[ILUG] OT: Open Source Postcode

[Ian Spillane]

A question for the brainboxes:

A present the location code uses three-and-a-half digits for each of
longitude and latitude. Half a digit of base 28 is actually two base 5
digits, 5*5=25, which wastes 3 numbers and thus reduces potential
accuracy by a third.

Is there a more efficient way to express two distinct numbers in one character?

On 12 July 2011 15:07, Kevin Brennan <kevin.brennan at redsquared.com> wrote:
> - The presence of a dog should be indicated with a letter. An essential
> requirement for any postman.
> - A optional fada can be used to increase to base 68 and reduce the length
> of the code or increase the accuracy - it'l also make the code more Irishy.
> - Limiting the code to the 'Ireland box' causes future problems when we take
> over the UK.
> - Categorisation of building should be indicated with a letter, 'P' for
> 'Public House' being an obvious one. 'X' can be reserved for churches and/or
> porn shops. 'M' for mansions (because the drop of D4 will be a cause for
> mass depression).
> /KB
>
> On 12/07/2011 14:33, Ian Spillane wrote:
>>
>> Height data could be encoded with the base 33 (vowels aren't a problem
>> with 2 characters) - two characters provide 1089 possible metre
>> designations. The highest point in Ireland is 1,038 metres - so it can
>> afford 60 metres below (or the use of brackets to denote negative,
>> since it would be rare enough).
>>
>> On 12 July 2011 14:18, Rory Browne<rbmlist at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>
>>> Personally I think that if we're doing this, we should be as flexible
>>> as possible starting off.
>>>
>>> I really like the idea that we start off with the relatively simple
>>> 4-char to indicate general area, followed by 2 more characters, if you
>>> wish to be more precise. How large is the current 4-letter area ( now
>>> that vowels, 1's 0's and S's ( or 5's ) have been removed? I would
>>> like the spec to allow for extending this, to include height. I'm not
>>> sure however how height should be represented.
>>>
>>> The points stands that Postcodes don't have to do X, but the
>>> counterpoint is that we don't _need_ postcodes. While we're doing it
>>> however, I think we should make these codes as useful as possible.
>>>
>>> Rory
>>>
>>>
>>> On 12 July 2011 13:58, Ian Spillane<iantheteacher at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>>
>>>> All this is possible with a geolocation code combined with the
>>>> processors own database. Address databases will always exist.
>>>> Companies like An Post can still manage address databases to be sold
>>>> and licensed. It doesn't have to be central or official.
>>>>
>>>> On 12 July 2011 13:51, Kevin Brennan<kevin.brennan at redsquared.com>
>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> - If a post code identifies a unique address it can be used as a check
>>>>> for
>>>>> illegible/incorrect addresses.
>>>>> - A post code identifying a unique address can have other purposes. As
>>>>> an
>>>>> example it's used in some countries to help identify legitimate
>>>>> delivery
>>>>> addresses and card transactions for online sales.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm not preaching it's the best way - I'm just pointing out what
>>>>> geolocation
>>>>> codes don't do.
>>>>> /KB
>>>>>
>>>>> On 12/07/2011 11:22, Paul Scollon wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Should "It makes no allowance for people living in multi-story
>>>>>> buildings
>>>>>> who will all end up with the same post code" matter? It the point of a
>>>>>> postcode not to get the postman to the geographical location when he
>>>>>> can
>>>>>> then reference the rest of the address eg. Joe Bloggs, Apartment A?
>>>>>> The
>>>>>> postcode does not replace the whole address, it's just an extra field
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> help ease the process, no?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Paul
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12/07/11 11:15, Kevin Brennan wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It makes no allowance for people living in multi-story buildings who
>>>>>>> will all end up with the same post code.
>>>>>>
>>>>> --
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Ian Spillane
>>>> 085-7263117
>>>> --
>>>> Irish Linux Users' Group mailing list
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>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
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