First Strata identifies land potential using Beacon Dodsworth’s GIS and people classification
The challenge
Land acquisition specialist, First Strata, wanted to understand the geodemographic profile that surrounds the various sites that they acquire in order to build a greater understanding of the lands’ speculative potential.
The solution
After researching a number of mapping systems and geodemographic software, First Strata chose Beacon Dodsworth’s mapping GIS, Prospex.
With this software, they map and analyse the areas that surround the land they are looking to acquire, identifying various trend patterns that may be apparent using raw Census data. This allows them to profile the site itself and place a speculative value on it that will relate specifically to the nature of the land in question.
In order to further enhance and develop their profiling and analysis, First Strata has just started using, P² People & Places, a comprehensive people classification, developed by Beacon Dodsworth, that uses 2001 Census data, TGI data and geography to classify people by where they live.
Every postcode in the UK has a P² classification associated with it which reveals what characteristics people who live there are likely to have.
The benefits
Using P² People & Places within Prospex will give First Strata a comprehensive site profiling system which will allow them to be more accurate in the identification of strategic hotspots and deliver a more clinical approach to land valuation.
Over the past two years Beacon Dodsworth has developed and amended the software to meet First Strata's needs. They have written macros to automate repetitive tasks, for example finding the nearest railway stations and cities to a site. Since developing the first macro, Beacon Dodsworth has modified it extensively to carry out the client's regular tasks automatically, saving them time and effort.
Contact us for further details on our mapping software and people classification.