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Street Address to Lat/Long Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:43 am
by ATLChris
I am working on a personal project that requires users to enter an address. Then the address will get converted into Latitude and Longitude values which will then be saved into our local database for future reference.

My question to you all, is how would you all suggest I go about doing the address to lat/long conversion. I know the Google Maps API allows this sort of conversion, but they also have restrictions on how you may use the converted values. (See http://code.google.com/apis/maps/faq.ht ... der_exists)

What are your thoughts?

Re: Street Address to Lat/Long Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:34 am
by flying_circus
I havent found a good (free) solution yet.

Google geocoding and you should come up with a few results. Maybe one will work for you?

Re: Street Address to Lat/Long Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:39 am
by John Cartwright
Address geocoding would involve highly expensive databases. In my Uni program (geomatics), I think our databases for Canada alone were around $20,000 for this capability.

Your best bet would be to do it by zip/postal code. Although, these databases usually come with a price tag, they are far cheaper. If memory serves, you can get one for North America for a couple hundred bucks.

Re: Street Address to Lat/Long Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:49 am
by ATLChris
Thanks guys. I to have thought about accomplishing it on a zip code only basis. I have been searching around looking for a good zip code database that gets updated for sometime now. Do you all know of any particular ones?

Re: Street Address to Lat/Long Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:54 am
by John Cartwright
MaxMind seems to be the online defacto for GeoIP.