Address geocodingAddress geocoding, or simply geocoding, is the process of taking a text-based description of a location, such as an address or the name of a place, and returning geographic coordinates (typically the latitude/longitude pair) to identify a location on the Earth's surface. Reverse geocoding on the other hand converts geographic coordinates to the description of a location, usually the name of a place or an addressable location.
Enhanced 911Enhanced 911 (E-911 or E911) is a system used in North America to automatically provide the caller's location to 911 dispatchers. 911 is the universal emergency telephone number in the region. In the European Union, a similar system exists known as E112 (where 112 is the emergency access number) and known as eCall when called by a vehicle. An incoming 911 call is routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which is a call center operated by the local government.
Location-based serviceSoftware services that use location data A location-based service (LBS) is a software service which uses geographic data and information to search systems, in turn providing services or information to users.GeoreferencingGeoreferencing or georegistration is a type of coordinate transformation that binds a digital raster image or vector database that represents a geographic space (usually a scanned map or aerial photograph) to a spatial reference system, thus locating the digital data in the real world. It is thus the geographic form of image registration or image rectification.
GeoNamesGeoNames (or GeoNames.org) is a user-editable geographical database available and accessible through various web services, under a Creative Commons attribution license. The project was founded in late 2005. The GeoNames dataset differs from, but includes data from, the US Government's similarly named GEOnet Names Server. Database and web servicesThe GeoNames database contains over 25,000,000 geographical names corresponding to over 11,800,000 unique features.
Geographic coordinate systemA geographic coordinate system (GCS) is a spherical or geodetic coordinate system for measuring and communicating positions directly on Earth as latitude and longitude. It is the simplest, oldest, and most widely used type of the various spatial reference systems that are in use, and forms the basis for most others.
Wi-Fi positioning systemWi-Fi positioning system (WPS, WiPS or WFPS) is a geolocation system that uses the characteristics of nearby Wi‑Fi access points to discover where a device is located. It is used where satellite navigation such as GPS is inadequate due to various causes including multipath and signal blockage indoors, or where acquiring a satellite fix would take too long.
RoutingRouting is the process of selecting a path for traffic in a network or between or across multiple networks. Broadly, routing is performed in many types of networks, including circuit-switched networks, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and computer networks, such as the Internet.
Geographic information systemA geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualizegeographic data. Much of this often happens within a spatial database; however, this is not essential to meet the definition of a GIS.
Cell siteA cell site, cell phone tower, cell base tower, or cellular base station is a cellular-enabled mobile device site where antennas and electronic communications equipment are placed on a raised structure (typically on a radio mast, or tower) to create a cell, or adjacent cells, in a cellular network.
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap (OSM) is a map database maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveys, trace from aerial photo imagery or satellite imagery, and import from other freely licensed geodata sources. OpenStreetMap is freely licensed under the Open Database License and is commonly used to make electronic maps, inform turn-by-turn navigation, and assist in humanitarian aid and data visualisation.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.