How do you monitor and update geocoding data and processes to reflect changes in the real world?

1 Use quality data sources

The quality of your geocoding data and processes depends largely on the quality of your data sources. You should use authoritative, up-to-date, and comprehensive data sources that cover the geographic area and level of detail that you need. For example, you can use official address databases, census data, postal codes, administrative boundaries, or open-source data such as OpenStreetMap. You should also verify and validate your data sources regularly, and check for errors, inconsistencies, duplicates, or missing values.

2 Choose appropriate geocoding methods

There are different geocoding methods that you can use depending on your data and objectives. For example, you can use exact matching, fuzzy matching, interpolation, or geohashing. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and may produce different results or accuracy levels. You should choose the geocoding method that best suits your data quality, format, and structure, as well as your desired output and precision. You should also test and compare different methods and evaluate their performance and accuracy.

3 Handle geocoding errors and anomalies

No matter how good your data sources and methods are, you may still encounter geocoding errors and anomalies. These can be caused by various factors, such as incomplete or incorrect addresses, ambiguous or duplicate place names, outdated or mismatched data, or geocoding algorithm limitations. You should have a strategy to handle geocoding errors and anomalies, such as flagging or logging them, correcting or standardizing them, or using alternative or supplemental data sources. You should also monitor and analyze the frequency and types of errors and anomalies, and identify their root causes and solutions.

4 Update geocoding data and processes regularly

The real world is dynamic and constantly changing, so your geocoding data and processes should also be updated regularly to reflect those changes. You should have a schedule and a mechanism to update your data sources and methods, as well as your geocoding results and outputs. You should also track and document the changes and revisions that you make, and communicate them to your stakeholders and users. Updating your geocoding data and processes regularly will help you ensure their accuracy, reliability, and relevance.

5 Use geocoding tools and platforms

Geocoding can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially if you have large or diverse datasets, or if you need to perform geocoding frequently or in real-time. Fortunately, there are many geocoding tools and platforms that you can use to simplify and automate your geocoding data and processes. For example, you can use online geocoding services, APIs, or software that offer geocoding and reverse geocoding functionalities, as well as data sources, methods, and quality controls. You should choose the geocoding tools and platforms that meet your needs, budget, and security requirements.

6 Learn from geocoding best practices and examples

Geocoding is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a customized and contextualized process that depends on your data, goals, and challenges. Therefore, you can benefit from learning from geocoding best practices and examples from other organizations or industries that use location intelligence. You can find geocoding best practices and examples from various sources, such as blogs, podcasts, webinars, case studies, or online communities. You can also share your own geocoding experiences and insights with others, and get feedback and suggestions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?