New Online Mapping Tool Opens Doors to Data

"In the Internet age, the data that is available can be overwhelming. It is often dispersed across a multitude of sites and can be difficult and time consuming to decipher," said Jeremy Nowak, President of TRF. "With PolicyMap, we have an interactive mapping tool that brings thousands of indicators to your fingertips. It used to take days and an expertise in GIS mapping software to create even basic demographic maps. With PolicyMap, you can do this in minutes."

PolicyMap offers more than 4,000 indicators related to demographics, real estate markets, crime, schools, housing affordability, employment, energy, and public investments. PolicyMap aggregates indicators from a variety of sources including U.S. Census, Claritas, FBI, IRS, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and Boxwood Means (a value-added reseller of home sale data). PolicyMap compiles and scrubs the data to ensure that it is reliable and accurate. Every data variable comes with simple, easy-to-understand descriptions and precise technical definitions.

PolicyMap users can access the data through maps, reports, charts, and tables -- all of which can be saved and printed. PolicyMap users can:

    -- Create reports based on a specified radius of a location or a
       custom-drawn region.
    -- Upload and map their own data and share as appropriate.
    -- Save custom regions, reports, maps and tables, and email them or print
       them as JPG or PDF files for use in reports and presentations.
    -- Access online tutorials and live online training sessions.

"The goal of PolicyMap is to make it easy to gather and analyze credible data that policy makers, foundations and investors need to make decisions," said Maggie McCullough, Director of PolicyMap. "PolicyMap's online mapping tool is available to anyone with Internet access and is viewable on any standard browser without requiring any additional software or plug-ins."

PolicyMap's basic service is available to the general public for free. Users can also select from various subscriber levels to access proprietary data and projections, upload their own data, and use additional features.

Subscriptions start at $200 per month for a single standard subscriber or $5,000 per year for a single premium subscriber.

PolicyMap uses Pushpin(TM) technology, a leading platform for professional web applications in mapping, business geographics, and location-based services. Pushpin was developed by Placebase, Inc. (http://www.placebase.com/), a leader in online mapping that creates a hosted platform offering highly sophisticated interactive web tools in ordinary Web browsers. Pushpin's advanced capabilities include availability of large numbers of map layers on tap, display of thousands of markers rather than dozens, and dynamic rendering of shaded thematic maps reflecting thousands of data variables. The technology enables PolicyMap to provide thematic maps that are extremely clear, highly fluid and draggable, allowing users to slide across geographies using their mouse.

About PolicyMap

PolicyMap is an online mapping tool that makes it quick and easy to gather and analyze geocentric information. PolicyMap is a service of The Reinvestment Fund and is online at http://www.policymap.com.

About TRF

The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) is a national innovator in capitalizing distressed communities and stimulating economic growth for low- and moderate-income families. TRF identifies the point of impact where capital can deliver its greatest financial and social influence. TRF's investments in homes, schools and businesses reclaim and transform neighborhoods, driving economic growth and improving lives throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Since its inception in 1985, TRF has made over $700 million in community investments.

TRF is nationally recognized for its research and housing-related policy analysis. TRF's data analysis focuses both on helping TRF identify opportunities to invest its own resources as well as providing services to public sector and private clients seeking assistance with their strategies to preserve and rebuild vulnerable communities. To learn more about TRF, visit http://www.trfund.com.

Jeff Rechler

215-564-3200 x118

jrechler@braithwaitepr.com

SOURCE The Reinvestment Fund

Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Tags: Real Estate, Building and Construction, Banking and Finance, Internet, Computers and Electronics, High Tech, pennsylvania

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