[Developers] Freebase and geo location information

[Paul Houle]

Tom Morris wrote:
>> I see in the examples, that Freebase can be queried for GeoLocation.  Does
>> Freebase pull
>> data from the GeoNames knowledge base?  (www.geonames.org)
>>     
>
> I was told a while back that Freebase does not include all of GNIS,
> which would mean, by definition, it doesn't include all of GeoNames.
>
> I think it would be very useful to have standard gazeteers with
> non-conflicting licenes, like GeoNames, included as part of the
> standard database.
>   
    Personally,  I'd like it if somebody were to run all the street 
addresses in Freebase through a geocoder and turn them into coordinates.

    Google's geocoder works for many international addresses,  it's the 
only one I've used that does that.  However,  you're not supposed to use 
Google's geocoder for anything other than putting markers on Google's maps.

    Melissa Data and other providers will geocode address batches for a 
very reasonable price,  and I think you can do what you want with the 
geocodes since you paid for them.  The services I've look at so far only 
cover the US,  but other ones must be available.