How to Batch Geocode Using a Ruby Library

Do you have more than one item to geocode? The Geocodio API can be used to batch geocode an array of addresses or coordinate pairs, taking in as many as 10,000 lookups. This is often a more efficient way of working, as it removes the overhead of having to perform multiple HTTP requests.

To streamline the process of batch geocoding for Ruby and Rails developers, we’ve created a Ruby Library that can easily call the API and retrieve the information you require.

In this article, we will discuss how to use the .geocode() and .reverse() methods to batch geocode a group of addresses, as well as a group of coordinate pairs.

If you’d like to know more details about how to install the Geocodio Gem, configure the API Key or geocode a single address or coordinate pair, check out these previous articles:

How To Geocode A Single Address Using A Ruby Library

How To Reverse Geocode A Pair of Coordinates Using A Ruby Library

Note

As mentioned, the batch geocoder accepts up to 10,000 lookups per batch. Be aware that field appends count as individual lookups. Therefore, a batch geocode of 5,000 addresses with the school field append would count as 10,000 lookups. Geocoding 10,000 lookups can take as much as 600 seconds, so be sure to account for that.

Batch Geocoding: Forward

Once you have installed the Geocodio Gem in your Gemfile, it is simple to get batch geocoding up-and-running. Let’s start with forward geocoding - meaning that we take in an address and return coordinates.

First, be sure to require ‘geocodio/gem’ at the top of the file where you would like to do your geocoding.

Then, create a new instance of the Geocodio::Gem and pass in your API Key.

You can now call the .geocode() method on your new geocodio variable. Pass in an array that contains the list of addresses you want to batch geocode. Each address should be contained within an individual string and separated by a comma.

We’ll respond with a JSON object that contains a geocoded version of each of the addresses you provide, including latitude and longitude coordinates, as well as additional information like Accuracy Score and Type.

Batch Geocoding: Reverse

Reverse geocoding is the process of taking a pair of coordinates and returning an address. You can reverse batch geocode by using the .reverse() method.

Set up your file by requiring geocodio/gem and creating an instance of Geocodio::Gem as mentioned in the instructions above.

Then, on your geocodio variable, call .reverse() and pass in an array of coordinate pairs - latitude first, longitude second. The pairs should be provided in individual strings with each string separated by a comma.

We will return address information for the provided coordinates, as well as additional information like Accuracy Score and Accuracy Type.

As you can see in both of these examples, the .geocode() and .reverse() methods will automatically recognize that you want to batch geocode when you enter more than one item - either an address or coordinate pair.

With this tool you can easily integrate batch geocoding into your Ruby application.