Geocoding & Egyptian Addresses

• Geocoding converts addresses or location-based data into geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude).
• Used to pinpoint locations on a map.
• Involves specialized algorithms and databases for matching addresses to geographic coordinates.
• Applications include mapping, directions, and proximity searches.

Miles of Geocoding

• First Mile involves address data collection and standardization.
• Middle Mile matches standardized address data to geographic coordinates using algorithms and mapping data.
• Last Mile delivers matched geographic coordinates to end-user applications like mapping and logistics.

Overview and Background of Geocoding in Egypt

• Egypt is located in northeast Africa and southwest Asia, connected by the Sinai Peninsula.
• Egypt is an emerging market with significant growth potential for Amazon deliveries.
• Administratively divided into a three-tier hierarchy:
• 27 Governorates (top-level)
• Markaz (rural areas) or Qesm (urban areas) (second-level)
• Districts and villages (third-level)
• Accurate geocodes are crucial for Amazon's Egypt operations.
• Five key cities from five Governorates are identified for upcoming AMZL stations:
• Cairo (Cairo Governorate)
• Alexandria (Alexandria Governorate)
• Tanta (Gharbia Governorate)
• Asyut (Asyut Governorate)
• Ismailia (Ismailia Governorate)
• Daily scans are audited to assign geocodes for customer addresses.
• Manual geocodes evaluate compliance performance at station, driver, and country levels.

Step-by-step Breakdown of Geocoding

• PG Correct:
• Geocode Already Correct: Address is accurate and marked as "Synced."
• Perfect Address: Address is accurate, but accuracy needs confirmation at different levels (Building, Complex, Street, etc.).
• PG Incorrect:
• Incomplete Address: Missing information.
• Address Error: Multiple errors (spelling, missing details).
• The process checks address accuracy at different levels.

Address Accuracy Levels

• Building Level: Checks if the building is correctly identified.
• Complex Level: Checks addresses in a complex or larger group of buildings.
• Street Level: Verifies if the street name and location are correct.
• Neighborhood Level: Checks if the neighborhood is accurate.
• Un-Locatable: Address cannot be located and is marked as such.
• Inconclusive: Result when address is not verifiable at lower levels, and no confirmation is made.

Final Categories

• Building Vicinity: The address is close to the building, but not exact.
• Complex: Corresponds to a larger area, such as a housing complex.
• Street: Matches with the street name and location.
• Parking Scan-Compliance: Ensures the parking info matches the address.

Address Structure/Patterns in Egypt

• Addresses include components from general to specific:
• Building Number / Street Name: Number and street name.
• Block / Area / District: Neighborhood or region within the city.
• City / Governorate: City and its governorate (province).
• Postal Code: Less frequently used, but important for identification, especially in rural areas.
• Country: Egypt.

Detailed Format Example for Egypt

• Building Number / Street Name:
• Street number and name are placed first.
• Example: 15 Tahrir Street (Building 15 on Tahrir Street).
• Block / Area / District:
• Local area or district, typically in large cities or urban areas.
• Example: Downtown Cairo (the area in Cairo city).
• For suburban or rural addresses, a local area name might be used.
• Example: Mokattam District (a district in Cairo).
• City / Governorate:
• Egypt has 27 governorates; larger cities like Cairo, Alexandria, and Giza are commonly referenced.
• Example: Cairo or Giza.
• Postal Code:
• Usually follows the city or area, and might be omitted in some cases.
• Example: 11311 Cairo (the postal code for an area in Cairo).
• Country:
• Always include Egypt at the end for international mailing.
• Example: Egypt.
• Example Address: 15 Tahrir Street, Downtown Cairo, Cairo Governorate, 11311, Egypt
• Rural Variation: More rural areas or smaller towns might omit block numbers or district names; an example is Villa 7, El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Gharbia Governorate, 31511, Egypt.

Key Considerations for Address Formats in Egypt

• Postal Codes: Many urban addresses, especially in Cairo and Alexandria, are still commonly used without postal codes, even though codes are important for rural or specific addresses.
• Street Types: Identified by names like "Sharia" (Arabic for street) or "Alley" for smaller lanes, or by the district or landmark name.
• Governorates: Large cities (Cairo, Alexandria, Giza) are under a governorate system, which should be included in the address.
• Address validation or geocoding should keep this structure in mind.

Address Scenario 1

• A perfect address includes: Building Number + Street Name, Area/District, City + Governorate, Postal Code (if available), Egypt.
• Includes the specific location with building number, street District, and name, city, governorate, postal code, and the country.
• Example Address:
• Address Line 1: Building 24, Omar Ibn Al Khatab Street
• Address Line 2: Qesm El Montazh
• City: Alexandria
• Governorate: Alexandria
• Postal Code: (if available)
• Country: Egypt
• Key Point: Address Line 1 and Line 2 might be interchanged, to be considered that way.

Address Scenario 2

• If both Address Line 1 and Address Line 2 contain only numbers, delivery scans can verify the correct option.
• If scans don't confirm, rely on scan compliance to determine if numbers refer to the street or building.

Address Scenario 3

• If only Address Line 1 is a number, check the delivery scan.
• Without scan confirmation, it will be marked as UTL (Unlocatable).

Common Challenges and Issues in Arabic Address Translation

• Interchangeable Letters: Arabic letters have multiple English transliterations:
• ج can be J or G (Jamal vs. Gamal).
• ب can be B or P (Badr vs. Padr).
• أ (Alef) can be A or E (Ahmed vs. Ehmad).
• Variations in Spelling: Names and words have varied transliterations:
• Abdul = Abd El or Abdel
• Mohammed = Muhammad, Mohamed, or Mohammad
• Directional Prefixes/Suffixes: Arabic addresses include prefixes like Al (ال), meaning "The":
• Al Jamal translates to The Jamal
• Al Qasr translates to The Palace
• Common Abbreviations and Symbols: Numbers and Arabic letters indicate elements of the addresses:
• 2أ is equivalent to 2A
• Floors are abbreviated as .ب (e.g., = 3rd floor).
• Translation Tools and Context: Online tools translate literally:
• شارع الجامعة might be translated as University Street, but tools might render it as Street University if not interpreted properly.
• Local Dialects and Variants: Arabic dialects affect spelling and word choice:
• In Egyptian Arabic, is often pronounced as G, while in Levantine Arabic, it is pronounced as J.
• Numeric Substitutions for Letters: Numbers transliterate sounds:
• = (sound, as in "Habibi")
• 3 = (A sound, as in "Ali")
• 2 = أ (Alef sound, as in "Ahmed")

Common Arabic-to-English Address Abbreviations Table

Explore geocoding's functions, applications, and the essentials of Egyptian addresses. Learn how geocoding enhances customer distribution analysis and logistical operations. Understand the structure of addresses in Egypt.