U.S. Geocoding Databases

The U.S. geocoding databases contain the spatial data necessary to perform address standardization and geocoding. You must install at least one of these databases.

  • Centrus Enhanced Geocoding—This database consists of TIGER data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and address data provided by the U.S. Postal Service.
  • TomTom Geocoding—This database provides more up-to-date data than the Centrus Enhanced Geocoding database. It requires an additional license. The data is provided by TomTom, a third-party provider of spatial data, and postal data from the U.S. Postal Service.
  • HERE Geocoding—This database provides more up-to-date data than the Centrus Enhanced Geocoding database. It requires an additional license. HERE data is provided by HERE, a third-party provider of spatial data. For more information about these databases, contact your sales representative.
  • ZIP + 4 Centroid—This database provides only address standardization and ZIP + 4 centroid matching. It does not provide street-level matching.

These databases use proprietary files called GSD files. For ZIP Code centroid matching, the file us.Z9 contains all the centroid info for all states and normally has a z9 extension.

Each geocoding database has an optional Statewide Intersections Index. The Statewide Intersection Index is designed to enable fast intersection identification on a statewide basis. For example, the Statewide Intersection Index will allow the database to search for "1st and Main St, CO" and return a list of possible matches in Colorado more quickly than searching the entire geocoding database for each instance of the intersection.

  1. Download the database from the Pitney Bowes Software eStore using the link provided in the release announcement or welcome email. You can also download the database from the Pitney Bowes technical support web site.
  2. The database is downloaded as a zip file. Unzip the database before proceeding with the installation.
  3. If you have previously installed the Centrus Data Product Suite, delete any copies of the .gsd, .gsl, .gsi, .gsu, .gsz, .z9, .dir, .las, .los, .apn and .elv files.
  4. Copy the files you need to a local directory.
  5. After you install the database files, use the Database Resource tool in the Management Console to define the database as a resource. For more information, see the Administration Guide.