Identification, storage and display of land data on a website

Abstract

Disclosed is a land website that provides a personalized database on which data can be stored, retrieved, customized and communicated (e.g., by e-mail) relating to a particular piece of property. The database can be accessible via a password and a security code over the Internet and may be encrypted for transmission. Land websites can be established that contain image data, map libraries, virtual tours, legal descriptions, title information, e-documents, actual pictures of property and various other information. Unique 3-D imaging of composite images can be provided on the land website as well as fly-around composite 3-D images. The land website provides a unique way of packaging information relating to a piece of land in a single, accessible location. A boundary applet tool is provided on the land website portal that allows a user to simply and easily draw boundaries around the property of interest and then submit an order for more detailed information about the property of interest. Various map data and image data are provided to assist the user in drawing the boundaries. Acreage amounts are automatically calculated based upon the size and area drawn by the user. Properties of interest can be easily accessed by a global coordinate system or by searching on map data that is provided on a wide range of scales.

1 . A method of generating a personalized land website at a dedicated Internet accessible location having a dedicated uniform resource locator (URL) address on the Internet, said personalized land website providing an archive of a variety of information relating to a selected area of land comprising: 
 creating said dedicated Internet accessible location at said dedicated URL address for storage of said archive of said variety of information;    providing map data over the Internet that relates to said selected area of land;    providing boundary drawing tools to allow a boundary to be circumscribed at least partially around said selected area of land on said map data;    drawing a boundary at least partially around said selected area of land using said boundary drawing tools;    storing said map data at said dedicated Internet accessible location on said land website at said URL address; and    providing additional storage locations on said personalized land website for storage of text information relating to said area of land at said dedicated Internet accessible location.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 providing further storage locations on said personalized land website for storage of photographic data relating to said area of land.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 providing toggling tools that allow said users to rapidly access additional map data and other data located within and around said boundary.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 automatically generating said boundary on said map data.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 providing imaging tools to allow said map data, additional map data and other data to be modified.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said process of providing imaging tools further comprises: 
 providing imaging tools that allow features to be added or removed from said map data, additional map data and said other data;    providing imaging tools that allow said additional map data and said other data to be combined with said map data.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of storing text information comprises storing legal documents relating to said area of land.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said process of generating photographic data comprises generating satellite image data.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said process of generating photographic data comprises generating aerial image data.  
   
   
       10 . A method of generating a personalized land website at a dedicated Internet accessible location having a dedicated uniform resource locator address (URL) address on the Internet, said personalized land website dedicated to providing a variety of different types of information relating to a selected area of land at said dedicated URL address that is accessible to users of the Internet comprising: 
 creating said dedicated Internet accessible location for said land website that is accessible by users of the Internet at said dedicated URL address for storage of said variety of information relating to said selected area of land;    providing map data over the Internet that is stored at said dedicated Internet accessible location;    drawing a boundary at least partially around said selected area of land using a boundary drawing tool;    providing photographic data relating to said selected area of land; and    storing said map data and said photographic data on said personalized land website at said dedicated Internet accessible location which is located at said dedicated URL address.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 protecting said storage areas by providing separate security codes for said storage area, and limiting access to said storage areas by controlling distribution of said security codes.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 providing additional storage areas for storing textual information relating to said selected area of land.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said photographic data includes satellite image data relating to said selected area of land.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 providing image modification tools to allow modification of said map data and said photographic data.    
   
   
       15 . A land website that provides a dedicated Internet URL address for archiving information relating to an area of land comprising: 
 a storage device that stores map data;    boundary drawing tools that circumscribe a boundary around said area of land to create global coordinates for said area of land;    an Internet accessible storage area located at said dedicated Internet address that stores said map data associated with said global coordinates and other data as a personalized land website;    browser compatible imaging tools that interface with browsers that allow viewing of said map data and other data on said personalized land website.    
   
   
       16 . A method of generating individual and personalized land websites located at a dedicated uniform resource locator address on the Internet that provides information relating to a selected area of land, said personalized land website providing an archive of said information comprising: 
 creating said dedicated uniform resource locator address on the Internet;    providing map data over the Internet;    providing boundary drawing tools that circumscribe a boundary around said selected area of land on said map data to create personalized land map data;    storing said personalized and map data at said dedicated uniform resource locator address; and    providing additional storage locations at additional dedicated uniform resource locator addresses for storage of additional information relating to said selected area of land.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said additional information comprises at least one of the group consisting of: title abstracts, deed information, legal descriptions, leases, rights-of-way, surveys, watershed studies, easements, loan information, appraisal reports, grazing leases, insurance, conservation easements, ownership rights, public land leases, mineral rights of land, water rights of land, land titles, environmental audit, third party maps, insurance documents, improvements, leases, flood plain data, scanned documents, loan documents, right of way information, or e-appraisal reports.  
   
   
       18 . A method of generating a personalized land website on the Internet that contains information relating to a selected area of land comprising: 
 providing map data over the Internet;    drawing a boundary around said selected area of land using boundary drawing tools to create a personalized land map;    storing said personalized land map at said dedicated uniform resource locator address;    storing additional data relating to said selected area of land at an additional dedicated uniform resource locator address; and    providing said uniform resource locator address and said additional dedicated uniform resource locator address as said personalized land website.    
   
   
       19 . The method of generating a personalized land website of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 protecting said personalized land website with at least one security code that limits access to said dedicated uniform resource locator address.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said process of storing said additional data comprises storing text information selected from the group consisting of: title abstracts, deed information, legal descriptions, leases, rights-of-way, surveys, watershed studies, easements, loan information, appraisal reports, grazing leases, insurance, conservation easements, ownership rights, public land leases, mineral rights of land, water rights of land, land titles, environmental audit, third party maps, insurance documents, improvements, leases, flood plain data, scanned documents, loan documents, right of way information, or e-appraisal reports.