Enterprise Geocoding Databases
The following Enterprise Geocoding Module databases are installed on the Spectrum™ Technology Platform server. Some of the databases are available by subscription from Pitney Bowes and are updated monthly or quarterly. Others are licensed from the USPS®.
U.S. Geocoding Databases (U.S. Only)
These databases contain the spatial data necessary to perform address standardization and geocoding. You must install at least one of these databases to perform geocoding for USA. You set the database that you want to match against with the processing options. Enterprise Geocoding tries to match to the database you indicate. To verify you are matching to the database you want, you can review the value returned in the StreetDataType output field.
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.
- 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. This 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.
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 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.
U.S. Points Databases (U.S. Only)
Points databases contain data for locating the center of a parcel. These databases provides enhanced geocoding accuracy for internet mapping, property and casualty insurance, telecommunications, utilities, and others.
These databases are optional, but either Centrus Enhanced Points or Centrus Premium Points is required for Reverse Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) Lookup. These databases are also separately licensed.
- Centrus Points—This database contains the data necessary to locate the center of a parcel or building. It does not contain Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) or elevation data.
- Centrus Elevation—This database contains the same data as Centrus Points, plus elevation data.
- Centrus Enhanced Points—This database contains the same data as Centrus Points, plus APN data.
- Centrus Premium Points—This database contains the same data as Centrus Points, plus both APN and elevation data.
- HERE Points Database—The data in this database is provided by HERE, a third-party provider of spatial data.
- TomTom Points Database—The data in this database is provided by TomTom, a third-party provider of spatial data.
- Master Location Data — This database provides the best available address point location for every mailable and deliverable address in the United States.
Reverse Geocoding Database (U.S. Only)
This database contains the data you need to convert a latitude/longitude location to an address.
This database is optional, but is required for Reverse Geocode US . This database is also separately licensed.
Auxiliary Files (U.S. Only)
Auxiliary files contain user-defined records. You can use auxiliary files to provide custom data to use in address matching and geocode matching.
DPV® Database (U.S. Only)
The Delivery Point Validation database allows you to check the validity of any individual mailing address in the U.S. The DPV database is distributed as an optional feature and can be installed to enhance the geocoding database's ability to validate mailing addresses. Each time an edition of the geocoding database is released, a corresponding edition of the optional DPV database is released. The date of the DPV database must match the date of the geocoding database for DPV processing to function. DPV lookups may not be performed after the expiration date of the DPV database.
This database is optional, but is required for CASS™ processing. The DPV database is also required to determine ZIP + 4 and ZIP + 4 related output (DPBC, USPS record type, etc.). This database is also separately licensed.
Postal Service licensing prohibits using DPV for the generation of addresses or address lists, and also prohibits the DPV database being exported outside the United States.
EWS Database (U.S. Only)
The Early Warning System (EWS) database contains data that prevents address records from miscoding due to a delay in postal data reaching the U.S. Postal database.
The USPS® refreshes the EWS file on a weekly basis. Unlike the DPV and LACSLink databases, the EWS database does not need to have the same date as the geocoding database. You can download the EWS.zip file free of charge from the CASS section of the USPS® RIBBS website at:
https://postalpro.usps.com/cass/EWS
When you download the EWS database, you will receive a file named OUT. You must rename the OUT file to EWS.txt before using it.
LACS Link Database (U.S. Only)
The LACSLink database allows you to correct addresses that have changed as a result of a rural route address converting to street-style address, a PO Box renumbering, or a street-style address changing.
This database is optional, but is required for CASS™ processing. The LACSLink database is also required in CASS mode to receive ZIP + 4 and ZIP + 4 related output (delivery point bar code, USPS record type, etc.).
The date of the LACSLink database must match the date of the geocoding database for LACSLink processing to function.
USPS licensing prohibits using LACSLink for the generation of addresses or address lists, and also prohibits the LACSLink database being exported outside the United States.
International Geocoding Databases
International geocoding databases contain the spatial data necessary to perform address standardization and geocoding for locations outside the U.S. Each country has its own database, and some countries have optional databases that provide enhanced geocoding.
United Kingdom AddressBase Premium Database
AddressBase Premium is a point database sourced from Ordnance Survey®, Royal Mail, and local authorities.The AddressBase Premium database provides the highest level of precision, as reflected in S8 result codes. The database includes objects without postal addresses, such as subdivided properties, places of worship and community centers.
The AddressBase Premium database is built around the UPRN (Unique Property Reference Number). The UPRN is the unique identifier that provides a persistent reference to a unique property, regardless of changes in the property name, status, subdivision, use (such as from single occupancy to multiple occupancy) or demolition of the property. All historic, alternative, and provisional addresses are recorded against the same UPRN. The UPRN is returned with every AddressBase Premium candidate, except for Northern Ireland addresses.
Since the Ordnance Survey data source does not contain addresses for Northern Ireland, AddressBase Premium is supplemented with Royal Mail® postcode address data for Northern Ireland. This Northern Ireland data has postcode centroid (result code S3) precision only.
For more information on the AddressBase Premium, see https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-and-government/help-and-support/products/addressbase-premium.html from Ordnance Survey.
United Kingdom CodePoint Database
The CodePoint Postal Address File (PAF) database provides postcode centroid geocoding. The CodePoint database is suitable for most applications involving address matching, validation, etc.
The CodePoint database is sourced from Royal Mail and covers street addresses for the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). The CodePoint database is licensed for the entire dataset, rather than by region. The postcode centroid precision provided by the CodePoint database is reflected in S3 result codes.
For more information on the Royal Mail data source, see:
Australia Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF)
This database provides enhanced geocoding for Australian addresses. This is the only authoritative Australian national index of locality, street and number, validated with geographic coordinates. It contains both officially recognized rural and urban addresses and unofficial addresses (aliases). Postal addresses and PO Boxes are not included. However, because some rural areas do not have adequate rural address information, roadside mail box (RMB) numbers, Lot numbers, and Block & Section numbers have been included in the G-NAF data set.
When you install this database there will be two subfolders:
- GNAF123—Contains the point-level dictionary. This has the highest precision of geocoding (characterized by Reliability Level 1, 2, or 3.)
- GNAF456 —Contains the remainder of address information in G-NAF that does not meet high precision geocoding criteria (characterized by Reliability Level 4, 5, or 6.)
You must specify each of these as separate database resources in the Management Console.
We recommend that you use both databases to validate the existence of addresses but only use the GNAF123 for parcel-level geocoding. If you do not require parcel-level geocodes you can use the GNAF456 database for geocoding.
New Zealand Point Database
The New Zealand Point Database is based on postal point data which has a roof top precision point of each unique street address. Location X and Y returned for candidates from this database are roof top precision.
This data is maintained by the government authority, Land Information New Zealand.
Other Point Databases for International Countries
A number of other point databases are available for international countries. Refer to the quarterly data release notes for more information.