ABSTRACT
Locational information, for instance in the form of addresses, can be transformed into geographic coordinates through a process known as geocoding. The procedure requires that addresses are standardized. Using a reference dataset (typically a street database), geographic coordinates can be estimated by comparing and interpolating the address to the range of addresses for each segment of the reference dataset. The procedure is sensitive to the completeness of the addresses and on the quality of the local and regional road network database. In this chapter, we explain geocoding fundamentals, and a myriad of challenging issues that are intimately associated with the procedure, such as spelling sensitivity, accuracy, efficiency, and automation. We focus on the assessment of the impact of uncertainties related to these geocoding issues on the discovery of spatially explicit patterns. We then conduct a discussion on web-based geocoding and its benefits, limits, and computational hurdles. We integrate alternative web-based geocoding services to facilitate the impact assessment of uncertainties associated with geocoding. Last, we highlight the significance of geomasking, which is particularly important in the field of, for example, spatial epidemiology to preserve confidentiality and minimize the risk of success in reverse geocoding.
