Module 5: Geocoding

Geocoding Schools in Manatee County, FL



Geocoding is a fundamental tool for spatial data analysis, particularly when working with address-based data. From preparing raw data to resolving mismatches, this weeks lab provided a comprehensive introduction to the geocoding process. By learning how to overcome common issues, we can ensure that our data is accurately represented on the map. I'll walk through a high level overview of this weeks module and address some of the challenges I encountered. The final result of this geocoding exercise was a map showing all public schools in Manatee County, FL, placed based off their addresses. The map is publicly accessible and can be viewed here. 

Step 1: Preparing Data 

I began by cleaning the raw address data for Manatee County schools that I gathered from the Florida Department of Education  (FLDOE) website. This involved organizing the school names, addresses, phone numbers, and ZIP codes into a format that ArcGIS Pro could interpret. A challenge I found here was a difference in the number of schools from the weeks instructions. I manually counted the schools for Manatee County, FL on the FLDOE website. There were 85 schools. I felt confident moving forward with my data set when I matched that information up to the instructions that were provided. Aside from this minor issue I made sure that there were no mismatched information or formatting issues that could interfere with the geocoding process.

Step 2: Creating an Address Locator

An address locator is a vital component in geocoding. It uses reference data to match input addresses to locations on a map. For this lab, I downloaded TIGER/Line shapefiles from the U.S. Census Bureau, which provided the road and county boundary data for Manatee County. These files were used to create the address locator. The locator was set to match street names and ZIP codes to the cleaned school address data.

Step 3: Geocoding Addresses

With the address locator created, the next step was to geocode the school addresses. Using the geocoding tool I was able to match 79/85 schools to their correct geographic locations. However, not all addresses matched perfectly. A common issue that cause geocoding errors is incorrect address data. For addresses that didn’t match automatically, we manually adjusted them using the “Rematch” tool. This involved some zooming in and manually selecting the correct location.


Location: Destin, FL 32541, USA

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