List of geocoding systems

This is a list of geocoding systems, in the sense of schemes that assign systematic labels to geographic entities.

This is not a list of software systems that can perform geocoding in the sense of turning a geographic name into a latitude and longitude.

Some of these code systems are free for use, others have different licences.

Administrative

• HASC (Hierarchical Administrative Subdivision Codes)
• ONS code, UK only, administrative
• MARC country codes
• SGC codes, Canada only, statistical
• UN M.49 region codes, area code, continents, countries (like ISO 3166-1 numeric)

Airport codes

• IATA airport codes, area /point codes, airports
• ICAO airport codes, area /point codes, airports
• IANA country codes similar to ISO 3166-1 alpha-2

Geodesy

• ISO 6709 Standard Representation for Geographic Point Location by Coordinates
• C-squares - compact encoding of geographic coordinate bounds (latitude-longitude)

  FIPS codes

  • FIPS country codes (FIPS 10-4), area code, administrative, free
  • FIPS place codes (FIPS 55) U.S. only, free
  • FIPS county codes (FIPS 6-4) US only, free
  • FIPS state codes (FIPS 5-2) US only
• Geohash and Geohash-36 open-source hash notation for locations
• Georef, a military / air navigation coordinate system for point and area identification
• Geotude, converts latitude and longitude to a single string
• What3words, converts 3x3 meter squares into 3 words ^[1]
• UTM
• WMO squares
• Munich Orientation Convention, converts lat/lon to metrical monopolar codes for targets, crossings, stations, stop points, bridges, tunnels, towns, islands, volcanoes, highway exits etc. ^[2]
• Open Location Code
• Longhurst Code, a set of four-letter codes used in ecological geography.

Sport

• IOC country codes, area, worldwide
• ISO 3166 country and subdivision codes

Telephony & radio broadcasting

• ITU-R country codes
• ITU-T country calling codes
• ITU-T mobile calling codes
• Maidenhead Locator System (used by amateur radio operators)
• Marsden Squares

Postal address

• Postal codes, area, worldwide, country-codes by UPU, free
• NAC, area codes (area can be indefinitely small)
• NUTS area code, partially administrative, worldwide: countries, Europe : country to community
• OpenPostcode, opensource global algorithm (local adaptations as Irish & Hong Kong postcodes).^[3]
• Munich Orientation Convention

Mapping not geodesy

• OpenStreetMap shortlink, used as a short permanent link to map locations
• Quarter Degree Grid Cells
• UN M.49 region codes, area code, continents, countries (like ISO 3166-1 numeric)
• SALB (Second Administrative Level Boundaries), by UN
• UN/LOCODE, area, administrative, cities
• Munich Orientation Convention

References