Latest Contributions by BillFox

How does ESRI manage parcel fabric and their indoors product as far as an Assessor office is concerned for parcels and taxes From Grok: ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric for Assessors Offices ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric is a specialized GIS framework designed for managing, editing, and sharing parcel data, which is particularly valuable for assessors offices in handling parcels and property taxes.  It serves as a digital system of record for land information, enabling accurate mapping and maintenance of cadastral data that directly supports property assessment, valuation, and taxation processes. Key Management Aspects: Data Model and Inventory: Parcel Fabric uses a record-driven approach, organizing parcel data based on original legal documents such as deeds, plats, surveys, and plans. This allows assessors to create and maintain an inventory of tax parcels from record information, ensuring that parcel boundaries, ownership, and attributes  (e.g., land rights, restrictions, and responsibilities like taxation)  are accurately represented.  For instance, it supports the creation of tax parcels, historic parcels, and integration with systems like the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) for comprehensive land records. Workflows and Editing:  It provides configurable, quality-driven workflows in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise for efficient editing. Assessors can use tools to evaluate data quality, fix issues, and perform tasks like parcel creation, splitting, merging, or adjusting boundaries based on new surveys. This minimizes errors in parcel mapping, which is critical for fair tax assessments.  Features like least-squares adjustment ensure spatial accuracy, and the system preserves relationships between lines, points, and polygons for streamlined maintenance.     Integration with Taxation Processes: Parcel Fabric integrates with ESRI’s Tax Parcel Data Management solution, which helps develop and share tax parcel inventories with stakeholders.  It supports visualization of parcel information in 2D and 3D (via floor-aware capabilities), aiding in property value analysis, sales ratio studies, and neighborhood pattern identification for equitable assessments.  For example, assessors can map property characteristics, analyze values, and generate basemaps for public notification or tax reverted properties.  This has been applied in real-world cases, such as the South Dakota Department of Revenue using it to modernize property tax assessments and build public trust through accurate records. Scalability and Accessibility:  As part of the ArcGIS platform, it’s scalable for multi-user environments and supports role-based access. Licensing requires ArcGIS Pro with advanced editing extensions, and it can handle right-of-way, easements, and other land records relevant to taxation. Overall, Parcel Fabric enhances efficiency by digitizing workflows, reducing manual errors, and ensuring data integrity, which directly impacts the accuracy of tax rolls and assessments. ESRI’s ArcGIS Indoors for Assessors Offices ArcGIS Indoors is primarily an indoor mapping and space management software focused on creating digital twins of buildings for wayfinding, space planning, and asset management.  Its direct application to Assessor offices for parcels and taxes is less emphasized in available resources compared to Parcel Fabric, as it targets indoor environments rather than outdoor parcel boundaries.  However, it can indirectly support assessment activities by providing detailed spatial data on building interiors, which may factor into property valuations and taxation. Key Management Aspects: Indoor Data Management: Indoors combines CAD, BIM, and GIS data into a unified system for visualizing and managing indoor spaces, such as floors, rooms, and assets within buildings.  For assessors, this could help in evaluating interior property characteristics  (e.g., square footage, usage types, or improvements)  that influences taxable value, especially for commercial or multi-unit parcels.     Relevant Features for Assessments:  It supports location discovery, room reservations, and real-time navigation via integrations like ArcGIS IPS (Indoor Positioning System)  and ArcGIS Field Maps for inspections and data collection.  Assessors might use these for on-site verifications of building details, submitting service requests via ArcGIS Survey123, or analyzing space utilization to inform valuation models.  