Definition
Geocoding accuracy refers to the degree to which the geographic coordinates produced by a geocoder match the actual location of a place on the Earth's surface. Accuracy can be affected by factors such as the quality of the input data (e.g. the completeness and accuracy of the address), the underlying spatial reference system used, and the capabilities of the geocoding algorithm. In general, more accurate geocoding will produce coordinates that are closer to the actual location of a place, while less accurate geocoding may produce coordinates that are farther from the actual location.
Imagine you're trying to meet up with a group of friends at a new restaurant, but the only information you have is the address. You type the address into your GPS device or mapping app and it shows you a location on the map. But when you arrive at the location, you can't find the restaurant. What went wrong?
One possibility is that the geocoding accuracy was low. Geocoding accuracy refers to the degree to which the geographic coordinates produced by a geocoder match the actual location of a place on the Earth's surface. If the geocoding accuracy is low, the coordinates produced by the geocoder may be far from the actual location of the place you're trying to find.
There are several factors that can affect geocoding accuracy, including:
- Quality of the input data: If the address or location description you're using as input is incomplete or incorrect, the geocoder may not be able to accurately determine the location of the place you're trying to find.
- Underlying spatial reference system: Different spatial reference systems can be used to represent the same location on the Earth's surface, but they may use different coordinate systems or datums, which can affect the accuracy of the location.
- Capabilities of the geocoding algorithm: Different geocoding algorithms have different levels of accuracy and may produce different results for the same input.
Here are a few examples of how geocoding accuracy can affect your ability to find a place:
- You type "123 Main St" into your GPS device, but the restaurant is actually located at "123 Main Street." The geocoder may not be able to accurately determine the location of the restaurant because the input data (the address) is incomplete.
- You type "123 Main Street, Anytown, USA" into your GPS device, but the restaurant is actually located in Anytown, UK. The geocoder may not be able to accurately determine the location of the restaurant because the input data (the city and country) is incorrect.
- You type "123 Main Street, Anytown, USA" into your GPS device, but the spatial reference system used by the geocoder is based on a different datum than the one used by the restaurant's address. The geocoder may not be able to accurately determine the location of the restaurant because the two spatial reference systems are incompatible.
In general, more accurate geocoding will produce coordinates that are closer to the actual location of a place, while less accurate geocoding may produce coordinates that are farther from the actual location. So if you're trying to meet up with friends at a new restaurant, it's important to make sure you have the correct address and that your GPS device or mapping app is using a spatial reference system that is compatible with the one used by the restaurant's address.
