Use of Google Maps for geocoding data from the Mortality Information System in Rio de Janeiro municipality, Brazil, 2010-2012

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

to describe the results of the application of a low cost procedure, using free software, for geocoding data from the Mortality Information System (SIM), in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro.

METHODS:

descriptive study using Google Maps database for geocoding deaths data recorded at SIM, occurred from 2010 to 2012, in Rio de Janeiro; the study was carried out in three stages, (i) standardization of addresses, (ii) geocoding by Google Maps, and (iii) manual intervention.

RESULTS:

from the total of 26,081 addresses submitted to the procedure, 18,646 (71.5%) had exact matches; the remaining 7,435 were submitted to manual intervention, which found 5,250; 70.6% of the addresses were not initially found; a total of 91.6% of the addresses were geocoded.

CONCLUSION:

the procedure presented high proportion of automatic matches and, although it demanded much time, manual intervention allowed a considerable reduction of losses.

Keywords:
Geographic Mapping; Geographic Information Systems; Spatial Analysis; Epidemiology, Descriptive