How to make my Azure Map determine accurate location information for my mobile users

Question

How to make my Azure Map determine accurate location information for my mobile users

Jim Derry 146

I use the Azure Map service in my SaaS application. Users do not get an accurate location returned when we try to determine their position

Manas Mohanty 13,425 Moderator

Hi Jim Derry

Thank you for pointing it out.

I am able to find issue on inaccuracy in azure maps through below code with latitude and longitude copied from Bing maps.


import requests

def get_address(latitude, longitude, subscription_key):
    # Define the endpoint and parameters for the Azure Maps Reverse Geocoding API
    endpoint = "https://atlas.microsoft.com/search/address/reverse/json"
    params = {
        'api-version': '1.0',
        'subscription-key': subscription_key,
        'language': 'en-US',
        'query': f'{latitude},{longitude}'
    }
    
    # Make a request to the API
    response = requests.get(endpoint, params=params)
    
    # Check if the request was successful
    if response.status_code == 200:
        data = response.json()
        #print(data)
        if data['addresses']:
            # Extract the address from the response
            address_info = data['addresses'][0]['address']
            freeform_address = address_info.get('freeformAddress', 'Address not found')
            #building_name = address_info.get('buildingName', 'Building name not found')
            #print(f"Address: {freeform_address}")
            #print(f"Building Name: {building_name}")
        else:
            print('Address not found')
    else:
        print('Error: Unable to fetch address')

    return freeform_address

# Lattitude and longitude can be found from navigator.geolocation too
latitude = 17.967673
longitude = 79.487091
subscription_key = '<azuremapskey>'  # Replace with your actual subscription key
freeform_address = get_address(latitude, longitude, subscription_key)
print(f"The address for latitude {latitude} and longitude {longitude} is: {freeform_address}")

Outputs from Azure maps

The address for latitude 17.967673 and longitude 79.487091 is: Warangal Road, Bapuji Nagar, Kazipet 506003, Telangana

Output from Bing maps when searched using co-ordinates or SDK.

The address for latitude 17.967673 and longitude 79.487091 is 30/2-1163, Balaji Nagar, Kazipet, TG-506003, India (relevant and almost accurate)

I will check with team internally for further action.

Thank you.

Manas Mohanty 13,425 Reputation points Moderator

2025-04-11T14:03:22.37+00:00

Hi Jim Derry

Would request you to provide overall view of your implementation too.

Thank you.
Jim Derry 146 Reputation points

2025-04-11T15:24:45.9933333+00:00

Hi Manas Mohanty,Our SaaS is a web-based application that users can access from a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. One of the PArtials we have developed lets users determine their current location by pressing an icon on a modal. The coordinates and address are returned, and the position is displayed on a map for them.
LeelaRajeshSayana-MSFT 17,866 Reputation points Moderator

2025-04-15T23:03:55.06+00:00

@Jim Derry Just checking in to see if the below information was helpful. If it answers your query, please do click Accept Answer and Yes, as it might be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any further query, do let us know. Thank you

Answer accepted by question author

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Manas Mohanty 13,425 Reputation points Moderator

2025-04-11T14:03:22.37+00:00

Hi Jim Derry

Would request you to provide overall view of your implementation too.

Thank you.
Jim Derry 146 Reputation points

2025-04-11T15:24:45.9933333+00:00

Hi Manas Mohanty,Our SaaS is a web-based application that users can access from a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. One of the PArtials we have developed lets users determine their current location by pressing an icon on a modal. The coordinates and address are returned, and the position is displayed on a map for them.
LeelaRajeshSayana-MSFT 17,866 Reputation points Moderator

2025-04-15T23:03:55.06+00:00

@Jim Derry Just checking in to see if the below information was helpful. If it answers your query, please do click Accept Answer and Yes, as it might be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any further query, do let us know. Thank you

Answer 1

You are using the old reverse geocoding service, use the latest: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/maps/search/get-reverse-geocoding?view=rest-maps-2025-01-01&tabs=HTTP

The latest should be nearly identical data as Bing Maps.

Note the API interface of the new version is very different. Some key things to modify in your code:

"query" parameter becomes "coordinates" and the format it "longitude,latitude" (reverse of the old service).
The response format is a GeoJSON Feature Collection which is very different format from previous version.

Here is a modified version of your code:

import requests

def get_address(latitude, longitude, subscription_key):
    # Define the endpoint and parameters for the Azure Maps Reverse Geocoding API
    endpoint = "https://atlas.microsoft.com/reverseGeocode"
    params = {
        'api-version': '2025-01-01',
        'subscription-key': subscription_key,
        'language': 'en-US',
        'coordinates': f'{longitude},{latitude}'
    }
    
    # Make a request to the API
    response = requests.get(endpoint, params=params)
    
    # Check if the request was successful
    if response.status_code == 200:
        data = response.json()
        #print(data)
        if data['features']:
            # Extract the address from the response
            address_info = data['features'][0]['properties']['address']
            freeform_address = address_info.get('formattedAddress', 'Address not found')
            #building_name = address_info.get('buildingName', 'Building name not found')
            #print(f"Address: {freeform_address}")
            #print(f"Building Name: {building_name}")
        else:
            print('Address not found')
    else:
        print('Error: Unable to fetch address')

    return freeform_address

# Lattitude and longitude can be found from navigator.geolocation too
latitude = 17.967673
longitude = 79.487091
subscription_key = '<azuremapskey>'  # Replace with your actual subscription key
freeform_address = get_address(latitude, longitude, subscription_key)
print(f"The address for latitude {latitude} and longitude {longitude} is: {freeform_address}")

Jim Derry 146 Reputation points

2025-04-11T15:28:07.7766667+00:00

Thank you, @rbrundritt , we'll test that out this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes by Tuesday.
Jim Derry 146 Reputation points

2025-04-15T23:37:25.6066667+00:00

Thank you for your help, @rbrundritt . We were a day late in getting it implemented, but it works great! Do you know if the Gov Cloud side has any similar updates?

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How to make my Azure Map determine accurate location information for my mobile users

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