Improving WinTOTAL integration with GPS devices
Let's face it. Mapping providers and geocoding services aren't always right or up to date. Whether you're appraising new construction or working in the boondocks, sometimes addresses don't map properly or they can't be found altogether. It's in these kinds of situations that having a GPS device comes in handy.
Here in the lab, we've put together a prototype Map Wizard for Aurora that can actually read the latitude and longitude for saved waypoints from your GPS device, and allow you to associated them with property addresses in your report. For years WinTOTAL has let you manually input lat/long information for properties to improve mapping accuracy. Now we're trying to save you the keystrokes by reading the lat/long right off your GPS. This of course helps cut down on keystrokes and saves time, but it also helps eliminate human error, all with the intended result of getting a more accurate map the first time when appraising properties the "system" can't yet find on its own. It's important to note that at this time the prototype doesn't work with every GPS out there. Keep reading for more information.
Jeff Jones, one of our research fellows, has written several articles on this topic. As background, you can read those articles here:
"Geocoding and GPS 101: How to do it now, and how it ought to be done"
Can't I do that now?
Sort of. In WinTOTAL now, you can choose to manually input latitude and longitude information into the map wizard, but you have to input it manually, and it's not very clear within the user interface that the property will be absolutely placed via those coordinates instead of the address. Our plan is to give you a method to plug your supported GPS device directly into your PC and pull the waypoint (the numbered reference point tied to a set of lat/long coordinates) data directly into WinTOTAL and quickly assign a report address to it.
Here's how it will work.
When you select to input property information via GPS data, you'll get a new screen that will allow you to select your GPS device from a list of supported units. Once you've done that, we'll automatically retrieve the waypoint information directly off of the device and display them with their latitude and longitude information in a simple screen that lets you associate an address from your report to each waypoint.
What's the difference between navigation oriented solutions vs. location oriented solutions?
When we initially startled looking at this and asking around as to what devices people are using, our confusion about this concept was reflected in the answers we got from customers; Microsoft Streets & Trips, Copilot, Garmin, etc. And what we've come to realize is that GPS solutions really fall into one of two categories:
Navigational Solutions
These types of solutions include software and hardware packages that include things like Microsoft Streets & Trips and CoPilot. These solutions are targeted towards in-car navigation needs, with turn-by-turn aids and voice assistance. These types of solutions rely on a partnership between the software and an integrated hardware receiver that feeds constant real time location updates to it. They're not designed to retrieve specific locational waypoints and store them for use later. As a result, these types of solutions aren't going to work for WinTOTAL integration.
Locational Solutions
On the other hand, solutions like this hand-held Garmin etrex unit that are specifically designed with the intent of storing and re-locating specific points on the globe later will work beautifully, and we will support a full array of these types of devices. These types of units are typically hand-held units in which you just click a button and the device records a waypoint with associated latitude and longitude coordinates.
Here's a list of devices that will work with WinTOTAL's GPS integration:
- From Garmin
- Anything in the eTrex line that is USB enabled
- From Magellan
- eXplorist 210
- eXplorist 400
- eXplorist 500LE
- eXplorist 600
- eXplorist XL
Will this integration be available in Aurora as well as Armstrong?
Yes! This integration will work in Aurora as well once you've enabled it!
Paul E. Stansberry, III
WinTOTAL Product Manager
a la mode, inc.
