Overview:
The objective of this synthetic* case study was to identify and map the property titles associated with The University of Kent, as part of pre-site investigation activities efficiently and accurately. Leveraging the capabilities of Search Acumen’s commercial platform, we aimed to deliver comprehensive insights within a tight timeframe.
Step 1: Initial Search
The project commenced with the entry of the company name, “University of Kent,” into the system. The platform swiftly generated a list of 43 potential matches, demonstrating its robust search capabilities. Notably, the search did not require an exact match; instead, it identified close or partial matches.
Step 2: Title Retrieval
Upon selecting all the ‘University of Kent’ from the results, the system provided a comprehensive list of 36 titles linked to the university. Each entry included essential details such as;
- title number
- tenure
- address
- ownership information.
This immediate access to detailed data allowed us to efficiently cross-reference the results against the client’s project brief, ensuring all necessary titles were accounted for while identifying any discrepancies. It was at this stage we gave it a project name & matter number.
As part of the pre-site investigations, all the titles were pulled into our commercial project management workspace too and stored there, ready for the next stage of the project.
Step 3: Geographic Visualisation
With all relevant titles selected, we moved to the geographic visualisation phase within the platform. Here, every identified title was plotted on an interactive map, providing a complete spatial overview of The University of Kent’ property portfolio. This visualisation allowed us to zoom in and out to inspect specific titles in detail, or view the entire project area at a glance, offering an intuitive, layered perspective of the portfolio.
While not required for this project, the platform also supports additional data layers (ForeSite Mapping) that can be toggled on or off, adding flexibility to incorporate details like land use, planning applications, zoning, and infrastructure as needed. This functionality enables richer, data-driven insights when deeper context is beneficial, further enhancing project analysis and client reporting.
Step 4: Creating the Illustrative Map
After completing the map inspection, we proceeded to order the Illustrative Map. For this project, we included all titles within the designated polygons, but you have the flexibility to customise your selection. Simply tick or untick the boxes to include or exclude specific titles based on your requirements.
Step 5: Enhanced Client Collaboration
This powerful visualisation capability transformed what traditionally would have taken days or even weeks into a streamlined process completed in under an hour. The resulting maps not only provided a clear overview of the property holdings but also enhanced collaboration with the client, enabling us to present detailed snapshots of specific sites along with the overall portfolio.
Click here to see the Illustrative Map that was created as part of this pre-site investigation.
Additional Functionality:
The Illustrative Map feature includes advanced customisation options such as annotation, colouring, and shading of areas, allowing for further specification and relevance to the client’s unique requirements. Once the maps were generated, we were able to tailor the information to align closely with the project’s goals, ensuring a high level of detail and clarity for the client.
Conclusion:
By utilising Search Acumen’s advanced tools, we successfully delivered a thorough and visually engaging analysis of the University of Kent’s property titles in record time. This project exemplifies the efficiency and effectiveness of modern mapping and visualisation technologies in real estate investigations, driving better decision-making and facilitating enhanced client relationships.
