Geocoding service with Geocoding API Keys

Before the beginning

To date, the demand for various geographic information systems (GIS) has increased significantly. This is because the analysis of all kinds of data is easier if it is possible to visualize them in space. The creators of various GIS in their development always implement a direct and / or reverse process of geocoding. In other words, by endowing this or that location with digital identifiers of the geographic grid of coordinates, one can easily either indicate its location on a geographic map, or write down its usual postal address, convenient for reading.

Of course, an experienced programmer can create a geocoder on his own, as well as develop his own API. However, a more productive option would be to obtain a geocode api key on our service in order to take advantage of the possibilities of direct and reverse geocoding.

The essence of the geocoding process

So, the geographic coordinate system speaks to various GIS in the language of numbers, and people in their search for the locations of the objects they need operate with words. How to link these different approaches? That’s what geocoding is for. It must be said that there are a lot of different geocoders, which work covers almost the entire surface of our planet, and moreover, it is available in all used languages of the world.

By definition, the essence of the process of direct geocoding is the translation of a verbal description of any location (postal address) into its digital identification – grid attributes (latitude and longitude). Accordingly, reverse geocoding is the translation of geographic latitude and longitude into a postal address.

Geocoding conditions

Of course, it is obvious that for an effective geocoding process, several prerequisites must be present. First of all, the geographic map that the GIS uses must be “correct”. For example, the geocoder will not be able to find a street in Boston, which is the city of US if it uses a map of Canada during the search. In addition, the geographic map must have acceptable detail. For example, the geocoder will not be able to translate into coordinates an address with a name an alley, if only large central streets are displayed on the geographic map used.

The next necessary factor in the geocoding process is the so-called “static” address. This requirement is based on the fact that the desired address must already exist at the time of geocoding, that is, it must be entered into any information systems in advance. An essential addition to this requirement is the following rule: the postal address itself must be indicated exactly in the same way as the regional postal organizations of the corresponding country or of the state association do.

Basis of geocoding

The core of the geocoding process is the “request-response” chain. The request is generated in the HTTP protocol format. As in other similar products, a direct or reverse geocoding query contains required and optional parameters. The required query parameters are:

– geocoding API key (GK API);

– request body.

It should be noted that the GK API format is the same for both direct and reverse geocoding. As for the query body, for direct geocoding it is a text string, and for reverse geocoding it is the latitude (La) and longitude (Lo) of the desired point in degrees.

Optional query parameters, such as the language used, specific response limits, search radius, etc., can be found in the relevant section of our service documentation.

The geocoder response is in JSON format and contains either the data required by the geocoding query with all the specified reservations and restrictions, or the refusal of geocoding and the reason for the refusal in case of an incorrectly executed query.

Geocoding API Key

As stated above, the GK API is a required query parameter. This is your unique application identifier that allows the service to recognize you and allows you to manage your activity on the service. The process of obtaining the GK API is standardized and begins with the user filling out an application form, which is posted on the site. You can find all further actions, additional conditions and needs, price packages and versions in the detailed instructions of our service.