Geocoding software converts addresses into map points by matching entries in a map attribute database and an address database. The software requires address standardization and can use various methods to determine an address’s location on a map.
Geocoding software is a type of computer application that combines street addresses with map information to provide a unique location for each address. It essentially converts a list of addresses into points on a map. Most geographic information system (GIS) software includes some basic geocoding features, but there is also separate geocoding software available. Some geocoding software can also geocode without a mapping session by linking addresses in a database to street attributes in the database for the source map.
The type of map used in geocoding can vary depending on the scale and level of detail needed; maps may include those of parcels of land, postcodes or districts. Typically, a street-level map is used to get the most accurate results. The source map will need a database that includes certain attributes for the features on the map. A street map database, for example, might list the street names and the range of addresses on each street. Having accurate map data is essential for reliable address interpolation.
For geocoding software to work, it requires address standardization. A computer program may not recognize that “St.” is short for “street” in an address, for example, so the address “123 Main St.” would not be found as a match for “123 Main Street”. All address records in the database must use the same capitalization and abbreviation rules. Web sites that provide directions for addresses typically have a feature that allows them to interpret addresses that aren’t entered in the standard format.
Geocoding software will break the addresses into individual components. In the United States and many other countries, an address can usually be broken down into the following components: area code or suffix direction, area code type, address number, street name, street type, and zip code. For example, in the address 692 Hwy 31 N, “692” is the address number, “Hwy” is the prefix type, “31” is the street name, and “N” is the direction suffix. The software will split all the addresses in the database like this.
After the map attribute database and address database have been fed into the geocoding software, application processes can attempt to match each address to a location on the map. It merges the two together by matching entries in each database, and some software will give a score for how close of a match it finds for each address. The address database will be labeled with the corresponding map coordinate, usually latitude and longitude, from the map database.
There are several methods by which the software determines where to place an address on a street map. One common way is the one-range method, where each street is assigned a single range of address numbers. The application will then test an address to see if it falls within the specified number range for that street. If so, the point for the address location is placed on the street proportional to its value between the endpoints of the street range. For example, if a street has an address range of 500 to 599, the address number 550 will be approximately halfway between the street’s endpoints on the map.
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