The software’s three license levels (Pro, Maps, Spaces) offer progressive capabilities for data integration and planning. Connection to Parcels and Taxes: While not explicitly designed for tax purposes, Indoors can integrate with broader ArcGIS tools like Parcel Fabric’s floor-aware features to extend parcel data into 3D indoor models. This might aid in holistic property assessments by linking outdoor parcel boundaries to indoor spaces, helping identify taxable features like additional floors or renovations.  However, specific examples for assessors’ tax workflows are limited;  it’s more commonly used in facilities management,  but could enhance parcel value analysis by providing enriched indoor data for properties on tax parcels. In summary, while Parcel Fabric is core to parcel and tax management for assessors, ArcGIS Indoors plays a supporting role by enabling detailed indoor assessments that could inform taxation, though its primary focus is on space optimization rather than direct fiscal applications. For integrated use, assessors often combine it with other ArcGIS solutions for comprehensive property insights.     Why would anyone want to have duplicate parcel layers for example condominiums that have more than one floor and wanting to be represented in true 3-D In GIS systems like ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, duplicating parcel layers—often referred to as creating strata parcels— is a deliberate technique used to model multi-floor structures such as condominiums in true 3D. This approach involves replicating the base parcel geometry  (e.g., the building footprint) multiple times, with each duplicate representing a distinct vertical layer or stratum (floor level). The duplicates can share the same Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) but include additional attributes for elevation, height, or floor-specific details to enable stacking in a 3D environment. Here’s why this is desirable, particularly from the perspective of assessors’ offices managing parcels and taxes: 1. Accurate Representation of Vertical Ownership and Legal Divisions Condominiums and similar multi-unit buildings often involve “air rights” or vertical subdivisions where individual units on different floors are owned separately.  A single 2D parcel layer can’t capture this;  duplicating layers allows each floor or unit to be treated as a distinct parcel entity with its own boundaries, attributes (e.g., unit number, floor elevation),  and legal descriptions based on deeds or surveys.  This ensures the GIS data aligns with real-world property rights,  preventing overlaps or ambiguities in ownership records. For assessors, this is crucial for maintaining an accurate cadastral system, as it supports the creation of “strata parcels” that reflect how condos are legally subdivided  (e.g., common areas vs. private units), making it easier to handle transfers, disputes, or updates. 2. Enabling True 3D Visualization and Analysis Duplicate layers facilitate extrusion and stacking in 3D models, turning flat 2D polygons into volumetric representations with depth.  This “true 3D” view is essential for urban planning, emergency response, or infrastructure projects, where understanding the vertical structure of a building  (e.g., how floors align or interact) matters.  Tools in ArcGIS Pro,  such as the Duplicate Parcels tool, allow users to specify the number of strata and whether to duplicate boundary lines,  preserving topological relationships while building a multi-level model. In practice, this means assessors can visualize and query parcels in 3D scenes,  identifying issues like encroachments or density that aren’t apparent in 2D. 3. Improved Property Valuation and Taxation Each duplicated layer can hold floor-specific data that influences tax assessments,  such as square footage, view quality, accessibility, or amenities  (e.g., a top-floor penthouse might be valued higher than a ground-floor unit due to elevation-based factors).  This granularity ensures equitable taxation by allowing individual unit valuations rather than lumping the entire building into one parcel. 2 3 For assessors’ offices, this supports detailed analysis like sales ratio studies or neighborhood comparisons, where vertical attributes play a role in determining taxable value. It also integrates with broader ArcGIS tools for generating tax rolls or public maps that show unit-level details. 4. Enhanced Data Management and Integration Duplicates maintain data integrity in multi-user environments by linking strata parcels to the original record-driven fabric,  ensuring updates (e.g., boundary adjustments)  propagate correctly without breaking relationships. This is particularly useful when combining  Parcel Fabric with ArcGIS Indoors for floor-aware indoor mapping,  creating a seamless transition from outdoor parcels to indoor spaces.       