New software aids real estate queries

4/28/2005

From a Dell laptop computer in the Lucas County commissioners' chamber, computer programmer Guenrike Oganessian illustrated features of the latest version of the Auditor's Real Estate Information System, which was unveiled yesterday.

A resource tool for the county auditor's office, which uses the software for tracking and assessing property values, AREIS also is commonly used by community organizations, insurance companies, and the real estate industry.

The latest DVD, along with the CD-ROM version, mark the seventh year the county has released the software for public use. To date, more than 9,000 copies have been distributed to businesses and residents, according to Jerome German, the director of the real estate division in the auditor's office.

Mr. Oganessian scrolled through an aerial view of much of Toledo and parts of Lucas County displaying high-resolution images of buildings and neighborhoods that were projected on a screen.

Mr. German said the biggest improvement in the new software program is that it is now mapped on DVD technology, which "allows us to load more information in the program."

"We now have a tenfold increase in the size of the file," Mr. German said.

With the new AREIS, people will now be able to have a clear picture of a building or street because they can zoom in on it with an aerial view 300 feet from the object. The old version of the program could only show an aerial view from a 1,000-foot base, Mr. German noted.

"People can now access and get a better look at property here from anywhere," he said.

Both the DVD and CD version of the software, which cost $10 apiece, can be purchased from the county auditor's office.