Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service

Introduction Geocoding converts street addresses to latitudes and longitudes and can be used to link spatial information to existing databases. Geocoding services universally designed for multiple countries do not always produce optimal results for Australian addresses and can be costly and difficul...

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Main Authors: Lan Kelly, Danielle Taylor, Jarrod Lange, Andrew Holton, Mark Armstrong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Swansea University 2020-12-01
Series:International Journal of Population Data Science
Online Access:https://ijpds.org/article/view/1564
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author Lan Kelly
Danielle Taylor
Jarrod Lange
Andrew Holton
Mark Armstrong
author_facet Lan Kelly
Danielle Taylor
Jarrod Lange
Andrew Holton
Mark Armstrong
author_sort Lan Kelly
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Geocoding converts street addresses to latitudes and longitudes and can be used to link spatial information to existing databases. Geocoding services universally designed for multiple countries do not always produce optimal results for Australian addresses and can be costly and difficult to use without specific knowledge/experience. Limited matching information is often provided, making it difficult to assess geocoding accuracy. Objectives and Approach New technology was required for address geocoding due to limitations of current geocoding methods such as a failure to incorporate the structure of Australian addresses. Software was developed for high accuracy address geocoding using hierarchical probabilistic matching to the Geocoded National Address File. The software facilitates geocoding of addresses which enables linkage of databases for broader research applications, such as geospatial analysis. Results MapMonkey is the University of Adelaide geocoding service for researchers. Its matching accuracy reflects the Australian address structure where state and postcode have a higher geographic hierarchy than suburb, street name and street number, respectively, when geocoding to a house or land parcel. Conclusion / Implications Small area spatial analysis has great potential to inform our understanding of some of the more significant challenges of our time. Geocoding enables data linkage at fine spatial levels which allows more accurate socioeconomic and other data to be used in health and social research. The provision of a high accuracy geocoder will expand research capacity in data linkage and spatial analysis.
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spelling doaj.art-a56ba00519164033946208cd59330eee2023-12-02T03:24:47ZengSwansea UniversityInternational Journal of Population Data Science2399-49082020-12-0155Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding ServiceLan Kelly0Danielle Taylor1Jarrod Lange2Andrew Holton3Mark Armstrong4Health Translation SA, SAHMRIUniversity of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideIntroduction Geocoding converts street addresses to latitudes and longitudes and can be used to link spatial information to existing databases. Geocoding services universally designed for multiple countries do not always produce optimal results for Australian addresses and can be costly and difficult to use without specific knowledge/experience. Limited matching information is often provided, making it difficult to assess geocoding accuracy. Objectives and Approach New technology was required for address geocoding due to limitations of current geocoding methods such as a failure to incorporate the structure of Australian addresses. Software was developed for high accuracy address geocoding using hierarchical probabilistic matching to the Geocoded National Address File. The software facilitates geocoding of addresses which enables linkage of databases for broader research applications, such as geospatial analysis. Results MapMonkey is the University of Adelaide geocoding service for researchers. Its matching accuracy reflects the Australian address structure where state and postcode have a higher geographic hierarchy than suburb, street name and street number, respectively, when geocoding to a house or land parcel. Conclusion / Implications Small area spatial analysis has great potential to inform our understanding of some of the more significant challenges of our time. Geocoding enables data linkage at fine spatial levels which allows more accurate socioeconomic and other data to be used in health and social research. The provision of a high accuracy geocoder will expand research capacity in data linkage and spatial analysis.https://ijpds.org/article/view/1564
spellingShingle Lan Kelly
Danielle Taylor
Jarrod Lange
Andrew Holton
Mark Armstrong
Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service
International Journal of Population Data Science
title Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service
title_full Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service
title_fullStr Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service
title_full_unstemmed Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service
title_short Mapmonkey: The University of Adelaide Geocoding Service
title_sort mapmonkey the university of adelaide geocoding service
url https://ijpds.org/article/view/1564
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AT andrewholton mapmonkeytheuniversityofadelaidegeocodingservice
AT markarmstrong mapmonkeytheuniversityofadelaidegeocodingservice