Automating Parcel Address Management with Python
Python is everywhere in GIS. It’s essentially the “glue” language that automates, extends, and customizes geospatial workflows. Among Argis Solutions’ state and local government clients, automation is one of the most popular uses for Python within GIS, particularly for parcel addressing tasks.
The following are three examples of how Argis clients are using Python scripting to make parcel address management faster and more efficient.
City Spanning Two Counties
Challenge: A city that overlaps two counties was manually creating parcel addresses by combining data from each county, a time-consuming and error-prone process.
Solution: Argis developed a Python script scheduled to run monthly. The script downloads and merges parcel and addressing data from both counties, clips it to the city limits, and publishes it directly to the city’s GIS.
Outcome: The city’s web map is now automatically updated with current data each month, eliminating manual effort and improving accuracy.
County with Third-Party Data Storage
Challenge: A county client stored its GIS data with a third-party vendor, making it difficult to extract and use data for local needs.
Solution: Argis built a Python script that automatically pulls parcel and addressing data from the third-party database and clips the results within a two-mile buffer.
Outcome: The county now has streamlined, automated access to the subset of data it needs, improving efficiency and reliability.
Rural County with Manual Addressing Process
Challenge: A rural county relied on a lengthy manual process to update parcel numbers using Excel spreadsheets and copy-pasting lengths and address numbers. Address numbers were calculated based on road direction and had to follow specific rules tied to existing addresses.
Solution: Argis configured Esri’s Address Data Management ArcGIS Solution and customized it with Python scripting to integrate the county’s unique addressing rules.
Outcome: The automation reduced the process from several minutes to just 20 seconds, greatly improving efficiency and consistency.
Using AI to Support Python Development
Ready to level up your use Python to customize or automate GIS workflows or tools? Artificial intelligence (AI) is a helpful tool for writing and testing Python code, but be cautious: It’s not a replacement for developer expertise. Argis’ GIS developers emphasize the following best practices when using AI for coding assistance:
Knowledge of Python is essential. AI can generate code, but there’s a high chance it won’t fully meet your needs. To fix and debug these situations, you still need to understand how to code in Python. AI isn’t yet capable of producing flawless, ready-to-use scripts without human guidance and review.
Prompting is key. Be very specific about what you want the code to accomplish. Specify the coding language, libraries, and clear parameters. Example Prompt: Create a function in ArcPy that creates an address in between two other addresses. Utilize “from” and “to” streets with boundary limits. Only use selected points.
Use the right tools. Currently, our developers have achieved the best results with the paid version of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot integrated with Visual Studio.
Follow standard development practices. Always test, validate, and document code before deployment.
Python continues to prove its value in GIS by automating repetitive tasks, ensuring accuracy, and freeing staff time for higher-level problem solving. When paired with modern tools like AI-assisted coding, it empowers organizations to accelerate development while maintaining quality.
Is your parcel or address management workflow slowing you down? Argis Solutions helps state and local governments harness the power of Python to automate processes and make GIS operations smarter and more efficient.
Connect with one of our GIS experts today to explore how automation can work for you.