The script uses the AskGeo API to reverse geocode latitude and longitudes. It is customized for large batch jobs. For instance, the script was used to produce zip codes for Database on Ideology, Money in Politics, and Elections. Database with zip codes is posted on Harvard DVN (see here).
AskGeo also returns zip code level information from the 2010 US Census. These data are stored in uszcta2010.csv.
The script creates 2 databases:
- Main database file: askgeo.db contains table "UsZcta2010"
UsZcta2010 (
id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
lat REAL,
long REAL,
zip CHAR( 6 ),
json_id INTEGER,
UNIQUE ( lat, long )
)
- UsZcta2010.db contains table "json" to store all JSON returned by AskGeo for each request.
json (
id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
points TEXT,
json TEXT)
- Get started by getting the API Key from GeoNames.
- Next, add the account information and api_key in the latlong2zip.cfg file.
- To run the script:
latlong2zip.py [options] input_file
Command line options
Options:
-i, --import Import lat/long to database
-a, --askgeo Request AskGeo for Zip code
-o OUTPUT, --output=OUTPUT
Output file with Zip code
-?, --help
Examples
-
Import new lat/long to database
python latlong2csv.py -i contribDB_1980.csv -
Query ZIP code from AskGeo for new lat/long in database
python latlong2csv.py -a -
Export (append) ZIP code to input file and save to output file
python latlong2csv.py -o contribDB_1980_zipcode.csv contribDB_1980.csv