[BNM] Geo data
Wayne Douglas
Anyone know of the best way to deal with geo data & postcodes?
I don't have concrete details yet but it will probably be standard stuff
like turning co-ords into postcodes and back again and what not.
Preferably free of course otherwise - cheap like the budgy.
w://
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David Pashley
> Hi
> Anyone know of the best way to deal with geo data & postcodes?
>
> I don't have concrete details yet but it will probably be standard stuff
> like turning co-ords into postcodes and back again and what not.
>
> Preferably free of course otherwise - cheap like the budgy.
Massively incomplete list available at Free The Postcode.
http://www.freethepostcode.org/
If you don't need huge accuracy, the first number after the space will
get you within a kilometer.
--
David Pashley
da...@davidpashley.com
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.
Alastair James
Really depends on what level of detail your need and what you want to do
with them.
If you need access to the lat / lng values (not just displaying them on a
map):
------------
The UK postcode database is owned by royal mail (boo hiss) who charge alot
of the data you need to map full UK postcodes to lat,lng points.
However, the first 4/5 digits (E.g. BN13 5, BN1 3 etc...) ARE free
available. Depending on the postcode density at that point, these should
return points within a hundred meters or so.
Best bet is to use the HTTP google maps geocoding webservice API:
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/geocoding/index.html
If you only need to display on a map:
-------------
A more accurate way (since google have an agreement with royal mail, and you
dont get the actual values) is to use the javascript google maps geocoding
API.
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#Geocoding
Cheers
al
2009/1/27 Wayne Douglas <wa...@codingvista.com>
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Dr Alastair James
CTO James Publishing Ltd.
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Alastair James
short postcode (BN1, BN2 etc...) to lat,lng mapping available online...
Try googling for "UK postcodes geocode csv" or something!
Al
2009/1/27 Alastair James <al.j...@gmail.com>
Alastair James
http://emad.fano.us/blog/?p=277
al
2009/1/27 Alastair James <al.j...@gmail.com>
Wayne Douglas
I was just messing about with this:
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/examples/geocoding-simple.html
seems to be out. It seems to be pointing well north of any I know of the top
of my head.
Strange
w://
2009/1/27 Alastair James <al.j...@gmail.com>
Tom Coady
> The UK postcode database is owned by royal mail (boo hiss) who charge alot
> of the data you need to map full UK postcodes to lat,lng points.
Ordnance Survey surely? No doubt "consulting" some Lord about full
privatisation as I type.
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/codepoint/pdf/pricelist_C-P.pdf
Their licensing would make Bill G proud.
Michael Rose
Produced by civil servants = Crown copyright = Hang on... Haven't I paid
for that once already?
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Aegir Hallmundur
>
> Produced by civil servants = Crown copyright = Hang on... Haven't I paid
> for that once already?
>
> Yeah, sickening isn't it? It belongs to the Crown, not us. Government
organisations get to use it 'free', but if they want to create anything with
it and make it available to thee and me, it's no go.
It's something the US definitely does better than us - all publicly funded
works there are public domain.
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Aegir Hallmundur
http://aegir.me/
http://ministryoftype.co.uk/
http://paperpixel.co.uk/
Michael Rose
You can use maps from 1959 though - woo!
-----Original Message-----
From: bnmlist...@brightonnewmedia.org
[mailto:bnmlist...@brightonnewmedia.org] On Behalf Of Aegir
Hallmundur
Sent: 27 January 2009 12:14
To: Brighton New Media
Subject: Re: [BNM] Geo data
2009/1/27 Michael Rose <MR...@studygroup.com>
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Premasagar Rose
> Anyone know of the best way to deal with geo data & postcodes?
