[OTT_OSGEO] Geocoding Ottawa

[Sampson, David]

There was a question about the availability of geocoding postal codes
and if the dataset was available.
 
The short answer is no. We need your help.
 
The mid length answer is that we are working on augmenting the Stats Can
Road Files with the FSA (firt three characters of a postal code). The
Postal code will become one of many variables required to plot a civic
address. I don't know how far away we'll be to be able to geocode based
on the full postal code only. 
 
The longer answer will come in conversation at the next OSGEO chapter
meeting in Ottawa. I'll try to give a run down of where we are and where
we are going. And of course this could take a few beer to fully consume.
 
Status:
Right now I am building address lists of various themes that will be
used as test cases for the geocoding as we progress. This helps give us
ideas of what kind of issues we need to tackle for various user groups.
For instance the Ottawa Police gives out a weekly report of each
encounter a police office has. This is given a street BLOCK value, not a
single civic address. This is a feature that we hope to have. Also, much
of the OC Transpo information that can be used to build a geocoded bus
network uses intersections and cross streets, again not civic addresses.
Another example of a desired feature. The majority of the city's 800
parks however have civic addresses, but no postal codes and often
missing ROAD, AVENUE, and STREET suffix for the road types or using
different street names than the stats can data.
 
If you are interested in learning more and folowing our progress, and of
course processing data check out the mailing list.
 
1. Check out: https://geodata.osgeo.org/servlets/ProjectMailingListList
2. register an account if you don't have one
3. join us at can_rnf at geodata.osgeo.org
 
In the mean time let me know what themese you might find useful.
 
Cheers
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