Geocoding, the process of turning addresses into points, has long been the bane of many mappers’ existences. We never got all of our addresses to match, which meant enduring the tedious process of finding where the rest of the addresses should be on the map.

We longed for an easier, faster way.

The world is not flat. Although this is no news flash, it’s important to remember when you are using geographic information system programs. Maps attempt to put the round globe on a flat surface, but some do so in different ways. Some maps are developed to maintain the integrity of direction, so that one could sail around the world, for example. Other maps, such as those for land use, require accurate area measures. Also, some maps are better for local use, but not so good on a national scale.

Now that it’s high political season, it’s a perfect time to prepare for reporting on the election. If you take a few steps to get ready, you’ll be able to cut through the spin on election night and the days after and show how the candidates fared in your area. So, here are some tips for laying the foundation now: