Creating a Statewide Geocoding Service for West Virginia 2008 West Virginia GIS Conference

What is Geocoding? Geocoding is the process used to assign a spatial location to a standard street address. Geocoder /Geocoding Engine / Single Entry / Batch You type in: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV You get: 708 Sites Lane Moorefield, WV ` 57’ 15” W 39` 4’ 13” N

Sites Lane Spring Ave Lee St How Does it Work? Different geocoding engines use different methods. There are two approaches of geocoding an address; attribute matching and range matching. Many use a combination of both methods. Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV Moorefield

Sites Lane Spring Ave Lee St How Does it Work? Attribute matching: using part of the address or a combination of parts that match the entry to the database. Ex. Postal Location. Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV Moorefield Moorefield,

Sites Lane Spring Ave Lee St How Does it Work? Attribute Matching: Data Entry Integrity Check. Is there… > Moorfield in West Virginia? > Yes >Does Zipcode match Moorfield, WV ? Yes > Is there a Sites Lane within that Zipcode? (range match)> Does the Address Number fall in the Range? Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV 26836

How Does it Work? Range Matching: Geocoding using acute, attribute rich GIS data. I.E. Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV You get: 78` 57’ 15” W 39` 4’ 13” N 108 Sites Ln

How Does it Work? Attributed Street Data: Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV NameCityZipPrefixSuffixL FromL ToR FromR ToStreet ID SiteMoorfield26836Lane SiteMoorfield26836Lane

How Does it Work? Direct Matching: Geocoding using attributed point locations. Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV You get: 78` 57’ 15” W 39` 4’ 13” N 108 Sites Ln

What is Geocoding? Who Uses Geocoding? Almost EVERYONE! General Public – Driving Directions, Maps, Site location, GIS Data Input, etc… Other State Geocoding Programs: Ohio, Oregon, Texas, more… Agencies Interested: State Tax, State Historical and Preservation Office, others?

Why can’t we use the free one? Private Industry: Good:Autonomously Maintained Reference Dataset Ready-built Generally Current in Urban Areas Bad: Reoccurring Costs Data Integrity / Data Coverage Poor Rural Coverage Licensing Restrictions No coverage for RR addresses

Why can’t we use the free one? Even when it’s right, it’s still wrong.

Why can’t we use the free one? West Virginia Data: Good:Higher Accuracy Lower Overall Cost Distributed Benefits Long Term Stability Potential Greater Accuracy No Licensing Restrictions (Increase of Use) Bad:Startup Buy In Incomplete Data!!!

How Does it Work? Direct Matching: Geocoding using attributed point locations. Mailing Address: 708 Sites Ln Moorefield, WV You get: 78` 57’ 15” W 39` 4’ 13” N 108 Sites Ln

Questions? WV GIS Technical Center 2008 West Virginia GIS Conference