System and method for performing flood zone certifications

Abstract

A system and method for performing flood zone determinations using scanned, georeferenced, digital raster map images. The user, to determine the flood zone classification of a particular property, first enters the street address, or full legal address, into a data processing system. The system determines, from the address, which raster map includes that particular property. The system retrieves that map, and utilizes georeferencing information to locate the property on the raster map. The user can visually verify the location of the property as marked on the displayed raster map, and can at that point examine the flood zone indications on the raster map. Further, the system can compare the geographic coordinates of the property against a data base of flood zone boundaries for an automated flood zone determination. The system can also generate, store, and produce flood zone certificates according to the flood zone determination.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of determining a flood zone classification of a location, comprising: 
 receiving a location entry from a first source;    receiving from the first source an indication that a displayed map is a correct map for providing a flood zone classification for the location; and    automatically receiving a flood zone status associated with the location.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the location is an address.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2    wherein the address comprises at least a street address.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 2    wherein the address comprises an indication of a governmental entity, the governmental entity being a state, a province, or a country.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 2    where in the address comprises at least a city.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 2    where in the address comprises a zip code.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 2    where in the address comprises a postal code.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 1    where in the location comprises a longitude and a latitude.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising selecting a map to display.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the act of receiving an entry comprises receiving a verification of a flood zone classification.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the act of receiving an indication that a flood zone certificate is desired.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the act of directing a device to provide a flood zone certificate.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the device is a device capable of printing a paper copy.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the device is a computing platform capable of generating an electronic edition of a flood zone certificate.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the flood zone certificate comprises at least a flood zone designation.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the flood zone certificate comprises a description of the location.  
     
     
         17 . A computer memory containing a code capable of determining a flood zone classification of a location, and thereby turning a general computing platform into a specific computing machine, by: 
 receiving a location entry from a first source;    receiving from the first source an indication that a displayed map is a correct map for providing a flood zone classification for the location; and    automatically receiving a flood zone status associated with the location.    
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17    further comprising the act of receiving an indication that a flood zone certificate is desired.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 17    further comprising the act of directing a device to provide a flood zone certificate.  
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium whose contents cause the transformation of a computer system into a flood zone classification system, by: 
 receiving a location entry from a first source;    receiving from the first source an indication that a displayed map is a correct map for providing a flood zone classification for the location; and    automatically receiving a flood zone status associated with the location;    receiving from the first source an indication that a flood zone certificate is desired; and    directing a device to provide a flood zone certificate.    
     
     
         21 . A computer memory containing a data structure capable of determining a flood zone classification of a location, by: 
 receiving a location entry from a first source;    receiving from the first source an indication that a displayed map is a correct map for providing a flood zone classification for the location; and    automatically receiving a flood zone status associated with the location;    receiving from the first source an indication that a flood zone certificate is desired; and    directing a device to provide a flood zone certificate.    
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 21    wherein the location is an address that comprises an indication of a governmental entity, the governmental entity being a state, a province, or a country.