What is GIS & Geocoding?

Geocoding can be defined as giving specific geographic indicators to information records. An example of data that could be subject to geocoding is postal addresses. In addition to this, various other forms of media can be geocoded as well. Once the information is recorded it can be mapped and used with GIS, or Geographic Information Systems. The geocoder is a system that will facilitate this procedure. The most basic process for geocoding is to record information that is related to addresses. It will use data that is gathered from Geographic Information Systems that are connected to streets, and each portion of the street will be given a certain address indicator. For instance, one address indicator may be the apartment number, while another address indicator could be a block. Once this information has been collected, the Geocoding system will process data that is related to its position. There are a number of difficulties that can occur when a geocoding system is being used. First, it is easy for the system to become confused if two addresses are similar. Adding an "East" or "West" to addresses which would otherwise be identical could cause the system to become confused. It is also challenging to geocode new addresses which are not already stored in the central database. It is also important to realize that various cities may have street names and addresses that are similar, and this can cause problems for systems that do not list the names of the cities. In large cities such as Los Angeles or New York, there may be multiple streets which have the same name. Perhaps one of the biggest problems with geocoding is many systems are designed to assume that odd and even numbers are on opposite sides of the street, when this may not always be the case. A number of companies make errors when they rate the accuracy levels of their products. There have been a number of cases where these ratings have been found to be quite inaccurate. If applications such as food delivery services are not being used, it may be a good idea for companies to avoid data that is interpolated. Depending on the organization, interpolation can lead to serious problems if it is used with their geocoding procedures. An example of organizations that should not use interpolated data are police stations and 911 centers. Interpolation should never be used in situations where a high degree of precision is required. An example of this would be finding a target for a missile or building a construction site that is near a gas main. It is important to realize that geocoding and GIS can be used for more than simply listing street addresses. It can be used in any situation where a specific point needs to be found on a piece of land. While this would not be a problem in most urban areas, it would become useful in rural environments that have not been mapped or added into the database. Geocoding is also good for situations where traffic accidents occur. In a situation like this, gecoding will be used to map the midpoint or intersection where the incident took place. There are a number of countries that use what are called mile markers on their highway systems. Mile markers will allow emergency management teams to respond to emergencies within a short period of time. However, geocoding is a technology that is not without controversy. The biggest controversy that surrounds geocoding is the issues of privacy. For example, when geocoding is use to map places where crimes occur, police departments can control the privacy of those involved, and they can also have an effect on the public perception of the crime. If the street address of the incident is revealed, this will allow the identity of the victim to possibly be compromised. It should also be noted that mapping incidents of various crimes have been uploaded to the Internet, but many organizations are now using disclaimers and terms of service for those who wish to use the information. There are a number of prominent organizations that use geocoding on a regular basis. When an address locations is listed with a geocoding system, it will almost always come in the form of a point. However, it is important to realize that this is not entirely accurate, because the physical address will be distributed across a specific area, and this area could be large. It might be better to list addresses has a two dimensional polygon, and if the structure covers more than one street, it may be necessary for it to be three dimensional in shape. Geocoding is frequently used with the United States Census, and it may also be utilized by military organizations. While there is a bit of controversy that surrounds it, geocoding has become an important tool of government agencies and companies. Geocoding is an important tool for companies that deliver pizzas. To insure that the pizza is delivered within a short period of time, geocoding can help drivers find the location of the customers, and this combined with GPS will allow drivers to reach their destinations within a short period of time. Geocoding is important for the military because precision must be used when missiles are launched. Without geocoding, missiles may either miss their target or hit structures that were not intended. This can have horrific consequences. Geocoding is a critical tool for fire stations, police departments, and hospitals. In an emergency, drivers must know the quickest routes to their destinations, and they must be able to reach them within the shortest time span possible. A failure to do so can lead to lives being lost. However, it is easy to see that this technology can be abused. Companies or individuals could pay to get access to this information, and could use it to further their own goals. It is also easy for people to have their privacy rights violated. Geocoding is a power technological tool, and like any tool, it can be abused. Companies and organizations that have access to sensitive information must use descretion when handling it.