Address Collection - How to Make Sense of Your Data

Address collection may seem like an overwhelming task. When you're collecting addresses to be used for weddings, parties, or holiday cards, it's essential to keep your data clean.

Businesses can save time and money by using correct addresses. Incorrect addresses can result in returned mail, extra fees and missed opportunities. Address verification tools can help cut costs by ensuring that addresses are correct.

ArcGIS Solutions for State and Local Government

Address collection is vital for local governments. It is also a crucial element in geospatial management. Many governments struggle to manage authoritative address repository. They require a simple workflow to record the physical location at an early stage in the creation of an address, standard map products that inform decision makers and the public about the quality and accuracy of their addresses, as well as tools to share authoritative address with other agencies.


To meet these requirements Local government officials are making use of Esri solutions. These pre-built maps and apps are configured around specific workflows, making it easy for local governments of all sizes and levels of geospatial expertise to adopt them for improved efficiency and insight.

According to Scott Oppmann, State and Local Government Solutions Team Lead, Esri, solutions are organized into categories that represent "the most common needs in state and local government." Click here for the full list of capabilities.

For example, a solution called Maintaining an Authoritative Address Repository contains a series of tasks that help you create a site address layer from an inventory of verified sites that you have collected via an online form or captured in the field using Address Field Inventory. These feature layers can be used to generate USNG Coordinates and an address for mailing. The solution lets you split a street at any particular point, calculate the municipal boundaries, and then update address attributes in the master road table.

Another example of an Esri solution is Managing Address Field Operations, designed to assist address authority staff solicit incorrect or missing address information from both external and internal stakeholders. It allows office staff to assign tasks to their field workers, who can use the address crowdsourcing tool on their mobile devices to verify submitted addresses and record any new ones observed while out in the field. The information is automatically entered into the appropriate database tables to be processed before being published.

The solution allows office workers to assign tasks with the option of confirming existing set of address data with a specified accuracy level. This helps them spot errors, such as duplicate addresses or mismatched addresses in the database. The information is then transferred into the master address database to enhance data quality and make the dataset more accurate.

Reverse Geocode Geoprocessing Tool

Reverse geocoding is a method to interpret data, whether you're trying to locate the location of a company or simply want to know which area is the most profitable. Many mobile apps, like Uber or Lyft rely on reverse geocoding to transform raw GPS coordinates into something that drivers can read. Retail chains use it to analyze the habits of their customers when shopping, and urban planners can link data on address with the density of their population to decide the best location to build new public facilities.

Reverse Geocode is a tool that converts points within a feature class into addresses. It does this by locating the closest intersection or address by calculating distance. It can be used to reverse geocode one or more points or multiple points in the form of a batch. The output is well-organized and ready for integration into other tools and systems.

It can handle both custom and standard formats for address data, such as the standardized X, Y attribute values of the Point Address feature, and the IDs for POIs (Point of Interest). You can also specify which 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's centroid, or the rooftop of an address.

You can make use of the tool to create composite locators by linking two or more locators. If it fails to find the address using your local data, then the locator will rely on 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 level--which is around 200 thousand requests each month--or you'll incur costs. Another option is to buy a service that will convert coordinates into addresses en masse for you.

In conclusion it is crucial to confirm the accuracy of any address information you receive from customers through reverse geocoding. This can be done by using a CASS-certified address verification API like PostGrid. This will ensure the addresses you use for your direct mail campaigns are delivered to your customers and.

Data Assistant Add-in

The Data Assistant add-in contains a collection of tools that assist you in moving data from one database to another one that might have a different data structure. These tools can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks, such as concatenating several sources into a single target field, or splitting strings into multiple fields to be used as targets.

To use the Data Assistant add-in, you must first install it. Click Start, choose Control Panel, then Add or Remove programs. Uninstall Microsoft Data Assistant 1.0 by following the steps on the screen.

After the Data Assistant addin is installed It can be configured to create a source/target configuration file. You can then load or change data with that file. The Data Mapping tool also includes a set of methods that you can use to transform data between different formats and to handle special characters.

To learn more about the Data Assistant add-in, including how it can help with your address collection requirements, read How to use the Data Assistant add-in. This solution provides information on how to use the Data Assistant add-in and how to perform workflows to collect and update parcel data and populate community layers.

Data Validation Tool

A reliable tool to verify addresses is a powerful tool that helps companies maintain accuracy of their data and operational efficiency. It ensures that mail is delivered to the correct address, invoices are delivered to the right customer and marketing campaigns are delivered to their intended target audience, thereby improving the accuracy of delivery systems and improving the overall user experience. When selecting a validation tool be sure to choose one with comprehensive country coverage and seamless integrations into business processes. Take into relevant internet page pricing structure and choose tools that provide a good return on investment.

Whether taking addresses from handwritten forms at a retail store, or during digital inputs at the checkout process online or via integrated data flowing in from CRM systems, accurate initial data entry is crucial to reducing shipping errors and returns, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty. This is more than using a conventional postal code or ZIP code lookup; it requires a process of thorough address collection and verification.

The process starts with a sophisticated data parsing tool that breaks down an address into its distinct components, including the street name, city name, and postal code. Next, the tool matches these pieces to commercial databases to validate their accuracy. It then standardizes the address to be in line to the global postal norms for example, changing extended forms into standard abbreviations and capitalization.

The address is then geocoded to confirm its location. This step is especially important for companies that operate globally. It helps them calculate shipping costs accurately and arrange transparency for customers, while minimizing the possibility of costly delays caused by inaccurate or insufficient information. Additionally, a reliable geocoding API can help companies adhere to international shipping regulations and avoid issues related to customs.

Once the address has been verified, it's automatically updated in CRM systems and enterprise resource planning systems to ensure that every customer contact, shipment, or service delivery is based on accurate information. A precise address can also streamline the logistical side of operations by simplifying logistics and procurement processes, which saves time and money.