Identifying how to make the most of the data available to you can be difficult and when using new or unfamiliar datasets it can be even more daunting. We want to help you get the best out of using Ordnance Survey’s AddressBase products with Esri products by answering some commonly asked questions.
What are the differences between AddressBase products?
Ordnance Survey describe the differences between the three products and this document provides an attribute mapping matrix for addressing products.
Ordnance Survey also provide details on each of the individual AddressBase products on their web site. AddressBase, AddressBase Plus or AddressBase Premium .
Esri UK is able to provide further guidance and aid in deciding between, and purchasing, AddressBase datasets. Please contact our Content team for more information.
Can I use AddressBase in ArcGIS for Desktop?
Yes, it is possible to load AddressBase CSV into ArcGIS for Desktop and then use the standard GIS functions such as; thematic mapping, visualisation, analysis etc. See the section on How do I load the CSV AddressBase products into a GIS?
AddressBase GML datasets can also be loaded, displayed and interrogated within ArcGIS for Desktop by using ProductivitySuite (see below).
Can I use address searching in ArcGIS for Desktop via LocatorHub?
The Esri UK Services Add-in is a toolbar for ArcGIS for Desktop which allows LocatorHub locators (including the AddressBase locators) to be accessed via the REST endpoint. This provides users with map navigation, complete with callouts, in ArcGIS for Desktop. The Services Add-In can be downloaded from here.
Can I use AddressBase in ProductivitySuite?
ProductivitySuite enables the GML versions of AddressBase to be loaded and interrogated in ArcGIS for Desktop. This article by Ordnance Survey provides details of how to link your AddressBase Premium tables to get the most out of your dataset. As well as loading and interrogating tables, X/Y themes can be created to display and link to existing data.
AddressBase and AddressBase Plus can be used with the generic Local Gazetteer functions for map navigation. However, AddressBase Premium cannot be used with these tools as it has a different underlying data structure. Instead we recommend you use LocatorHub for AddressBase Premium address searching.
If I’ve loaded AddressBase in ProductivitySuite can I geocode against it?
Unfortunately the tools inside ProductivitySuite are unable to provide geocoding, but you can do this using LocatorHub or talk to our Content team about doing it.
If I’ve loaded AddressBase in ProductivitySuite can I use it in LocatorHub?
Unfortunately not, when LocatorHub performs the data loading it ensures that the data is put into an optimal gazetteer search format. ProductivitySuite loads AddressBase for use inside ArcGIS for Desktop with the end goal being visualisation and mapping. These two formats are different and cannot be interchanged.
Can I use AddressBase in LocatorHub?
Yes, all three levels of AddressBase can be loaded and interrogated via LocatorHub. The functions provided by LocatorHub locators for all three flavours of AddressBase include; Match, Geocode, Reverse Geocode, Lookup, Rectify, Capabilities and Configuration. The AddressBase products increase in sophistication as you move from AddressBase to Plus and into Premium and this is reflected in an increasing level of functionality of each of the locators provided in LocatorHub.
AddressBase Plus and Premium locators have filters which enable the locators to filter views on the gazetteer for applications and business workflows.
Can I take advantage of the comprehensive information in AddressBase Premium?
LocatorHub provides functionality and support for the value-add information provided by AddressBase Premium. These include: – All records, including those in different stages of their lifecycle, are able to be searched and viewed.
– Functionality is available to query and return successor and predecessor records, these records can then be fed into business workflows.
– Relationships such as parent/child between BLPU’s and LPI’s are able to be searched and displayed to end users.
– TOID lookup to enable external systems to be migrated to using UPRN’s.
– Change only update (CoU) export file records deletes and modifications when CoU is applied.
LocatorHub provides an AddressBase Premium editable gazetteer. This can be used to store corrections against the published data, vanity addresses or missing locations such as pre-build addresses not yet in the published data.
Can I use AddressBase in ArcGIS Online?
Yes, LocatorHub provides an ArcGIS Compatible REST service which integrates seamlessly with ArcGIS Online to enable your AddressBase LocatorHub locators to be consumed. They can be used for map navigation, geocoding or reverse geocoding. Please note: there may be licensing implications to publishing Ordnance Survey data publically.
Can I use AddressBase in other areas of the Esri Platform?
Yes, LocatorHub provides an ArcGIS Compatible REST service which integrates seamlessly with ArcGIS Online to provide geocoding functionality equivalent to the ESRI ArcGIS Locators. Once your locators are published to ArcGIS Online, your AddressBase gazetteer can be consumed across the Esri Platform. They can be used inside; Esri Maps for Office, Esri Maps for Dynamics, Esri Maps for Sharepoint, Esri Maps for IBM Cognos, Portal for ArcGIS, Flex API and the new Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS (beta). Please note: there may be licensing implications to publishing Ordnance Survey data publically.