Address Collection - How to Make Sense of Your Data

Address collection can be an overwhelming task. If you're collecting addresses for weddings, parties or holiday cards, it's important to have accurate data.

Businesses can save time and money by using legitimate addresses. Incorrect addresses can lead to returned mails, extra fees and missed opportunities. Address verification tools can cut expenses by ensuring addresses are correct.

ArcGIS Solutions for State and Local Government

Address collection is essential for local governments. It is also a crucial element in geospatial management. However, many governments face challenges with managing authoritative address repository. They need simple workflows that allow for the capture of the physical location of an address early in the process of developing it Standard map products to inform decision makers and the general public about the quality of their addresses, as well as tools for sharing authoritative addresses with other agencies.

To meet these requirements local government employees are employing Esri solutions. These pre-built apps and maps are designed to work with specific workflows. This makes it easy for local government staff of any size and level of geospatial knowledge to use them.

According to love it , State and Local Government Solutions Team Lead, Esri, solutions are organized into categories that represent "the most common needs in state and local government." To see the full list of the capabilities available go here.

For instance, a solution called Maintaining an Authoritative Address Repository comprises a set of tasks to help you create a layer of address from a list of verified sites that are collected using an online form or captured in the field by using Address Field Inventory. These feature layers can be used to generate USNG Coordinates and a mailing address. Additionally, the solution also enables you to split the road at a specific point, calculate the municipal boundaries, and update address characteristics in the master road name table.

Managing Address Field Operations is another Esri solution that can be used to assist address authority staff collect inaccurate or missing information from internal and outside stakeholders. It lets office staff assign a task for their field employees to utilize the address crowdsourcing application on their mobile devices. They can then verify the addresses submitted and record any new ones they observe while in the field. This information is automatically inserted into the appropriate database tables to be processed and published.

The solution also permits office personnel to assign tasks with the option of confirming an existing set of address data using a specific accuracy threshold, which allows them to identify mistakes, such as duplicates or incorrect addresses in the database. This information can be imported into the master database to improve the quality of the data and improve its accuracy.

Reverse Geocode Geoprocessing tool

If you're searching for the location of a particular business or just want to find out which location is the most profitable, reverse geocoding can assist you to understand your data. Many mobile apps such as Uber and Lyft use reverse geocoding to transform raw GPS coordinates into information that drivers can comprehend. Retail chains utilize reverse geocoding to learn about their customers' buying habits. Urban planners can link address data to the density of people to determine where to construct public infrastructure.

Reverse Geocode is a tool that converts point locations within a feature class into addresses. It does this by searching for the closest intersection or address by calculating distance. It can be used to reverse-geocode a single or multiple points. The output is well-structured and able to be integrated into other tools or systems.

It can handle both custom and standard formats for address data, including the standard attributes X and Y of a Point Address feature, and the identifiers for POIs (Point of Interest). You can also specify what kind of geometries the location is. It could be an address location for routing (a street-side location that can be used to route) or the parcel centroid or rooftop of an address.

You can make use of the tool to create composite locators by connecting two or more locators. If it fails to find the address with your local data, then the locator will use ArcGIS World Geocoding.

Reverse geocoding is a costly process. This is especially relevant if you work with a large number of coordinates. You'll need to keep your usage under Esri's free usage threshold--which is around 200 thousand monthly requests or you'll be charged. Another option is to purchase an application that converts coordinates into addresses in bulk for you.


It's important, as a final point to confirm the accuracy and completeness of any address information that you receive from customers using reverse geocoding. You can do this by using an API for address verification that is CASS-certified such as PostGrid. This will ensure the addresses you use for direct mail campaigns can be delivered to your customers.

Data Assistant Add-in

The Data Assistant addin contains a collection of tools to assist you in transferring data between different datasets that have different data structures. These tools can be used to complete various tasks, such as concatenating multiple sources into a single target field, or splitting strings into several target fields.

To make use of the Data Assistant add-in, you must first install it. To do this you need to click the Start button, select Control Panel, and then select Add or Remove Programs. Uninstall Microsoft Data Assistant 1.0 by following the directions on screen.

After the Data Assistant add-in is installed you can set it up to create a source-target configuration file and load or replace data from that file. The Data Mapping tool includes a variety of options for converting data between formats and handling special characters.

Learn how to use the Data Assistant Add-in to learn more about how it can help you with your address collection requirements. This guide will provide information on how to use the Data Assistant add-in and how to perform workflows to collect and update parcel information and populate layers of community.

Data Validation Tool

A reliable address validation tool is a powerful tool that aids businesses in maintaining integrity of their data and improve operational efficiency. It ensures that the correct address is used for mailing, invoices go to the correct customer, and marketing campaigns are delivered to the intended recipients. When choosing a validation tool, look for one with comprehensive country coverage and seamless integration into business processes. Take into consideration the pricing structure and choose tools that offer a high return on investment.

When it comes to collecting addresses on handwritten forms at a retailer store, or during digital inputs during checkout online or via integrated data flowing in from CRM systems, accurate initial data entry is crucial to reducing shipping errors and returns and thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. This is more than using a standard postal code or ZIP code lookup; it requires thorough address collection and verification.

The process starts with an advanced data parsing program that breaks the address into its constituent parts, such as street name, city name, and postal code. The tool then compares these pieces to commercial databases to confirm their accuracy. It then standardizes an address to meet global postal norms. For example, it converts extended forms into standard abbreviations or capitalization.

The address is then geocoded in order to verify its location. This is particularly important for companies operating globally. It allows them to estimate shipping costs with accuracy and provide transparency for customers, minimizing the chance of costly delays due to inaccurate or insufficient data. Additionally, a robust geocoding API can help companies comply with international shipping regulations and avoid customs-related issues.

Once the address is verified, it is automatically updated in CRM systems and enterprise resource planning systems to guarantee that every customer contact, shipment, or service delivery is based on accurate data. Precise data on addresses can also streamline operations in the logistical field by simplifying logistics, procurement and delivery of services.