It simplifies workflows for handling complex properties,  like mixed-use buildings with retail on lower floors and residences above,  by allowing role-based editing and sharing via ArcGIS Enterprise. Overall, while it might seem redundant at first,  duplicating parcel layers for multi-floor condos  transforms GIS data from simplistic 2D maps into robust 3D models  that better serve legal, fiscal, and operational needs in assessors’ offices.  This approach is increasingly adopted as cities grow vertically and require more sophisticated land management systems. So to clarify, you can do that with a single parcel layer that the parcel fabric and our arcgis indoors can both use without duplicating in that sense is that correct? Yes, to clarify, it is possible to manage multi-floor condominium parcels,  including their 3D representation,  using a single parcel layer within ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric,  which can also be integrated with ArcGIS Indoors,  without necessarily duplicating the parcel layer in the sense of creating entirely separate layers for each floor.  Instead of duplicating layers,  you can use attributes and capabilities within a single Parcel Fabric layer , combined with floor-aware functionality,  to represent and manage vertical subdivisions like condominiums in true 3D.      Here’s how this works and why duplication may not always be required: 1. Single Parcel Layer with Floor-Aware Attributes in Parcel Fabric Parcel Fabric’s Structure: ArcGIS Parcel Fabric allows a single parcel layer to store all parcel data,  including multi-floor condominiums,  using a record-driven approach. Each parcel (e.g., a condo unit) can be represented as a polygon  within the same layer,  with attributes defining its vertical position  (e.g., floor number, elevation, or height). These attributes enable the layer to support 3D modeling  without needing separate layers for each floor. Strata Parcels in a Single Layer:  For condominiums, you can model strata parcels  (individual units on different floors)  within one layer by assigning unique identifiers  (e.g., APN suffixes or unit IDs)  and z-values (elevation data) to differentiate units vertically.  Tools like the Duplicate Parcels tool in ArcGIS Pro  can create these strata parcels within the same layer,  maintaining topological relationships  and avoiding the need for multiple layers. This keeps all condo units tied to a single parcel fabric dataset,  simplifying data management.       3D Enablement:  By enabling floor-aware capabilities in the Parcel Fabric, you can assign floor-specific attributes (e.g., Level ID, elevation ranges)  to parcels in the same layer. This allows ArcGIS Pro to extrude polygons  into 3D representations based on these attributes,  effectively modeling the vertical structure of a building  without duplicating the entire layer. 2. Integration with ArcGIS Indoors Shared Data Model: ArcGIS Indoors can work seamlessly with a floor-aware Parcel Fabric layer.  Indoors uses a similar approach by leveraging floor-aware maps and layers,  where indoor spaces (e.g., condo units, common areas)  are mapped with attributes like floor levels or z-coordinates.  The Parcel Fabric layer can feed directly into Indoors,  providing outdoor parcel boundaries that align with indoor unit data,  creating a unified 2D-to-3D dataset.     No Need for Separate Layers:  Indoors can reference the same parcel layer used in Parcel Fabric,  provided it includes floor-aware attributes.  For example,  a single parcel layer can store both the ground-level footprint and unit-specific data (e.g., unit boundaries on different floors),  which Indoors can then visualize as indoor maps with floor selectors. This integration avoids redundancy by maintaining a single source of truth for parcel data. Workflow Example:  An assessor’s office could use Parcel Fabric to manage the overall condo parcel and its strata units  (e.g., defining unit boundaries and tax attributes in one layer). ArcGIS Indoors can then use this layer to map interior details like room layouts or amenities, associating them with specific floors.  Both systems leverage the same dataset,  with Indoors handling detailed indoor spatial data  and Parcel Fabric managing cadastral and tax-related information. 3. Why Avoid Duplication? Data Integrity and Efficiency:  Using a single layer with floor-aware attributes  reduces the risk of data inconsistencies that could arise from managing multiple layers  (e.g., ensuring all duplicated layers stay synchronized).  