Using Maptitude for Assessor Inspection Route Planning

Author: Jim Stone

11 July 2025

Why Maptitude? My Background & Experience

As someone deeply involved in GIS and spatial analysis, I've spent significant time exploring tools that optimize workflows. Among them, Maptitude stands out as a powerful, user-friendly GIS solution, enabling efficient route planning, spatial analysis, and mapping. I've been using Caliper Corporation's Maptitude since 1995 and it's amazing to see the functionality that has been migrated from their advanced transportation planning products to Maptitude.

Recently, I tackled a municipal challenge: optimizing property inspections to comply with cyclical assessment laws. The outcome? A dramatic increase in efficiency in property visits compared to traditional methods. Here's how Maptitude played a key role.

The Challenge: Compliance with Cyclical Inspection Laws

Municipalities across the U.S. are required to conduct periodic property inspections. Over half of U.S. states mandate physical inspections every 1 to 10 years, ensuring property records are up to date.

Massachusetts, for instance, requires every parcel (over 2 million in total!) to be inspected at least once every 10 years. Managing such a large dataset and scheduling efficient field visits presents logistical hurdles – precisely where GIS tools like Maptitude can revolutionize the process.

Optimizing Inspections with GIS Routing

In a recent project for a Massachusetts city (confidential name), inspectors traditionally relied on grid-based maps to group parcels. However, these grids split streets, often separated by highways or large green spaces, leading to inefficient routes.

By proposing Maptitude-driven routing, I introduced a more intuitive approach, considering natural barriers, road networks, and optimal parcel groupings. The result? A more cohesive method for defining inspection zones, dramatically improving visit efficiency.

The Chief Assessor estimated that this method enhanced efficiency by 50%, allowing inspectors to cover more ground with optimized routes.

How Assessors Conduct Inspections

Municipal assessors, both employees and contractors, receive lists of properties to inspect, alongside property cards detailing relevant information. These cards ensure accurate data collection, forming the basis for valuation updates.

Using Maptitude, I structured the inspection workflow to maximize coverage while minimizing redundant travel. Here's how the process works.

The Power of Maptitude for Routing

Maptitude offers a rich set of GIS tools, perfect for intermediate-level users tackling spatial problems. With its Routing Wizard, even complex workflows become manageable and intuitive.

To illustrate its capabilities, I created inspection routes for a section of my town using public data sources—a process that aligns with how real-world municipal planning operates.

Steps for Optimized Route Planning

Efficient assessor routing requires careful parcel grouping and stop sequencing, factoring in Parcel groupings that account for barriers (natural & manmade) and Optimal sequencing based on start/end points, one-way streets, and parking restrictions.

Step-by-Step Process

Project Setup - Define deliverable formats, data structures, and QA steps.
Data Sources
- Utilize MassGIS parcel data, property cards, and base maps within Maptitude.
- MMerge property card data into address tables via Excel & GIS transformations.
Data Cleaning & Geocoding - Ensure accurate address placements, adjusting geocoding parameters. Resolve mismatches between street addresses and mapped parcel points.
Defining Routes - Create logical zones based on natural features and road networks. Assign route IDs for inspection efficiency (40 stops/day on average).
Optimizing Stop Sequences - Adjust stop placements using the Maptitude Routing & Directions Manager. Account for one-way streets, parking limitations, and urban layouts.
Final Deliverables - Generate maps, route lists, and reports for assessor distribution.

GIS Insights for Municipal Planning

The robust capabilities of Maptitude streamline property inspections, offering an intuitive approach to compliance-based routing. For municipalities seeking smarter route planning, using Maptitude leads to better organization, reduced inefficiencies, and significant time savings.