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Texas A&M Geoservices Geocoding APIs

API Version - 4.03

The Texas A&M Geoservices Geocoder can be used from desktop and/or web applications via the Geocoding Web Service interfaces listed below. The only required information is the API key, which is available in your account profile page. You may want to read the technical details and the known bugs.

Available API Endpoints


The following web services provide access to the Texas A&M Geoservices geocoding system. The versions below are the simplified APIs and offer reduced input parameters and output values than do the advanced Geocoding APIs which provide additional metadata about the internal working of the Texas A&M Geoservices Geocoder as well as advanced options for requesting specific computational options, reference data sources, output hierarchies, etc. (i.e., all the science under the hood).

Most people probably don't need or care about the internal workings of geocoding systems, but they are provided in the advanced APIs in hopes that more people start to! If you are brave, click here to view the advanced versions of the API's.



API #1 - .Net Geocode Web Service




API #2 - HTTP Geocode Web Service (Non-parsed)


  • API for non-parsed address data that can be used from scripts and http

  • API URL

    https://geoservices.tamu.edu/Services/Geocode/WebService/GeocoderWebServiceHttpNonParsed_V04_03.aspx?

    API Input Fields

    (* Fields in bold are new for this API version)
    Parameter Required Description Example Possible Value
    apiKey true Click here for your API key api-key-value some text
    version true api version 4.03 4.03
    streetAddress false non-parsed street address value 3620 North Vermont Ave W. some text
    city false city value Beverly Hills some text
    state false state value CA some text
    zip false zip code value 90089 some text
    allowTies false flag to indicate to return ties as valid results or handle using the tieBreakingStrategy parameter true true, false
    tieBreakingStrategy false if allowTies parameter is false, this strategy is used to break ties and not return ties as valid results flipACoin flipACoin (choose and return one of the ties at random);
    revertToHierarchy (fail on a tie and match to the next level of the geographic hierarchy - parcel, then street, then ZIP, then city, etc.)
    census false calculate census variables (takes longer) true true, false
    censusYear false bar (|) separated list of the year of census data to intersect with, or "allAvailable" 2000|2010, allAvailable 1990, 2000, 2010, allAvailable
    format false output format csv csv, (results in comma separated values)
    tsv, (results in tab separated values)
    xml (results in XML format)
    includeHeader false include column headers for text (csv/tsv) output true true (include field headers)
    false (don't include field headers)
    notStore false indicates if the transaction details should not be historically stored in your account true true, false
    ConfidenceLevels false sets minimum confidence level accepted for Open Addresses Source Matches 5 1-8 (if parameter not added - min default level of 5 will be used) Confidence Levels
    MinScore false sets minimum accepted match score 95 00-100 (if parameter not added - min score will default to 88)

    API Output Fields and Index (for non-XML output)

