Office of Health Information and Policy

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Team

What is Geocoding?

Address geocoding, a commonly performed GIS operation, involves matching street addresses to geographic coordinates, usually longitude and latitude, on a map.

Numerous options exist for mapping the geocoded data for presentation. For example, as in shown in the figures of 2004 births, maps can display:

Individual points (e.g. displaying mother’s residence)	Enumeration units, such as census tracts, counties, or public health districts, with aggregated point totals or calculated rates, percentages, densities, etc. (e.g. births per square mile by county)	“Surfaces” with point densities calculated (e.g. births per square mile as calculated directly from points)

The resulting point locations are also useful for many different kinds of spatial analysis, including health-related applications.

OHIP Geocoding

The Office of Health Information & Policy (OHIP) is the source for standardized DHR geocoding and will geocode addresses for any DHR agency or organization. Please contact ohip@dhr.state.ga.us.

OHIP maintains a license for Centrus geocoding software distributed by Group 1™. The street base used for geocoding locations in Georgia is updated every two months through our licensing agreement. All of the data served on OHIP’s health data repository are geocoded to OHIP standards. Over the years, OHIP has geocoded millions of records, including Georgia Vital Records and hospital discharge data.

If you require geocoding, please forward files in Excel, Access, dbf, or text format. The address data in the table must be in the format shown. If applicable, please include data regarding race, sex, age, and time period as well. Note that P.O. Boxes cannot be geocoded: