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When looking at postcode NR32 4BF, (This is Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK) OSM brings up a location in Eastern Australia.

How can this be corrected?

asked 03 Jun '19, 16:32

GiantHD's gravatar image

GiantHD
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edited 05 Jun '19, 15:46

TZorn's gravatar image

TZorn
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You can invesigate what's going on using the web interface for the search engine at https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org

Searching for "NR32 4BF" turns up the road in Australia, because it has an old_ref of "NR32". https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/details.php?place_id=167374628 . I think this is because nominatim doesn't recognise the exact postcode - is it new? - and so it tries to find other objects that match either the first or second half of the postcode.

Using the "reverse search" on the same site allows you to find the Aspire Centre and check what nominatim thinks the postcode for that is. https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/details.php?place_id=164924374 shows nominatim has computed the postcode as "NR32 4HE". Perhaps the source of the post codes for nominatim is old, or has some inaccuracies.

If you want a deeper dive into how Nominatim works, and how it chooses the search results, then have a look at http://nominatim.org/release-docs/latest/ . Otherwise I would suggest adding the postcode to the correct building.

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answered 04 Jun '19, 09:17

Andy%20Allan's gravatar image

Andy Allan
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accept rate: 28%

If you know the postcode of a house or building it is simple to map. Using iD pick "area"alt text draw the building outline easy with bing harder without. Choose house or building for the polygon you have drawn. Add the postcode. Save it.

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answered 04 Jun '19, 08:43

andy%20mackey's gravatar image

andy mackey
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1

While doing so you could also add the remaining missing address information of such place.

(04 Jun '19, 13:27) TZorn

To search and find an item it needs to be mapped. I tired a few postcodes, my own, that i mapped and some business ones from a magazine, they work if mapped. I guess the one you found means something in Australia but is not mapped yet in the UK. The solution is for us to map any that we know, especially if it is a new build . I seem to remember that the GB postcodes were something that the Royal Mail owned and couldn't be copied in total. More info. https://wikileaks.org/wiki/UK_government_database_of_all_1,841,177_post_codes_together_with_precise_geographic_coordinates_and_other_information,_8_Jul_2009

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answered 03 Jun '19, 18:03

andy%20mackey's gravatar image

andy mackey
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edited 04 Jun '19, 08:56

I've mapped the building now, Changeset: 70954094.

How long will it take before the postcode NR32 4BF will appear correctly in searches?

Thanks

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answered 05 Jun '19, 14:31

GiantHD's gravatar image

GiantHD
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accept rate: 0%

1

nominatim.openstreetmap.org is usually pretty fast with updating (seconds to hours). The postcode is searchable by now.

(07 Jun '19, 09:14) TZorn
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question asked: 03 Jun '19, 16:32

question was seen: 1,978 times

last updated: 07 Jun '19, 09:14

NOTICE: help.openstreetmap.org is no longer in use from 1st March 2024. Please use the OpenStreetMap Community Forum