    (* Fields in bold are new for this API version)
    Position Field Required Description Possible Values
    0 Transaction Id true Query Id Unique Id
    1 API Version true Vesion of the API used 4.03
    2 Query Status Code true Result code See list
    3 Latitude true Decimal
    4 Longitude true Decimal
    5 NAACCR GIS Coordinate Quality Code true Geocode quality code in NAACCR standard See list
    6 NAACCR GIS Coordinate Quality Name true Name of the geocode quality code in NAACCR standard See list
    7 Match Score true Match percentage between input data and reference feature
    8 Match Type true Geocode match type See list
    9 Feature Match Type true Geocode feature match type success (only one match),
    ambiguous (more than one match, all returned),
    brokenTie (more than one match, the tie was broken, and only one result was returnd)
    10 Feature Match Count true Number of geocodes that matched 0 (no matched found),
    1 (non-ambiguous match found),
    some number more than 1 (ambiguous matches found)
    11 Matching Geography Type true Geographic level of the output See list
    12 Region Size true Area of spatial uncertainty of the geocode decimal number
    13 Region size units true Units of area of spatial uncertainty of the geocode square meters (m), square kilometers (km)
    14 Matched Location Type true Type of input data identified See list
    15 Time Taken true Processing time Milliseconds
    16 NAACCR Census Tract Certainty Code false Centainty code for the Census tract assignment in NAACCR standard See list
    17 NAACCR Census Tract Certainty Name false Name of the centainty code for the Census tract assignment in NAACCR standard See list
    18 1990 Census Block false 1990 Census block value for the output point
    19 1990 Census Block Group false 1990 Census block group value for the output point
    20 1990 Census Tract false 1990 Census tract value for the output point
    21 1990 Census County Fips false 1990 Census county fips value for the output point
    22 1990 Census CBSA Fips false 1990 Census core base statistical area fips value for the output point
    23 1990 Census CBSA Micro false 1990 Census core base statistical area micropolitan flag for the output point
    24 1990 Census MCD Fips false 1990 Census minor civil division fips value for the output point
    25 1990 Census MetDiv Fips false 1990 Census metropolitan division fips value for the output point
    26 1990 Census MSA Fips false 1990 Census metropolitan statistical area fips value for the output point
    27 1990 Census Place Fips false 1990 Census place fips value for the output point
    28 1990 Census State Fips false 1990 Census state fips value for the output point
    29 2000 Census Block false 2000 Census block value for the output point
    30 2000 Census Block Group false 2000 Census block group value for the output point
    31 2000 Census Tract false 2000 Census tract value for the output point
    32 2000 Census County Fips false 2000 Census county fips value for the output point
    33 2000 Census CBSA Fips false 2000 Census core base statistical area fips value for the output point
    34 2000 Census CBSA Micro false 2000 Census core base statistical area micropolitan flag for the output point
    35 2000 Census MCD Fips false 2000 Census minor civil division fips value for the output point
    36 2000 Census MetDiv Fips false 2000 Census metropolitan division fips value for the output point
    37 2000 Census MSA Fips false 2000 Census metropolitan statistical area fips value for the output point
    38 2000 Census Place Fips false 2000 Census place fips value for the output point
    39 2000 Census State Fips false 2000 Census state fips value for the output point
    40 2010 Census Block false 2010 Census block value for the output point
    41 2010 Census Block Group false 2010 Census block group value for the output point
    42 2010 Census Tract false 2010 Census tract value for the output point
    43 2010 Census County Fips false 2010 Census county fips value for the output point
    44 2010 Census CBSA Fips false 2010 Census core base statistical area fips value for the output point
    45 2010 Census CBSA Micro false 2010 Census core base statistical area micropolitan flag for the output point
    46 2010 Census MCD Fips false 2010 Census minor civil division fips value for the output point
    47 2010 Census MetDiv Fips false 2010 Census metropolitan division fips value for the output point
    48 2010 Census MSA Fips false 2010 Census metropolitan statistical area fips value for the output point
    49 2010 Census Place Fips false 2010 Census place fips value for the output point
    50 2010 Census State Fips false 2010 Census state fips value for the output point
    51 Micro Match Status* true Micro Level Analysis Match Status

  • API Examples

    Example 1 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (CSV, with 2000 & 2010 census)

    Example 2 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (CSV, with all available census and field headers)

    Example 3 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, without census)

    Example 4 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, with 2000 & 2010 census)

    Example 5 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (XML, for an address that has a tie, without ties allowed and flipACoin as tie handling strategy - will match at street level and pick one of two options)

    Example 6 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (XML, for an address that has a tie, without ties allowed and revertToHierarchy as tie handling strategy - will fail at street level because it was ambigous and match at zip code because it is the next level of geography in the hierarchy)

    Example 7 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (XML, for an address that has a tie, with ties allowed - will return ambigous street level matches)

    Example 8 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #7 but TSV with header fields)

    Example 9 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #8 but TSV with ties not allowed and flipACoin as tie breaking strategy)

    Example 10 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #9 with all census years turned on)

    Example 11 - 668 Woodrow Rd, Staten Island, NY, 10312 (XML, confidence levels 1-3 returns match with confidence level 3)

    Example 12 - 668 Woodrow Rd, Staten Island, NY, 10312 (XML, confidence level 1 fails to return Open Addresses match due to confidence setting but returns match from Navteq Points)



API #3 - HTTP Geocode Detailed Web Service (Non-parsed)


  • API for non-parsed address data that can be used from scripts and http

  • API URL

    https://geoservices.tamu.edu/Services/Geocode/WebService/GeocoderWebServiceHttpNonParsedDetailed_V04_03.aspx?

    API Input Fields

    (* Fields in bold are new for this API version)
    (* Fields in bold and italic are upated for this API version)
    (* Fields with strikethrough have been removed for this API version)
    Parameter Required Description Example Possible Value
    apiKey true Click here for your API key api-key-value some text
    version true api version 4.03 4.03
    streetAddress false non-parsed street address value 3620 North Vermont Ave W. some text
    city false city value Beverly Hills some text
    state false state value CA some text
    zip false zip code value 90089 some text
    allowTies* false flag to indicate to return ties as valid results or handle using the tieBreakingStrategy parameter true true, false
    tieBreakingStrategy* false if allowTies parameter is false, this strategy is used to break ties and not return ties as valid results flipACoin flipACoin (choose and return one of the ties at random);
    revertToHierarchy (fail on a tie and match to the next level of the geographic hierarchy - parcel, then street, then ZIP, then city, etc.)
    census false calculate census variables (takes longer) true true, false
    censusYear* false bar (|) separated list of the year of census data to intersect with, or "allAvailable" 2000|2010, allAvailable 1990, 2000, 2010, allAvailable
    geom false return the full geometry of the reference feature (creates a very large response) true true, false
    verbose false output full details true true, false
    format* false output format csv csv, (results in comma separated values)
    tsv, (results in tab separated values)
    xml (results in XML format)
    kml and googleMapsUrl (dropped in version 4.01)
    includeHeader* false include column headers for text (csv/tsv) output true true (include field headers)
    false (don't include field headers)
    notStore false indicates if the transaction details should not be historically stored in your account true true, false

    API Output Fields and Index (for non-XML output)

    (* Fields in bold are new for this API version)
    (* Fields with strikethrough have been removed for this API version)
    Position Field Required Description Possible Values

    Notes
    - M____: The attribute value of your input address that used in finding a reference feature
    - P____: The equivalent parsed attribute value of your input address
    - F____: The attribute value of the matched reference feature used for interpolation

  • API Examples

    Example 1 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (CSV, with 2010 census)

    Example 2 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (CSV, with 2010 census and field headers)

    Example 3 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, without census)

    Example 4 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, with 2000 census)

    Example 5 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (KML, with 2010 census)

    Example 6 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (Google Maps URL, with 2010 census)

    Example 7 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (CSV, Verbose, with 2010 census and reference geometry)

    Example 8 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (TSV, Verbose, with 2010 census and reference geometry)

    Example 9 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, without census and reference geometry)

    Example 10 - 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, with 2010 census and reference geometry)

    Example 11 - PO Box 221, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, with 2010 census and reference geometry)

    Example 12 - PO Box 221 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (CSV, Verbose, with 2010 census and reference geometry)

    Example 13 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (XML, for an address that has a tie, without ties allowed and flipACoin as tie handling strategy - will match at street level and pick one of two options)

    Example 14 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (XML, for an address that has a tie, without ties allowed and revertToHierarchy as tie handling strategy - will fail at street level because it was ambigous and match at zip code because it is the next level of geography in the hierarchy)

    Example 15 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (XML, for an address that has a tie, with ties allowed - will return ambigous street level matches)

    Example 16 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #15 but TSV with header fields)

    Example 17 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #16 but TSV with ties not allowed and flipACoin as tie breaking strategy)

    Example 18 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #17 with all census years turned on)

    Example 19 - 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, ca, 90007 (same as example #18 with all output fields turned on [verbose=true])



API #4 - HTTP Geocode Detailed Web Service (Non-parsed) with Advanced Options


  • API for non-parsed address data that can be used from scripts and http that allows advanced options to be specified

  • API URL

    https://geoservices.tamu.edu/Services/Geocode/WebService/GeocoderWebServiceHttpNonParsedAdvanced_V04_03.aspx?

    API Input Fields

    This API's input field set includes all of the input and output parameters from API #2 above with the additions in the following table. Each of these are described in the techincal details. The default values used here are automatically used in API #2 above.

    Parameter Required Description Values Default value
    r false whether or not to use attribute relaxation true, false true
    ratts false the attributes allowed to be relaxed; only applies if shouldUseRelaxation is true comma separated list from the following options: pre, suffix, post, city, zip pre,suffix,post,city,zip
    sub false whether or not to use substring matching true, false true
    sou false whether or not to use soundex true, false true
    souatts false the attributes allowed to be soundex'ed; only applies if shouldUseSoundex is true comma separated list from the following options: name, city name,city
    h false which feature matching hierarchy to use uncertaintyBased, u, FeatureMatchingSelectionMethod, f, FeatureMatchingSelectionMethod
    refs false which reference data sources to use all

    - or one or more of the following -

    		all

    API Output Fields and Index (for non-XML output)

    The output fields for this API are the same as API #3 above

  • API Examples

    Example 1 - 9355 NE Burton Rd, Wrong City, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, All options false, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will fail to match a parcel because city is wrong

    Example 2 - 9355 NE Burton Rd, Wrong City, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, Attribute Relxation on pre,suffix,city, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will succeed in matching a parcel even though city is wrong because the city attribute will be relaxed

    Example 3 - 9355 Berrton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, All options false, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will fail to match a parcel because the street name is wrong

    Example 4 - 9355 Berrton Way, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, Soundex on street name, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will succeed in matching a parcel even though the street name is wrong because soundex is being used on the street name

    Example 5 - 9355 Berton Way, Bevirrly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, All options false, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will fail to match a parcel because the city name is wrong

    Example 6 - 9355 Berton Way, Bevirrly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, Soundex on city, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will succeed in matching a parcel even though the city is wrong because soundex is being used on the city

    Example 7 - PO Box 123, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, Feature matching hierarchy, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will match to ZIP 90210 (ZIP comes before city in the feature matching hierarchy)

    Example 8 - PO Box 123, Beverly Hills, ca, 90210 (XML, Verbose, Uncertainty hierarchy, with 2010 census and reference geometry)
    - will match to city Beverly Hills (smaller area = less geographic uncertainty = more accurate geocode)

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