Google API Geocoder Updates [ExtendedData]

Google API Geocoder Updates [ExtendedData]

Update 13/01/2009

Google chrome users will be happy to know if you update to version (2.0.156.1)
your get the bounding box response from the Google Geocoder.


How to get Google Chrome 2 (Beta)?
http://dev.chromium.org/getting-involved/dev-channel

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Google Developers have been promising this for a few months now but finally it has made it to the real world. The Bounding Box has made it to the geocoder.

What is new?
Google Maps API Group has a suggestion/requests/issue tracker and one was for the bounding box (SW Corner and NE Corner) to be return when a geocode is sent to the google geocoding servers

Now you get the bounding box not just the centre coordinates

http://maps.google.com/maps/geo?output=jsonl&oe=utf-8&q=10%20Downing%20Street,%20Westminster,%20London&gl=uk&key=ABQIAAAA5heAddVpewIi0Vy-FvLfBBQ6SKP0Jc9Qt0dvx

now returns:

{
"name": "10 Downing Street, Westminster, London",
"Status": {
"code": 200,
"request": "geocode"
},
"Placemark": [ {
"id": "p1",
"address": "10 Downing Street, Westminster, London, UK",
"AddressDetails": {"Country": {"CountryNameCode": "GB","CountryName":
"United Kingdom","AdministrativeArea": {"AdministrativeAreaName":
"Greater London","Locality": {"LocalityName": "London","PostalCode":
{"PostalCodeNumber": "SW1A 2","AddressLine":["10 Downing Street"]}}}}
,"Accuracy": 9},
    "ExtendedData": {
      "LatLonBox": {
        "north": 51.5063886,
        "south": 51.5000934,
        "east": -0.1238814,
        "west": -0.1301766
   }
},
"Point": {
"coordinates": [ -0.1270290, 51.5032410, 0 ]
}
} ]
}

Why the fuss?
Well now this extra [Extended information] can be used to set zoom levels for your map.

"Now, in the KML/JSON outputs, you'll also get information about the
recommended bounding box associated with a geocode. You can then use
that along with map.getBoundsZoomLevel(GLatLngBounds) to set an
appropriate center and zoom after a geocode. "

Available
"in the HTTP Geocoder output and JS/Flash Geocoder functions."
Not Available currently in the static api.

Source:
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API/browse_thread/thread/b95422a18f8701ed?hl=en#

Well Done Google Map API Team

Potential Future Requests
Altitude (feet or metres)
Time Zone (+1GMT -7 GMT etc)
Standardize the output between formats
Translate place names (Local >English or English to Local)
Accuracy of Rooftop geocoding response
Sea/Ocean Geocoder (Atlantic, Black Sea etc)