It simplifies editing workflows,  as changes to the base parcel  or its attributes (e.g., ownership or boundary updates)  are made once  and reflected across all uses,  including 3D visualization and tax calculations. Simplified Taxation Workflows:  For assessors, a single layer with strata parcels  supports accurate valuation and taxation  by linking unit-specific attributes  (e.g., floor level, square footage, view quality)  to the tax roll  without needing separate layers.  This streamlines processes like generating tax assessments or public-facing maps.   Scalability:  A single layer is easier to manage in multi-user environments  via ArcGIS Enterprise,  supporting role-based access  and reducing storage or processing overhead compared to maintaining multiple layers. 4. When Might Duplication Still Occur? While a single layer is typically sufficient, some jurisdictions or workflows might still use “duplication” in a limited sense —such as creating stacked polygons  within the same layer for each floor’s units (strata parcels).  This isn’t duplicating the entire layer  but rather generating additional features within it  to represent vertical divisions.  This approach is still managed within one dataset  and avoids the complexity of separate layers.     In rare cases, if a jurisdiction requires entirely separate layers for legacy systems  or specific analytical purposes  (e.g., isolating floors for distinct workflows),  duplication might be used,  but this is less common and less efficient given modern floor-aware capabilities. Conclusion Yes, you can manage multi-floor condominiums in true 3D using a single parcel layer in ArcGIS Parcel Fabric,  which can be made floor-aware  and integrated with ArcGIS Indoors  for indoor mapping without duplicating layers. By leveraging attributes like  floor numbers,  z-values, or Level IDs,  both systems can use the same dataset to represent outdoor parcel boundaries  and indoor unit details,  ensuring data consistency  and streamlining workflows for assessors’ offices handling parcels and taxes.  This approach is more efficient and aligns with ESRI’s design for unified,  scalable GIS data management. Are both the parcel fabric and indoors fully 3-D so we do not have to rely on things like extrusion based on an attribute to visualize and interact in 3-D editing etc. Both ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Indoors support 3D capabilities,  but they are not “fully 3D”  in the sense of natively storing and managing true 3D geometries  (e.g., volumetric polyhedrons)  without some reliance on attributes  or extrusion for visualization and interaction. Instead, they primarily use 2D geometries with z-values  (z-enabled features)  and floor-aware attributes  to enable 3D visualization, editing,  and interaction, often requiring extrusion based on attributes like elevation or floor height for true 3D representation. Below, I clarify how each system handles 3D,  their capabilities,  and whether they meet the goal of avoiding attribute-based extrusion for visualization and editing. ArcGIS Parcel Fabric: 3D Capabilities ArcGIS Parcel Fabric is primarily designed for managing 2D cadastral data  but includes robust support for 3D visualization  and editing  through z-enabled features  and floor-aware capabilities,  particularly for structures like condominiums. However, it does rely on attributes for full 3D representation. Key Points: Z-Enabled Geometries:  Parcel Fabric supports z-enabled  point,  line,  and polygon features,  allowing parcels to store elevation or height values.      This means each feature  (e.g., a condo unit)  can have a z-coordinate to indicate its vertical position,  enabling 3D placement within a single layer. However, the geometries themselves are still fundamentally 2D  (e.g., polygons representing a parcel’s footprint)  with z-values attached. Floor-Aware Maps and Extrusion:  To visualize parcels in 3D  (e.g., stacked condo units),  Parcel Fabric relies on floor-aware maps in ArcGIS Pro,  where attributes like  floor number,  elevation, or height are used to extrude 2D polygons into 3D representations.  For example,  a condo unit’s polygon might use a “Level ID” or “Height” attribute  to define its vertical extent in a 3D scene.  This extrusion is necessary because Parcel Fabric does not natively store 3D volumetric geometries (e.g., true 3D polyhedrons).   3D Editing:  Editing in Parcel Fabric is primarily 2D-focused, with tools like the Duplicate Parcels tool creating stacked polygons  within a single layer for strata parcels  (e.g., condo units on different floors).      