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New Utah Geocoding Toolbox for ArcGIS Desktop

Author · Steve Gourley
Published · Jan 17, 2014
Last modified · May 2, 2024
Category · Developer
Read time · 2 min

This tool has been updated to work with ArcGIS Pro. Some of the information below may be outdated. Please refer to GitHub, opens in a new tab for the most current documentation.

UGRC is proud to announce the release of a Utah-specific geocoding toolbox for ArcGIS Desktop.

This custom geocoding toolbox allows ArcGIS users to obtain geographic coordinates from UGRC’s Web API geocoding endpoint, opens in a new tab for any table of addresses in an ArcGIS accessible format.

While the geocoding endpoint was built primarily for web applications it also provides value as a toolbox in ArcGIS, as it uses current local data and solves for some common shortcomings with stock geocoding approaches by:

geocoding toolbox

  • using hierarchical street name and address coordinate system aliasing
  • use of either zip codes or place names as zones
  • ignores placename and zip code errors within the same addressing system
  • handles common placename usage and abbreviations (WVC, St George, Magna, Heber City, S Jordan, etc.)
  • can find matches for numeric address ‘reversals’ (500 E 1991 S)
  • can find address point matches, offset centerline matches, or best available.
  • more information

Use the Street and Zone endpoint on the API Explorer, opens in a new tab or the Find Address widget on atlas.utah.gov, opens in a new tab to test the results from your problem addresses against the API.

Installation is as easy as downloading the AGRC Geocode Tools.tbx file to your desired location and then in ArcGIS, right clicking the Add Toolbox, opens in a new tab menu item.

Users must obtain an IP specific API key by registering, opens in a new tab prior to use, as a unique API key is one of the required input parameters for running the tool.

The geocoding tool will produce as output a .csv file with the input unique identifier field, the input address information, and the match results. It also produces a .dbf file with the same information and will provide the user with the option to add this to the current ArcMap project. A user can use the .dbf file to join on the unique record identifier to connect with the original results, and also to Display XYEvents to create a map layer of the results.

Users can view/edit the python code associated with the geocoding toolbox by right clicking on the script and selecting ‘Edit’.

tool screenshot