Design and Implementation of a Smart Data Model for Geospatial Addressing Systems for Urban Areas in Ghana Using an Area Zone Identifier: A Case Study*

Abstract

For effective processing of taxes and bills, recording of crime events, and dispatching of emergency services in Ghana, many organisations are maintaining large databases; unfortunately, within an organization, various units and sections of the same organization may be using varying address formats for streets and properties, whereby staff of the same organization often disagree on what address system to be adopted for a particular area. This often leads to stakeholders using different address systems for the same property. This brings about much confusion in the communities, especially with the city authorities, the utility companies and the Post Office and others. This usually poses significant challenges in sharing information, locating and extracting information that may be keyed to a situs address, or simply communicating about an address’s location. Therefore, one of the principal needs for this standard is to make addresses more uniform and, thereby, facilitate the sharing of address information. With technological advancements, addresses can be directly associated with features like points, polylines or polygons. In order to combine all formats of address systems into a unique and uniform standard system, a smart data model for a geospatial addressing system has been designed and implemented, using sub-Metros of Accra Metropolitan Assembly as case study, for efficient courier system and communication in urban areas in Ghana. The results provide a system for naming existing and new roads, thereby directly associating addresses with graphic features such as points, polygons and line through GIS. The system can aid in the proper delivery of parcels without delays or lost parcels, efficient and timely responses by ambulance, fire services, and law enforcement agents, and effective revenue collection for the Metropolitan authorities.