Re: storing geocode data exception

[sticky]

Anyone from Google able to answer this. I have also tried contacting them directly more than once and never received a reply.
S

On Friday, September 7, 2012 1:51:15 PM UTC+10, sticky wrote:

Hi
Is it possible for Google to make an exception on storing geocode data for research purposes. I am referring here to public health related research conducted within a university research centre. We are not interested in mapping the locations only conducting spatial analysis. I have tried contacting Google about this but they have never responded.
Cheers
S

[davie strachan]

Hi

The way round this is 

1.create a map

2.use geocoding to place a movable marker

3.you MUST move marker to exact position.This exact position has not been geocoded.

4.save your location to database

As you are not saving the geocoded result this is not against TOS

Davie

[Rossko]

OP is "not interested in mapping the locations"
OP is looking for a special dispensation around a specific prohibition
in the Terms
"10.1.1(g) No Use of Content without a Google Map"

I couldn't say how likely that it is to happen, but not very I would
think.
It'd certainly need to come from Google in writing.

[davie strachan]

I know he doesn't want to use maps,

But as there is very doubtful he will get permission from Google this is an option

[sticky]

It would be nice to get some sort of response from Google if not here then from my several emails requesting an exception. There lack of response may indicate they are unconcerned about this issue and I can take it as an implicit Yes.
S

[Andrew Leach]

On 17 September 2012 06:22, sticky <richard...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It would be nice to get some sort of response from Google if not here then
> from my several emails requesting an exception. There lack of response may
> indicate they are unconcerned about this issue and I can take it as an
> implicit Yes.

Or their lack of response means that there is no change to the
published Terms in your case -- and they certainly haven't advised you
of any -- and there is no implied consent.

[Rossko]

> There lack of response may
> indicate they are unconcerned about this issue and I can take it as an
> implicit Yes.

Interested in that approach myself - "Dear Mr. Prime Minister, could I
be excused from paying taxes this year?" and if he doesn't respond
I'll take that as a implied Yes ...

Perhaps you're emailing the wrong place.

[sticky]

The PM usually replies though!

[FireHawk]

Sticky,

Explain again what you are trying to do.  Are you just trying to get a geolocated spot on a map and save those points for some sort of spatial analysis?

[sticky]

What I want to do is take addresses of participants in a study and geocode them to use the location information in spatial analysis (using geobugs). There is no intention to ever map these points. I already have the tools to do this (there is an R package, ggmap, that can do the geocoding and I have SAS code which will also do it. The project is in the public interest and I would have thought that google would jump at the opportunity to improve their image.
S

[FireHawk]

I guess I would ask the question, why use Google to geocode the data?  There are several other geocoding methods out there besides Google that I would try if I feared violating terms of agreements.  Bing and Yahoo both have geocoding tools, but you may be in violation there too.  When you use terms like spatial analysis, it looks to me like you are doing more of a GIS project.  GMaps are great for displaying information, and works very well for that, but they are not a spatial analysis GIS tool.  You could try some other tools availible, if you have GIS capability, you could use other services for geocoding locations.  Check out ArcGIS Online (Google it), that is one I can think of that may allow you to use data from thier servers to do what you are trying to do, again check the TOA, but they are good about answering questions via email, and have good forums as well.  It is free for personnal use, but may have to pay for a research project.  If you are associated with a university, you should be able to get the software at an educational discount, and it is built for doing spatial analysis.  If you use thier GIS software, then you can connect directly to thier servers for geocode locations.  I agree that Google seems to have the best geolocation data availible from what I can find in comparing services  (fairly accurate in most cases), which probablly didn't come cheap, and would probablly be availible if you paid for the data.

 

Just some thoughts that I hope aren't too random, and I hope folks don't flog me for mentioning other products either.

[sticky]

Looks like batchgeo still allow you to download the geocoded data.
R