What’s Geocoding?

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Geocoding is a method of distinguishing one type of geographic information from other geographic information. Using known locations, such as street addresses or property information, coordinates can be extrapolated. These coordinates can then be added to a global positioning or navigation system. Geocoding is vital to some types of modern emergency response systems and decentralized navigation platforms. Geocoding, however, has generated controversy over some methods of its use.

Geocoding generally works through two methods, interpolation and triangulation. An interpolated location is common when dealing with cities and addresses. If an address is required and the system already knows an address on both sides of the same street, it can use that information to find the requested location. Since the address numbers are a fixed distance apart and alternate along the way, the program simply calculates how many numbers the required address is from the known addresses. This is why many global positioning systems (GPS) specifically target intersections.

Interpolation is common in emergency response systems. These systems know the caller’s address from the computer system. The address is then entered into a geocoding system where other known addresses are used to find its coordinates. This information is then fed into a navigation system which sends the emergency crew where they need to go. Cell phones use reverse geocoding – you provide coordinates and the software finds your location.

The second common method is triangulation. This method is typically used in locations where there are no linear connection points. In this case, the exact location is determined through other nearby points. The software takes nearby known coordinates and triangulates the location of the new point. The more nearby places the system knows about, the more accurate the results.

Triangulation-based geocoding is a common feature in most portable GPS receivers. These systems use the chip inside the unit to find the base coordinates. These coordinates are then verified using a triangulation of other known coordinates in the area. This form of geocoding also works well when planning wilderness trips, as coordinates can be identified before entering the area allowing for easier navigation to a desired destination.

Geocoding, especially interpolation, allows users to obtain a surprising amount of personal information. Using these systems, combined with other open databases, it becomes possible to trace a person quite easily. This is especially common for people who have committed crimes that require local registration. As a result, several watchdog groups believe that geocoding, and many other geographic systems, invade people’s privacy and need tougher regulation.

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