Geocoding Technology A Useful Tool For Enterprise Applications
Point Addresses
As GPS technology enters mainstream, everyday use, cost-effective collection of
latitude/longitude-based point addresses - also known as building-points or housepoints
- is now possible. Some states are collecting point addresses as part of their
E911 system implementation.
Typically point addresses are collected today by aiming a laser-type GPS device at
the building and recording the offset from the street. This is usually done as part of an
extensive field effort to verify facilities information. This works very well but is relatively
expensive. Fortunately, another approach has become available. Field-ready,
lightweight, handheld computers can display street centerline vectors precisely
registered over photo imagery. Field personnel simply place a point on a building as it
appears in the photo and type in the correct addresses. This can be done a part of the
meter reader's or service technician's normal activity. Point addresses can therefore be
collected over time without the need to go into the field specifically to collect this data.
This means that geocoding software can now start by locating the building point, then
defaulting as necessary to the street range and the ZIP Code information, as described
earlier.
Reverse Geocoding
Additional geocoding tools such as "reverse geocoding" can identify the nearest
address to a latitude/longitude coordinate. The process is simple: reverse geocoding
software automatically generates a map-located street address for every geographic
coordinate entered. Thus, a service vehicle with a GPS unit can communicate its
geographic coordinates to the utility dispatcher and be tracked during service calls. Or
real-time driving directions can be given to the driver on the road.
Geocoding Benefits and ROI
Geocoding technology can play a significant role in leveraging an enterprise-wide,
AM/FM geographic information system out of an engineering-oriented, CAD-based tool.
Through address intelligence, street centerlines can form the basis for interoperability
between emergency response, outage management, vehicle routing and dispatching,
facilities planning, marketing, strategic planning, customer information and much more.
The cost-benefit of accurate geocoding information is dramatic.
- Consider the cost of sending out field location technicians to respond to call-beforeyou-dig tickets. If you can be more confident in your customer locations, utilities can reduce the number of tickets.
- Accurate geocoding can significantly increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of routing service call or meter-reading vehicles.
- Similarly, vehicle dispatching can become more cost-effective
- Quickly locating customers affected by the same problem (e.g. outage) allows utilities to be proactive in customer service.
- Out-of-town crews brought in to deal with major outages can benefit from directions.
- Vehicles equipped with GPS devices can be tracked through reverse geocoding.
- Marketing departments can apply demographic analysis in their strategic planning .
- Pipeline transmission companies can significantly reduce the cost of safety notification mailings.
Summary
Geocoding technology plays a significant role in leveraging an AM/FM GIS from an
engineering-oriented tool into an enterprise-wide GIS solution. Local investment by the
utility in improving Address Coding Guide data can generate significant returns by
improving the accuracy of geocoding applications. As data providers move over the next
few years toward data sets populated with point addresses, significant cost savings will
be evident. AM/FM GIS systems will require geocoding technology where today none
exists.
