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Geocoding & Location Intelligence
Say hello to “X marks the spot” geocoding & location accuracy
Melissa's geocoding solution convert addresses into geocodes (latitude and longitude coordinates), which you can use to place markers on a map or position the map. We offer precise rooftop geocodes for 95% of all physical addresses in the UK, as well as 240+ countries around the world. Our unique address parsing and matching algorithms help our geocoding service fix spelling errors and complete addresses that have missing or invalid components to provide more precise results. In addition to rooftop (highly precise) geocoding, we have other levels of accuracy to meet every need and budget.
- Get precise, plotted coordinates to improve logistics and decrease shipping costs
- Power retail store location and local search lookups to increase customer satisfaction and ease of shopping
- Get real-time geocoding in 240+ countries around the world to power more effective business intelligence
- Convert lat/long coordinates to a physical street address (reverse geocoding)
After being underwhelmed with Google and Bing, we found Melissa’s Geopoints solution. The accuracy is unmatched and the support is outstanding.
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Try Melissa's Geocoding API
Melissa’s Geocoding solution converts addresses and postcodes into coordinates at the Rooftop level.
2 Levels of Geocoding Accuracy: Rooftop and Postcode
Melissa’s geocoding provides latitude and longitude geographic coordinates, census tract and house/premises numbers, as well as county name and city name.
1. Rooftop Level Geocoding
+Melissa’s Rooftop Level Geocoding translates addresses into latitude and longitude coordinates to know exactly where they are, on a map, in a neighbourhood. As the highest level of geocoding available, the accuracy literally comes down to your customer’s front door. The ideal solution for insurance and tax jurisdictions, risk exposure analysis, and delivery routing, Rooftop Level Geocoding is the most precise you can get.
So, how do we do it? Accurate geocoding algorithms are the key to location intelligence. Because address databases are often filled with errors, typos, and inconsistencies, it’s sometimes difficult to match stored data with actual coordinates. Melissa combs through over 30 million individual addresses in the UK and utilises precise mathematical location algorithms and street shape maps to select the best recorded point. Melissa’s Geocoding solution incorporates data from multiple sources, including spatial data, navigational data, and census data. All sources are evaluated and intelligently merged to produce the most precise coordinates possible.
2. Postcode Geocoding
+A broader range to Melissa's geocoding solution is Postcode level, which can show you the geographical area and city boundaries. Postcodes at this level are mainly used for Royal Mail, USPS and other mailing facility sorting, but it can also help you see the general area where your customers are located to plan local or geographic-based marketing campaigns. With postal level geocoding, you will see coordinates usually within a few miles.
International Geocoding
Melissa offers accurate address geocoding for over 240+ countries worldwide. The output points can be visualized on a map, inserted as stops for a route, or loaded as input for spatial analysis. Because addresses around the world are not all the same, the best way to ensure you’re getting reliable geocodes is to utilise Melissa address verification at the same time to ensure your data is accurate and the addresses are real. Click here for a list of all supported countries
Reverse Geocoding
Reverse geocoding works like regular geocoding—but it takes latitude and longitude and converts it to a mapped address. Image you have a GPS signal with latitude and longitude coordinates, and you want information about the place represented at this address. Imagine that with this information, you get the latest address data, accurate geocodes and specific location facts like house number, city, county, postcode and more.
- Translate GPS signals into exact addresses for location-based services, applications, and precise vehicle tracking
- Expedite emergency and relief efforts by knowing exactly where to send help
- Push real-time, geo-targeted marketing messages to mobile audiences who are ready to buy now
Street Route – Driving Distance Calculation
Melissa’s Street Route API is an easy-to-use developer tool that takes two latitude/longitude coordinates (or a batch of points) and returns the driving distance and total driving time between them. Street Route is useful for determining emergency response and disaster relief planning.
- Create a “Find the Nearest Location” tool. Using a database of “known/owner destinations”, Street Route can compare a starting point location to the database to return all the route distances and drive times to the possible destinations which can then be queried to present the shortest distance or travel time.