>
Hi Wayne,
This is a slightly simplified version of a function I use in my
(soon-to-be-released) jQuery geo plugin. It utilises a hidden JSON Rest
API that is part of the Google Local Search service. (Is that naughty?):
function geocode(address, callback){
var url = 'http://www.google.com/uds/GlocalSearch?q=' + address +
'&v=1.0&callback=?';
$.getJSON(url, function(data){
var result, ll;
if (data && data.responseData && data.responseData.results &&
data.responseData.results[0]){
result = data.responseData.results[0];
ll = [result.lat, result.lng];
callback(ll, data);
}
else {
callback(false);
}
});
},
// Call it like so:
geocode("BN3 1EF", myCallbackFunc);
It'll return an accurate lat/lng of the postcode, *not* just for the
first part of the postcode, which is what you get if you use the
official Google Maps geocoder API.
Premasagar
--
Premasagar Rose, Dharmafly
http://dharmafly.com | p...@dharmafly.com | 07941 192398
Leo Brown
But yes, if it's not published, it could disappear I suppose.
Be good to have a backup/cache...
Ta,
Leo
-----Original Message-----
From: bnmlist...@brightonnewmedia.org
[mailto:bnmlist...@brightonnewmedia.org] On Behalf Of Premasagar Rose
Sent: 27 January 2009 12:31
To: Brighton New Media
Subject: Re: [BNM] Geo data
Premasagar
--
Wayne Douglas
I think that might be a bit naughty - but we like naughty!!
:D
w://
2009/1/27 Premasagar Rose <p...@dharmafly.com>
Nick Taylor
So have you had a bit of experience with the google reverse geocoder then?
I'm tinkering with it at the moment... and I'm sure (sure, I am) that
google used to give you a list of "options" if you typed in an ambiguous
name...
... and from the data.responseData.results[0], I kindof assume that
there must be a way of getting data.responseData.results[1]?
But it doesn't seem to do this. For example if I search for Birmingham,
it takes me to Birmingham Alabama, without giving any alternatives.
Do you know if there's a way of getting a list of alternatives?
Sorry - slight thread hijack etc.
Nick
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Premasagar Rose
found it. And finders keepers, and all... Right?"
P
Wayne Douglas said (@ 27 January 2009 12:33:38):
Premasagar Rose
> I'm tinkering with it at the moment... and I'm sure (sure, I am) that
> google used to give you a list of "options" if you typed in an ambiguous
> name...
>
Hi Nick,
Yes, I think you're right. It did used to give a list and doesn't
seem to now. Strange.
You will get the right result if you put "Birmingham, UK", but it
looks like there's just one result at a time now.
Prem
David Pashley
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 11:44 AM, Alastair James <al.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > The UK postcode database is owned by royal mail (boo hiss) who charge alot
> > of the data you need to map full UK postcodes to lat,lng points.
>
>
> Ordnance Survey surely? No doubt "consulting" some Lord about full
> privatisation as I type.
> http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/codepoint/pdf/pricelist_C-P.pdf
> Their licensing would make Bill G proud.
The PAF is owned by Royal Mail.
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?mediaId=400085&catId=400084
--
David Pashley
da...@davidpashley.com
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.
Wayne Douglas
Alastair James
Hi, is there any particular reason you are using a 'reverse engineered'
glocalsearch API call, as opposed to their public HTTP geocoding api (
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/geocoding/index.html)? Is it
more accruate or something?
Al
2009/1/27 Wayne Douglas <wa...@codingvista.com>
--
Dr Alastair James
CTO James Publishing Ltd.
www.worldreviewer.com
Winner Yahoo! Finds of the Year
WINNER Travolution Awards Best New Online Travel Company 2008
"In a market increasingly crowded with new content and experience-led sites,
Worldreviewer stands out a mile. It has used exclusive editorial and
excellent tools to wonderful effect and ensured its commercial partnerships
are relevant to the target market."
Blogs: onewheeledbicycle.com, traveltelegraph.com
"Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!"
