FINDER Quantum
User-Friendly Desktop GIS to use with Quantum GIS software
FINDER Quantum is comprised of free Quantum GIS software, an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo), bundled with the same full range of map and data layers that are included in MdProperty View. MDP includes the free Quantum GIS software in each product download, and has developed its own Quantum GIS custom project file (qgs) to provide FINDER Quantum users with targeted access to the map and data layers from within the Quantum GIS software.
Tax maps, also known as assessment, property or parcel maps, are a graphic representation of real property showing and defining individual property boundaries in relationship to contiguous real property. The primary purpose of these maps is to help State tax assessors locate properties for assessments and taxation purposes. Tax maps are also used by federal, State and local government agencies as well as private sector firms for a variety of analyses and decision making processes.
The maps contained herein are NOT to be construed or used as a "legal description". It is not a survey product and not to be used for the design, modification or construction of improvements to real property or for flood plain determination. MDP does not provide any guaranty of accuracy or completeness regarding the map information. Any errors or omissions should be reported to the Maryland Department of Planning Data Planning Services Division. In no event will MDP or the State of Maryland be liable for any damages, including but not limited to loss of data, lost profits, business interruption, loss of business information or any other pecuniary loss that might arise from the use of this map or information it contains.
See an Example of a Tax Map
The Property Mapping Section, part of MDP's Planning Data Services division, is responsible for maintaining electronic tax maps for the 23 counties in Maryland. The State's 2800+ tax maps are maintained in a combined GIS and Computer Aided Design (CAD) environment and updated on an annual cycle using new property plats and deed changes obtained from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). These maps form the foundation for many of MDP's products and services including FINDER Quantum.
A parcel record, also known as property, ownership or assessment record, is a comprehensive set of information about individual real property that incorporates parcel ownership and address information, parcel valuation information and basic information about land and structures associated with a parcel. In Maryland, SDAT maintains individual parcel records for each of the over 2 million parcels in the State that make up the FINDER Quantum Parcel dataset.
Solve Real-World Problems
In no time at all you will be working with Maryland property data geographically and seeing patterns you could not see before. Working geographically helps you understand the relationships between parcel data and the forces that drive your organization so you can make better decisions, identify opportunities and solve problems faster.
Performance and time savings are increased through the MDP's Quantum GIS custom project file (qgs). You can easily search for, select and display properties on a map that meet specific criteria; for example, FINDER Quantum can generate a map showing the locations of properties in a given area that are residential, less than one-half acre in size and have an assessed value of the improvement greater than $100,000. You can display and print a tax map and verify the most current information about that property on the State Department of Assessments and Taxation Real Property website. With a few additional clicks of the mouse, a wealth of map layers can be added to the map view area, including your own map layers.
What Comes with FINDER Quantum?
FINDER Quantum includes the State's computerized property (tax) maps; the x,y linkages (point or polygon) to the Parcel, Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) and Sale datasets; Parcel, CAMA and Sale data from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT); reference grids including a grid for the property (tax) maps, an ADC map book grid, a grid for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) road, stream and feature maps and a grid for USGS 7.5' Topographical quad maps; and additional SHA files including a digital centerline roads file, data derived from SHA digital grid maps, an SHA major roads file and a county boundary file.
Also included are land use/land cover data; congressional and legislative district boundary files; census geography and census demographic data; ZIP code boundary files; Priority Funding Area (PFA) designations; floodplain data, including DFIRM data for selected jurisdictions; protected lands boundaries; watershed data; generalized zoning designations; sewer service area boundaries; public water service area boundaries for selected jurisdictions; National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Maryland coverage; residential Sales x,y point and summary files derived from SDAT Parcel and Sale data; large-scale, high resolution color digital-ortho imagery and a custom Quantum GIS project file (.qgs).
Beyond FINDER Quantum
Individuals or organizations wanting to perform advanced queries, analyses or reporting on parcel data may want to consider this MDP GIS-related software product:
MdProperty View works with ArcGIS® software, an Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) product, which is not included with MdProperty View and must be purchased separately.
Those who use property maps and parcel information in their day-to-day business, who have access to the Internet and who do not require the more robust analytical features of a desktop GIS may want to consider this MDP online product:
FINDER Online can be used to navigate, search, display and retrieve parcel-based information and to perform limited queries of property related data. It is not designed for advanced analysis or query functions.
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