While you can edit z-values to adjust vertical positioning,  the editing process often involves manipulating 2D geometries  and their attributes  (e.g., updating elevation or floor height).  True 3D editing,  such as sculpting volumetric shapes,  is not supported natively; instead,  3D edits are achieved indirectly through attribute modifications  and extrusion in ArcGIS Pro’s 3D scenes. Limitations:  Parcel Fabric does not store or manage true 3D geometries  (e.g., polyhedral volumes) natively. It relies on attribute-driven extrusion for 3D visualization,  meaning you cannot avoid using attributes like elevation or height to achieve a 3D effect. For assessors, this is generally sufficient for tax-related tasks  (e.g., valuing condo units by floor), but it falls short of a fully 3D system  where parcels are inherently volumetric without extrusion. Practical Implication for Assessors: For an assessor’s office,  Parcel Fabric’s reliance on z-enabled 2D geometries  and attribute-based extrusion is typically adequate for managing parcels and taxes.  It supports accurate representation of vertical ownership  (e.g., condo units) and integrates with tax workflows, but true 3D editing or visualization requires setting up floor-aware attributes  and using ArcGIS Pro’s 3D rendering capabilities. ArcGIS Indoors:  3D Capabilities ArcGIS Indoors is designed for indoor mapping and space management,  with stronger 3D capabilities than Parcel Fabric due to its focus on indoor environments.  However, it similarly relies on floor-aware maps  and attribute-based extrusion  rather than native 3D volumetric geometries. Key Points: Floor-Aware Indoor Mapping: ArcGIS Indoors uses a data model where indoor spaces  (e.g., rooms, units, or corridors)  are stored as 2D polygons  with z-enabled attributes  (e.g., Level ID, elevation, or height).  These attributes allow Indoors to create floor-aware maps  that support 3D visualization by extruding 2D geometries  based on floor levels or height values. For example, a condo unit’s interior layout on the 5th floor can be visualized in 3D  by assigning it an elevation or Level ID, which ArcGIS Indoors uses to stack floors in a 3D scene.   Integration with BIM and CAD:  Indoors can integrate Building Information Modeling (BIM) data  (e.g., from Revit) or CAD files,  which often include detailed 3D information. While this allows for richer 3D visualization (e.g., walls, fixtures), the core Indoors data model still relies on 2D polygons  with z-values or floor attributes  for most GIS operations. BIM integration can provide a more volumetric appearance,  but the underlying data remains attribute-driven for 3D rendering. 3D Visualization and Interaction:  Indoors supports interactive 3D scenes in ArcGIS Pro  and web-based viewers (e.g., ArcGIS Online),  allowing users to navigate floors, visualize indoor spaces,  and interact with features like doors or assets.  However, the 3D effect is achieved through extrusion of 2D geometries based on attributes like floor height or elevation,  not by storing true 3D volumes.  For example,  a condo unit’s polygon is extruded to appear as a 3D box representing its vertical extent.   3D Editing:  Editing in ArcGIS Indoors is primarily done in 2D,  with tools to adjust polygons representing indoor spaces (e.g., room boundaries) and their associated attributes (e.g., Level ID or z-values). While you can modify z-values to adjust vertical positioning, true 3D editing  (e.g., manipulating volumetric shapes directly) is limited.  Instead, 3D edits are facilitated indirectly by updating attributes  or importing updated BIM/CAD data, which ArcGIS Pro then renders in 3D. Limitations: Like Parcel Fabric,  ArcGIS Indoors does not natively store or manage true 3D volumetric geometries.  It depends on attribute-based extrusion for 3D visualization and interaction,  meaning you cannot fully avoid reliance on attributes  like floor height or elevation to achieve 3D effects. Practical Implication for Assessors: For an assessor’s office,  ArcGIS Indoors complements Parcel Fabric by providing detailed indoor mapping  for properties like condominiums,  which can inform valuation  (e.g., assessing unit-specific features like floor level or amenities).  Its 3D capabilities are sufficient for visualizing and interacting with indoor spaces in 3D,  but these rely on extrusion and floor-aware attributes rather than native 3D geometries. Integration of Parcel Fabric and Indoors Unified Workflow: Both systems can share a single, floor-aware parcel layer  that supports 3D visualization and interaction.  