Alastair James
http://maps.google.com/maps/geo?q=BN1+3FP&output=json&oe=utf8&sensor=false&gl=gb
Al
2009/1/27 Alastair James <al.j...@gmail.com>
> @Prem:
Premasagar Rose
> @Prem:
> Hi, is there any particular reason you are using a 'reverse engineered'
> glocalsearch API call, as opposed to their public HTTP geocoding api (
> http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/geocoding/index.html)? Is it
> more accruate or something?
>
> Al
centre of the postcode area. This is the first half of the postcode,
e.g. "BN3". But the hidden API gives you the location for the full postcode.
Premasagar Rose
> @Wayne. You have probably done this already, but its as simple as:
> http://maps.google.com/maps/geo?q=BN1+3FP&output=json&oe=utf8&sensor=false&gl=gb
>
> Al
Yes, notice that this gives the same response as:
http://maps.google.com/maps/geo?q=BN1+4NS&output=json&oe=utf8&sensor=false&gl=gb
Alastair James
centre of the postcode area. This is the first half of the postcode, e.g.
"BN3". But the hidden API gives you the location for the full postcode.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh... juicy... Thanks for the tip!
Al
2009/1/27 Premasagar Rose <p...@dharmafly.com>
James Moss
comfortable using a hidden Google API, the multimap API is very good
http://www.multimap.com/openapidocs/1.2/web_service/ws_geocoding.htm. Ive
got a feeling its tapping into Microsoft's data since they bought them out
last year.
We've used it to nice effect on the mishonmackay site:
http://www.mishonmackay.com/property-search/property-map/
James Moss | Developer
Solv.IT | 01273 25 20 24
2009/1/27 Alastair James <al.j...@gmail.com>
David Pashley
> 2009/1/27 David Pashley <da...@davidpashley.com>
> >
> > The PAF is owned by Royal Mail.
> >
> > http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?mediaId=400085&catId=400084
> >
>
have a duty to make money for its shareholders by monetisation its
assets, of which the PAF is a good example.
Wayne Douglas
inclined to back it - as it stands our taxes are used to fight dud wars,
bail out corrupt economic systems and line the pockets of fat cat MPs.
w://
2009/1/27 David Pashley <da...@davidpashley.com>
Huw Selley
On 27 Jan 2009, at 16:11, Wayne Douglas wrote:
> If I believed that money went back into the country then I'd be more
> inclined to back it - as it stands our taxes are used to fight dud
> wars,
> bail out corrupt economic systems and line the pockets of fat cat MPs.
> w://
In addition to providing financial support for the poor and dis-
advantaged, medical care for all and a myriad other good things.
Premasagar Rose
> Sweet - that has to be the most concise.
>
> But yes, if it's not published, it could disappear I suppose.
>
> Be good to have a backup/cache...
>
I used this reverse-geocoding of a postcode with the hidden Google API
on <http://easthampshire.org/map>. The code allows for the possibility
of the API being unavailable in future. In that case, it falls back on
the less accurate, public API.
Prem
Wayne Douglas
extension?
:)
w://
2009/1/27 Premasagar Rose <p...@dharmafly.com>
> Leo Brown said (@ 27 January 2009 12:32:44):
Premasagar Rose
> @Premasagar do you mind if I half inch that code and turn it into an ExtJs
> extension?
> :)
>
> w://
Half-inch away :)
P
Leo Brown
Prem doesn't mind, it's open source right? ;)
-----Original Message-----
From: bnmlist...@brightonnewmedia.org
[mailto:bnmlist...@brightonnewmedia.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Douglas
Sent: 27 January 2009 16:20
To: Brighton New Media
Subject: Re: [BNM] Geo data
Aegir Hallmundur
> Given that the Royal Mail is a government owned company, does it not
> have a duty to make money for its shareholders by monetisation its
> assets, of which the PAF is a good example.
>
It's a strong argument, but then so is allowing UK individuals and companies
free use of the data, becoming successful, employing people and thereby
generating more revenue for the country. :)
--
Aegir Hallmundur
http://aegir.me/
http://ministryoftype.co.uk/
http://paperpixel.co.uk/
Alan Braddish
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