Property Standard Index and data
Data is the strength of the Property Standard Index
The Queensland Department of Housing's Property Standard Index represents a break-through in objective management of large portfolios but the strength of the index is in the data on which it is based.
No model can ever be better than its under-lying data. In terms of comprehensiveness, consistency and accuracy, the data supporting the Property Standard Index model is excellent. The data was collected as part of a major property audit of all dwellings and buildings managed by the department.
More than 250 property inspectors were trained to rigorously audit and record up to 630 attributes of every dwelling. The data for each property was recorded on a series of specially developed 'mark sense' forms before being uploaded to the department's information system via a high speed scanning process. An improved digital end-to-end collection process is now under development.
A system ranking every attribute on a score of 0 - 10 (10 is perfect, 0 is immediate replacement) replaced the previous methodology based on Good, Fair or Poor ratings. The Good-Fair-Poor rating system was considered too 'grainy' to allow further accurate analysis.
Accurate estimates of foreseeable maintenance costs on every attribute were also collected. At least one digital photograph of every dwelling was also collected during the inspection.
A percentage of all returns submitted by every inspector was audited to ensure accuracy and consistency of data. All data received was validated on two levels: firstly, an intelligent scanning process ensured that all forms were complete and consistent; secondly, validation against existing data also ensured that consistency.
Property condition inspections are conducted at least every three years to update the data, ensuring accurate data is supporting decisions made based on the Property Standard Index.
The department has developed a wide range of experience from its Property Condition audit project and system, the data of which is collected through mobile computing technology.
Last updated 07 July 2005
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