FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions below. Should you not find what you are looking for, please contact us via call: +2787 310 6400 or email: products@afrigis.co.za and we will get in touch with you.
Definitions/Glossary of Terms:
Geoscience | Study of the earth, which include the sciences of geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. |
Geocoding | Geocoding is the process of converting a description of a location, such as an address, into a set of geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), which provides an accurate location on earth. |
API | Application Programming Interface is a set of rules and protocols that enable different software components to share data and functionality. |
WFS | The Web Feature Service allows for request or query of geographic data on a feature level. |
WMS | Web Map Service displays data from geographic databases as a map image. |
OGC standards | Open Geospatial Consortium specifications are developed in an open process to serve as guidelines when implementing software interfaces. |
Raster | Raster images are created using pixels arranged in formation to represent geographic locations. |
Vector | The representation of geographic data as points, lines or polygons. |
NAD (this is a unique AfriGIS reference for our address data) | National Address Dictionary is the AfriGIS comprehensive spatial representation of physical street addresses in South Africa |
CAD | Data of the surveyed demarcation boundaries for land registration, as per the Surveyor-General in South Africa |
Points of Interest | The AfriGIS Points of Interest (POI) dataset contains spatial and attribute information on commercial, topographical and human infrastructure features. |
SEOID | The unique identifier used for a spatial feature in the AfriGIS datasets. |
WMTS | Web Map Tile Service is a web-based request for map tiles of spatial referenced data. |
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are some of the unique challenges facing businesses in Geoscience, unique to South Africa/Africa?
- We have too many returned or non-deliveries
- We need a view of our store locations/footprint (where we are)
- We need to understand more about our clients/customers and where they are
- We need to see/interact where our assets/sensors/people are and
where they are moving - We need data
More information click here: https://www.afrigis.co.za/solutions/
Why should your business turn to AfriGIS for data solutions?
- We are a premium data supplier based in Africa.
- We are curious, insightful, innovative and tenacious.
- We understand the client problem and can provide customer solutions.
What is Geospatial Data?
Geospatial data is the term used for information describing an object in the physical world. If a longitude and latitude is present, it is geospatial data.
What is Data quality?
Specific markers provide information regarding the quality of the data.
These include the completeness of the data.
An indication of the last time the data was maintained in terms of accuracy.
The quality of the data, once confirmed, will provide you with a level of trust in terms of decision-making.
What does compliance mean?
Geospatial companies can belong to certain international member bodies that will provide standards in terms of usage. These standards create trust in terms of interoperability, transparency and completeness of data. AfriGIS complies with the national and international data standards.
How do we interact with your data?
We provide access to well maintained spatial information through a variety of ways.
The data can be accessed via API or purchased and received in a variety of geospatial formats.
We interact with the spatial component of your data. If you have an address in your data, either in your operational or financial or sales division, we can interact with that.
This will provide you with a wealth of information with regards to a visual display of your data or footprint. This can lead to quality insights for future planning and growth. Each address in your system will be clean, verified and validated.
Are all the product features available as APIs?
Yes, All our product features are available via APIs.
How does AfriGIS keep the data updated?
A dedicated team of GIS data experts continuously updates all datasets. Updated datasets are published quarterly, and all additions are recorded in our Data Release Notes (separate document). Our quarterly maintenance releases are in:
- February
- May
- August
- November
Are Datasets available for the entire African continent?
South Africa is our base of operations, and we strive to build the data for the rest of the continent to the same level of excellence.
Currently, due to availability of data and authoritive sources for data we can provide our customers with administrative boundary level information, town / village names and a selection of roads and points of interest. As the need for specific countries arise, we focus our attention and resources on obtaining the best possible solution. All AfriGIS Data Points will contain information with regards to accuracy and source.
Is AfriGIS Africa Data POPI or POPIA Compliant?
AfriGIS is POPIA Compliant and only provide information within the strict guidelines prescribed. Client data is also protected via the POPIA guidelines internally.
Do you offer any Data for free?
AfriGIS builds and maintains a comprehensive list of datasets that represent the physical world we live in. The quality of the data provides a platform of trust for our clients to base informed decisions upon.
The data is not available free of charge.
How many address variations does AfriGIS have?
Due to the interesting nature of South African addresses, where 1 address can be referred to in a number of ways we allow for up to 53 million address variations across the different address types.
Are Suburbs official Boundaries?
Suburb boundaries are not official. They are aggregation of the Proclaimed town boundaries as supplied by the Surveyor General. AfriGIS builds and maintains the Suburb dataset based on information sourced from the Surveyor General and confirmed by the Local Municipalities and Metros.
What is the difference between Towns boundaries and Proclaimed towns?
Towns boundaries contain the perimeter of the entire town, whereas a proclaimed town is the most granular level at which a town is growing. As a new extension is proclaimed it becomes part of the town as a proclaimed town. We recognise the extension in suburb names.
Is postal codes useful for logistical purposes?
Internationally postal codes are ideal for logistical purposes.
In South Africa however the postal code regions are very large and make logistical delivery schedules and profitability difficult.
What’s the difference between a postal code and a suburb boundary?
Suburbs are small areas within a town. Postal codes are much larger boundaries and several suburbs can be found within a specific postal code.
What is Leaflet?
The demand for and frequency of integrating interactive maps into web and mobile applications is rising. Couple with that the desire of software developers and their customers to customise the appearance, functionality, features and finer details of the integrated interactive maps and the appropriate solution that comes to mind is a JavaScript library for maps.
Leaflet is the leading open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps.
Fo more information, click here: https://developers.afrigis.co.za/leaflet-quickstart-guide/
Can I request a small subset of your Datasets.
AfriGIS provides access to the data via API and the subscription model best suited to your needs will be determined along with an AfriGIS client consultant.
In what file formats can I get Data?
Data is provided in most geospatial formats. The various options will be discussed with the data team during handover.
What do I need to locate customers?
All you need to locate your customers is an address. AfriGIS will be able to locate your customers and provide you with a validated and verified address and spatial location (LatLong).
What are Confidence levels?
Confidence levels are one of the most important data quality indicators.
The range from Confidence level 1 to confidence level 2 will provide you with a clear view in terms of trust.
Specific client use cases have specific needs. In emergency response scenarios a confidence level of 1 will result in saved lives and time.
Trade area analyses that use the aggregated footprint of data can make decisions up to confidence level 6 or 7.
A client consultant will be able to determine the confidence level of our business operations with you.
Why is it better to speak to an AfriGIS Client Consultant?
The geospatial spectrum of value and services are as diverse as the world we live in.
To ensure that your specific requirements are met to link your business to the physical world around you, a client consultant is the shortest route between your question and the answer.
AFRIGIS APIs
Access verified and validated data via our APIs. Integrate in your own solutions.
Showcase
Experience our capabilities in action.
Take a look at our capabilities, play around, ask us questions. Find out how AfriGIS unlocks the valuable geospatial insights you need to succeed.