- Determine geolocations which cannot be reached by vehicle travel. This is helpful in determining latitude/longitude coordinates located on islands or rural off road residences and differentiates Street Route from competing tools that return “as the crow flies” distances.
- Support for North America, South America, Europe and other regions/countries coming soon.
The Benefits of Geocoding Addresses with Melissa
Batch Append & Point of Entry
Gain precise geocodes for 95% of all UK address and 240+ countries around the world at the point of entry or batch append to existing records for database enrichment.
Optimise Routes
Create the most efficient routes for resource planning, driving deliveries and accurate arrival time for improved customer experience, distribution, and logistics.
Map Locations
Map out store networks, jurisdictions, risk exposure, event locations and more for accurate analysis, reporting and business processes.
Predictive Shipping
Power your ecommerce platform by enabling predictive shipping and delivery by calculating the shopper’s precise distance from distribution points or warehouses.
Make the Most of Your Customer Data
Melissa's data enrichment services add valuable elements and insight to your current datasets like geographic, IP location, demographic, and firmographic data. When you get more out of it, you can do more with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Geocoding is the process of converting a textual address or description into geographic coordinates, typically latitude and longitude. It involves taking a location identifier, such as a street address, postal code, or place name, and transforming it into a specific geographic point on the Earth's surface. Geocoding allows locations to be identified and mapped accurately on a digital map or a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Rooftop geocoding is a method used in geospatial analysis and mapping to determine the precise geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of a specific rooftop or building address. Traditional geocoding methods typically assign coordinates to the center point of a given address, which can be a problem when the address covers a large area, such as a building complex or a sprawling property.
In rooftop geocoding, the aim is to pinpoint the exact location on the rooftop of a building or structure associated with a specific address. This level of precision is particularly useful in applications that require accurate spatial information, such as emergency response, logistics, navigation, or targeted marketing.
Rooftop geocoding can enhance the accuracy and reliability of location-based services by ensuring that the coordinates provided align with the intended destination on a building or rooftop, rather than a generalised location within the address area.
The geocoding process uses various data sources, such as address databases, street maps, and reference data, to match the input location information with known geographic coordinates. These data sources often contain information about the spatial boundaries of regions, streets, landmarks, and other relevant features. By analysing and comparing the input information against these sources, geocoding algorithms determine the most probable geographic coordinates associated with the given location description.
Geocoding has numerous applications across different fields. It is widely used in mapping and navigation systems, as well as in location-based services, such as ride-sharing apps, food delivery services, and real estate applications. Geocoding also plays a crucial role in spatial analysis, urban planning, emergency response, and business operations that rely on accurate location information.
A Geocoding API can work in various ways, here 5 examples
- API Request: The developer constructs an HTTP request to the Geocoding API endpoint, specifying the address or location information they want to geocode. This request is typically made using the HTTP GET or POST method and includes parameters such as the address, API key (if required), and any additional options or filters.
- API Communication: The client application sends the API request to the Geocoding API server using the appropriate URL and endpoint. The API server receives the request and validates it, checking for required parameters and authentication if an API key is necessary.
- Geocoding Process: The Geocoding API server processes the request by applying its geocoding algorithms and accessing its geospatial databases. The server attempts to match the provided address or location information with the available data sources to find the most accurate geographic coordinates.
- Geocoding Results: Once the geocoding process is complete, the Geocoding API server generates a response containing the geocoded results. This response is typically formatted in a machine-readable format like JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) or XML (extensible Markup Language). The response includes the latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the input location, along with additional information such as the formatted address, administrative boundaries, and possibly other metadata.
- API Response: The Geocoding API server sends the geocoding response back to the client application as an HTTP response. The client application can then parse and extract the relevant information from the response to use it in their application as needed.
Geocoding plays a crucial role in address verification by converting a textual address into geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). By associating precise coordinates with an address, geocoding enables various address verification techniques and enhances the accuracy of the verification process.
This includes providing geographical context, enabling validation, standardisation, distance calculations, and facilitating fraud detection. It helps ensure that addresses are accurate, valid, and exist in the expected locations, contributing to reliable and effective address verification systems.
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