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Geocoding is the process of converting a postal address or textual description of a location into geographic coordinates, typically latitude and longitude. Here’s how it works:

Steps in Geocoding

1. Input Address:

   • The user provides an address, which can include details like street name, city, state, and postal code. This input serves as the starting point for geocoding.

2. Address Normalization:

   • The address is standardized to conform to postal service formats (e.g., USPS standards in the U.S.). This involves correcting spelling errors, abbreviations, and formatting inconsistencies to ensure compatibility with official databases.

3. Address Validation:

   • The normalized address is checked against official databases (e.g., USPS or GNIS in the U.S.) to ensure it exists and is deliverable. This step helps eliminate errors and ensures accuracy.

4. Matching with Geocoding Data:

   • The geocoding engine parses the address into components (e.g., street name, number, city) and searches for matching records in its database. This database may include street networks, postal codes, landmarks, and administrative boundaries.

5. Address Interpolation:

   • If the exact location isn’t available, interpolation is used. For example, if a street segment has known coordinates for house numbers 100 and 200, the geocoding engine estimates the position of house number 150 based on its relative position within that range.

6. Output Coordinates:

   • The geocoding engine returns latitude and longitude values corresponding to the address. These coordinates can represent varying levels of precision:

     • Rooftop level: Exact location within property boundaries.

     • Street level: Approximate location along a street segment.

     • Neighborhood or community level: Broader areas like ZIP code centroids.

Key Components

• Geocoding Engines: Software tools or APIs (e.g., Google Maps Geocoding API) that perform the conversion using algorithms and extensive geographic databases.

• Data Sources: Databases containing information about streets, postal codes, landmarks, and administrative areas.

• Accuracy Levels: Precision varies depending on data availability; rooftop-level geocoding is most accurate while community-level geocoding is less precise.

Geocoding is widely used in mapping applications, navigation systems, tax compliance, logistics planning, and spatial analysis tasks.