Pitney Bowes MapMarker USA - Manual (Page 14)

What Is Geocoding?
MapMarker USA 25
14
User Guide
What Is Geocoding?
Geocoding is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to data that contain addresses. The
coordinates assigned to each address turn each record into a geographic object that can be
displayed on a map using MapInfo Professional or MapXtreme.
Geocoding turns ordinary data records containing address information into geographic objects that
can be displayed on a map. A list of customers, stores, or anything with a street address or postal
code may be matched using the comprehensive street and postal code files provided in the Address
Dictionary. The result of geocoding is an xy coordinate linked to a specific address. When displayed,
this enables you to better visualize the relationships in your data.
You can display coordinates by creating maps in MapInfo Professional or via MapXtreme and add to
other map objects to give your data a geographic reference. You can then perform a wide variety of
functions to analyze your data in geographic terms. Data that once was only readable in column and
row format can be now viewed with a whole new perspective, thereby disclosing patterns and
clusters you never knew existed.
Visualizing your records on a map can make the relationships among your data clearer. You can
display your geocoded records against a street map, a postal centroid map, a local map, or
whatever is most appropriate to your needs. You can then use the wide variety of functions available
in MapInfo mapping software to perform querying, create thematic maps, create territories, and
perform many other types of geographic analysis.
Beyond visualizing data on a map, location data can be leveraged in many ways. See Location
Intelligence Products and related parts of the Pitney Bowes Software web site for details on how
your organization can use location information to make better decisions.
What Is MapMarker?
MapMarker is a powerful geocoding tool produced by Pitney Bowes Software MapMarker enables
you to assign geographic coordinates to large tables of U.S.-based address records in a single
session. This is a key step toward mapping and analyzing your business data. MapMarker adds
geographic coordinates to every record in your database that it matches against its comprehensive
Address Dictionary, a database of USPS
®
street addresses, street geometry and the latest ZIP + 4
®
centroids.
MapMarker assigns coordinates to an address based on how well it matched in the Address
Dictionary. The precision of the match can vary. For each address you geocode, you may get back a
single perfect, street-level match, a list of street-level match candidates from which you choose the
best match. You may get a less precise match, for example a ZIP Code centroid match if you
provided a ZIP Code or a city-level centroid match.
To identify the match precision, MapMarker also returns a result code for each address that it
geocodes. The precision that you require for your geocoded records depends on how you plan to
use your data.