Reverse geocoding network locations

Geocoding is the process of finding a geographic location from an address. Reverse geocoding is the opposite process: finding the nearest address to a geographic location. In the ArcGIS Network Analyst extension, you can reverse geocode the point-based network locations you create, load, or move. The nearest address is assigned to the Name field of the network location.

The nearest address is interpolated from the point's position on the network, which is not necessarily the geographic location of its symbol. This means that the geographic location is snapped to the network first, and the nearest address is discovered from that point.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcMap 10.1.
2. On the Network Analyst toolbar, click Network Analyst > Options.

   The Network Analyst Options dialog box opens.

3. Click the Location Names tab.
4. Check Use Street Address.
5. Choose an address locator.
   • If an address locator was already added to ArcMap, you can choose it from the Address Locator drop-down list.
   • Otherwise, click the browse button and navigate to an address locator.
6. In the Edit location name when frame, choose the scenarios in which you would like to reverse geocode addresses.
7. Click OK.

   Depending on what was checked in the last step, subsequent adding, moving, and loading of point-based network locations will result in the nearest address being stored in the Name property.

Note:

When loading locations, you can override the Network Analyst options by clicking Advanced at the bottom of the Load Locations dialog box and filling out the properties in the Network Analyst Location Options dialog box that appears.