset on the list, inspecting their respective insets to determine which inset-containing map is appropriate and using the data on that one map to complete the evaluation.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein:

the characteristic or trait is a geographic, demographic, ecological or climatological trait.

5. A computer-implemented method of performing trait evaluations for real property using plural, initially non-georeferenced flood maps, comprising:

(a) forming a raster image of each flood map;

(b) constructing polygons enclosing each inset of the flood maps;

(c) georeferencing the flood maps by the use of another georeferenced map that depicts the same geographic area as the flood maps;

(d) constructing a bounding box around each inset polygon;

(e) defining a virtual rectangular geographic grid system;

(f) for each grid rectangle that intersects an inset bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset;

(g) if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle;

(h) geocoding the location of the geographic location; and

(i) examining the insets contained in the list associated with the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location and, using the data thereon, performing the evaluation.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein:

the flood maps are FEMA paper maps.

7. A method as In claim 5, wherein:

the characteristic or trait is a geographic, demographic, ecological or climatological trait.

8. A computer system for evaluating a characteristic of a geographic location from plural, initially non-georeferenced maps that depict the characteristic being evaluated and other related data, the maps having been georeferenced, which comprises:

(a) first facilities including a pointing device for constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps;

(b) second facilities for determining each grid rectangle that intersects a bounding box and for tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset;

(c) third facilities for determining whether there is intersection of a grid rectangle and an inset, and, if there is, for adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle;

(d) fourth facilities for geocoding the location of the geographic area; and

(e) fifth facilities for examining the list of insets contained on the list associated with the grid rectangles containing the geocoded location and those grid rectangles proximate there, and, using the data thereon, for performing the evaluation.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein:

the characteristic or trait is a geographic, demographic, ecological or climatological trait.

10. A system as in claim 8, wherein:

the data for performing the evaluation is properly obtainable from only one of the maps, and wherein;

(f₁) the fifth facilities perform so that if there is only one inset on the list, the data on its map is used to complete the evaluation, or, if there is more than one inset on the list, their respective insets are inspected to determine which inset-containing map is appropriate and the data on that one map is used to complete the evaluation.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein:

the map is a raster map based on x,y coordinates, the georeferencing of the map being achieved by calculating a georeferencing function f(x,y)=(latitude,longitude) and a georeferencing function g(lat,lon)=(x,y), the georeferencing functions being stored by the computer system.

12. A computer system for performing flood zone certifications for real property using plural, initially non-georeferenced flood maps, comprising:

(a) a scanner for forming a raster image of each flood map;

(b) a pointing device for constructing polygons enclosing each inset of the flood maps;

(c) first facilities for georeferencing the flood maps by the use of a georeferenced map that depicts the same geographic area as the flood maps;

(d) a pointing device for constructing a bounding box around each polygon;

(e) second facilities virtually overlaying the vector map with a virtual grid system defined by grid rectangles;

(f) third facilities for determining each grid rectangle that intersects a bounding box of an inset, and, if it does, for tracing the inset polygon enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset polygon;

(g) fourth facilities for determining whether there is intersection of a grid rectangle and an inset polygon, and, if there is, for adding the identity of the inset polygon to a list associated with the grid rectangle;

(h) fifth facilities for geocoding the address of the property; and

(j) sixth facilities for examining the list of inset polygons contained on the list associated with the grid rectangle containing the geocoded address; and

(k1) if there is only one polygon on the list, for using the data on its flood map to complete the flood zone certification, and

(k2) if there is more than one polygon on the list, for inspecting the polygons to determine which polygon-containing flood map is appropriate and for using the data on that one flood map to complete the flood zone certification.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein:

the flood maps are FEMA paper maps.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein:

the raster map images of the FEMA flood maps are based on x,y coordinates, the georeferencing of the flood maps being achieved by calculating a georeferencing function f(x,y)=(latitude,longitude) and a georeferencing function g(lat,lon)=(x,y), the georeferencing functions being stored by the computer system.

15. A computer-implemented method of preparing plural, initially non-georeferenced maps that depict a characteristic or trait at and near a geographic location so as to be usable for evaluating the characteristic or trait at the location, the maps having been georeferenced, which method comprises:

(a) constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps;

(b) defining a virtual grid of identical rectangles corresponding to the total area covered by the maps;

(c) for each grid rectangle that intersects a bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset; and

(d) if there is intersection of a grid rectangle and an inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle, so that thereafter, when the location is geocoded and the list of insets associated with the grid rectangle containing the geocoded location is examined, data on such insets permits the evaluation to be effected.

16. A computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by a computer to prepare plural, initially non-georeferenced maps that depict a characteristic or trait at and near a geographic location so as to be usable for evaluating the characteristic or trait at the location, the maps having been georeferenced, the method comprising:

(a) constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps;

(b) defining a virtual grid of identical rectangles corresponding to the total area covered by the maps;

(c) for each grid rectangle that intersects a bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset; and

(d) if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle, so that thereafter, when the location is geocoded and the list of insets associated with the grid rectangle containing the geocoded location is examined, data on such insets permits the evaluation to be effected.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium transmitting a generated data signal containing the instructions.

18. A computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by a computer to evaluate a characteristic or trait present at and in the vicinity of a geographic location from plural, initially non-georeferenced maps that depict the characteristic or trait being evaluated and other related data that have been georeferenced, the method comprising:

(a) constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps;

(b) defining a virtual rectangular geographic grid system covering the total area covered by the maps;

(c) for each grid rectangle that intersects an inset bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset;

(d) if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle;

(e) geocoding the location of the geographic location; and

(f) examining the insets contained in the list associated with the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location and, using the data thereon, performing the evaluation.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium transmitting a generated data signal containing the instructions.

19. A computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by a computer to perform trait evaluations for real property using plural, initially non-georeferenced flood maps, the method comprising:

(a) forming a raster image of each flood map;

(b) constructing polygons enclosing each inset of the flood maps;

(c) georeferencing the flood maps by the use of another georeferenced map that depicts the same geographic area as the flood maps;

(d) constructing a bounding box around each inset polygon;

(e) defining a virtual rectangular geographic grid system;

(f) for each grid rectangle that intersects an inset bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset;

(g) if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle;

(h) geocoding the location of the geographic location; and

(i) examining the insets contained in the list associated with the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location, and, using the data thereon, performing the evaluation.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium transmitting a generated data signal containing the instructions.