System and method for performing flood zone certifications

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.