Tractbuilder

TractBuilder is a Geographic Information System (GIS) software and services company, based in The Woodlands, TX. TractBuilder is best known for its unique tools used to map legal descriptions in ArcMap. Using the TractBuilder Tools for ArcGIS users can efficiently map lines and polygons according to quartering/aliquot and metes & bounds descriptions. TractBuilder also offers GIS drafting services, custom ArcGIS programming, and web portal design.

Products
TractBuilder Tools for ArcView increase the efficiency and accuracy for creating GIS features based on metes & bounds descriptions and Public Land Survey System (PLSS) aliquots, commonly known as quartering descriptions.

At least 30 of the western and southern states in the United States use what is known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The PLSS divides the surface of the earth into thirty-six square mile areas called townships that are further broken into sections that are one square mile each.

The remaining areas use metes & bounds descriptions to describe areas of land. A metes & bounds description typically includes direction/bearing calls, but may contain XY points and curve calls. Since metes & bounds legal description are found in a variety of formats, converting them to GIS features can be challenging without the right tools.

Metes & Bounds Tool
The TractBuilder Metes & Bounds Tool simplifies the process of drafting mapping features based on metes & bounds legal descriptions. If you have ever mapped this type of legal description then you will appreciate the amount of time that the TractBuilder tools will save you. There are multiple ways of taking a written legal description and importing it into a mapping system. The method you use will depend on your skill level and the complexity of the legal description. In some cases, you will be able to copy and paste the legal description into the tool and identify the starting point and you will be done. In others cases, particularly very simple tracts, you will enter the short hand for the few calls and be done.

Point of Beginning & Calls
A metes & bounds legal description is comprised of a two elements that are important for drafting purposes. The first is the point of beginning, which as it sounds is where the legal description begins describing the area. The second is the calls. The calls are a list of statements that walk the boundary of the area of land that is being described.

There are three types of calls: direction/bearing, XY, and curve. A direction bearing call describes a side of the tract by specifying a direction (north or south), an angle, a bearing (east or west), and a distance. For example. Thence north 34.2342 east a distance of 430.34 feet. An XY call identifies a specific location on the earth that when combined with the end point of the previous call defines a side of a tract. It is becoming more common for surveyors to supply lists of points to describe a tract of land. XY calls can be in different coordinate systems, including Lon/Lat, State Plane, and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). A curve call describes a non-linear side of a tract based on the arc of a circle. There are multiple formats a curve call may have; however, all must specify enough information to determine the radius of the curve, the direction of the curve, and the distance along the curve that describes the side of the tract. Curve calls are the most complex and often present challenges to novices in the field. TractBuilder's Metes & Bounds Tool takes away the challenges by offering wizard based entry for those times you forget how to enter curve call information.

Legal Description Entry
There are three basic methods of converting a metes and bounds legal description into a GIS feature: AutoTranslatation, Wizard Entry, and Shorthand Entry.

AutoTranslation
Many times you will be provide with an electronic version of a legal description or one will be available to you through the use of OCR. In those situations, drafting the metes and bounds feature will involve specifying the starting position and then copying the legal description into the TractBuilder Metes & Bounds Tool and pressing Translate.

The Metes & Bounds Tool can handle a variety of legal descriptions, but in some cases it cannot decipher parts of a legal description. If that does happen, the tool will inform you of the areas in the legal description that need review. Generally the AutoTranslation achieves 80-90% conversion rates

Wizard Entry
In situations where AutoTranslation is not possible, Wizard Entry will allow even novices to enter the metes and bounds calls to draft the tract. The Wizard Entry method allows the user to select the type of call and be prompted for the required information. As the Wizard Entry is used the tool shows the shorthand format for the entered call to train the user how to use the faster shorthand entry method.

Shorthand Entry
The Shorthand Entry option allows the user to enter freeform data into the tool that defines the calls in the metes and bounds description. The result is the same as the Wizard Entry except that user can more quickly enter data since only keyboard interaction is required

Quartering Tool
The TractBuilder Quartering Tool enables you to create GIS features based on Public Land Survey System (PLSS) aliquots. Instead of using an imaginary land grid that does not match real world conditions, the TractBuilder Quartering Tool builds the resulting feature from nearly any section basemap, including those available with the TractBuilder Live online data service. Since the Quartering Tool can use your existing data, you are unlikely to have any misalignment issues due to conflicting data sources.

Description Types Going above and beyond, the TractBuilder Quartering Tool supports descriptions based on:

1. Common aliquots, such as North Half (N2) or Northwest Quarter (NW4)

2. Diagonal halves, such as Northeast Half (NE2)

3. Specified distance from one side, such as the East 700 Feet (E700 Feet)

4. Specified area on one side, such as the East 250 Acres (E250 Acres)

5. Less statements that exclude areas based on any of the above call types, such as ALL LESS E250 Acres.

Attribute Value Entry TractBuilder understands from our experience that there is more to getting a feature into a mapping system than simply getting the polygon outline created. That is why the Quartering Tool provides a simple and easy means for entering in attribute information for the feature being created, completely eliminating the steps and time required to use another tool to finish the task.

Simply click on the Attributes tab and supply the values prior to creating the feature. It's that easy.