Parcel Fabric handles the cadastral data  (e.g., parcel boundaries, ownership, tax attributes), while ArcGIS Indoors extends this to detailed indoor spaces  (e.g., unit layouts, common areas).  The layer uses z-enabled 2D geometries with attributes like Level ID or elevation to enable 3D rendering in both systems.   3D Dependency on Attributes:  The integration still relies on attribute-based extrusion for true 3D visualization. For example, a condo building’s parcel layer in Parcel Fabric  can include strata parcels  with floor attributes,  which Indoors uses to map and visualize indoor units in 3D. Both systems depend on these attributes to stack floors or extrude polygons,  as neither natively supports true 3D volumetric data  without external inputs like BIM. Can You Avoid Attribute-Based Extrusion? Short Answer:  No, both ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Indoors  rely on attribute-based extrusion for 3D visualization and interaction in their standard configurations. They use 2D geometries (polygons, lines, points) with z-values  and attributes like floor height or Level ID  to create 3D representations in ArcGIS Pro or web scenes.  True 3D volumetric geometries (e.g., polyhedrons)  are not natively supported in either system’s core data model.     Workaround with BIM: If you want to move closer to a “fully 3D” experience without heavy reliance on attribute-based extrusion,  you can integrate BIM data  (e.g., from Revit)  into ArcGIS Indoors or ArcGIS Pro. BIM models provide true 3D geometries  (e.g., volumetric representations of walls, floors, and units), which can be visualized and interacted with in 3D scenes.  However, even in this case: Parcel Fabric would still manage the cadastral data as z-enabled 2D geometries,  linking to BIM for visualization. Editing remains primarily 2D-focused in the GIS environment, with BIM updates typically handled outside ArcGIS  (e.g., in Revit) and re-imported. Future Considerations: ESRI is advancing its 3D capabilities, and future updates might reduce reliance on extrusion  by incorporating more native 3D geometry support.  However, as of the current system (August 2025), attribute-based extrusion remains standard.     Conclusion for Assessors Neither ArcGIS Parcel Fabric  nor ArcGIS Indoors  is “fully 3D”  in the sense of natively storing and managing true 3D volumetric geometries  without attribute-based extrusion.    Both rely on z-enabled 2D geometries and floor-aware attributes to achieve 3D visualization and interaction,  which is sufficient for most assessor office needs (e.g., managing condo parcels, valuing units, or mapping indoor spaces).   For a more volumetric 3D experience, integrating BIM data can enhance visualization, but editing and core data management still hinge on 2D geometries with attributes.    If avoiding extrusion entirely is a priority, you would need to rely on external 3D modeling tools  (e.g., Revit) and import results into ArcGIS, but this introduces additional complexity for assessors’ workflows.   ... 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what's the resolution of the source lidar data? ... View more

see some early 2008 GPS rabbit holes here Official U.S. government information about the Global Positioning System (GPS) and related topics  ( rabbit hole 1 ) (  rabbit hole 2 ) and the list of fields keeps on going as you include "Safe" field editing GPS options such as: Laser range finders: distance, angle, height, ... Underground infrastructure locating Drone flights / post processing Military Aviation Maritime Space NG911     ... View more

hello @analyzethis25  maybe this can help? Street Index Lookup Table in ArcGIS Pro  @AubriOtis  @LindaKuhn  @JesseWickizer  ... View more

maybe something in here can help nDSMs: How digital surface models and digital terrain models elevate your insights https://community.esri.com/t5/human-brain-webgis-questions/ndsms-how-digital-surface-models-and-digital/m-p/1635040#M76   ... View more

similar, https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-enterprise-questions/username-is-longer-than-20-characters/td-p/129448 https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-questions/failed-to-execute-rename/td-p/1003369   ... View more

still a thing, December 31, 1997 ArcInfo Librarian Coverage Layer of COGO parcel polygons converted to AutoCAD and maintain true curves  True Arcs, Geocoding and other musings  ... View more

@AmirBar-Maor ? https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-parcel-fabric-questions/creating-a-parcel-fabric-and-what-happens-to/td-p/1619991   ... View more