iMap

iMap Overview

iMap allows the conversion of iMIS addresses (like "855 West Prairie Avenue, Wheaton, IL") into geographic coordinates (like latitude 41.877166 and longitude -88.119687) using the Google© Geocoding API via HTTP requests. 
The Google© Geocoding API can be subject to limitation, see their terms of service: https://developers.google.com/maps/terms#section_10_12 
iMap provides the selection of specific iMIS addresses to be geocoded via a custom SQL view that can also be edited to specify a ranking of address priorities. 

iMap Basic System Requirements

The following system specifications are required to successfully run iMap: 

• Google© Maps API Key (instructions for obtaining below)

• SQL Server 2008 or higher

• Microsoft .NET Framework v3.5 or higher

• Windows 7 or higher

• iMIS 15.2 or higher

Installing and Upgrading iMap

Installing iMap

1. Download iMap from https://customer.csiinc.com

   1. You will need your CSI Website User Name and password. If you do not have this information, contact support@csiinc.com.

2. Unzip the folder and navigate to the unzipped folder.

3. Right mouse click on the setup.exe and click Run as Administrator.

4. The Setup Wizard will open. Click Next.

5. Run setup.exe. (It is strongly recommended this be done by right-clicking the file and selecting "Run as Administrator") The Installer Wizard for iMap will start.

6. The license agreement will display. Select "I accept…" and click Next.

7. Verify the default installation folder. Click Next.

8. Click Install to start the installation. A screen will then show, displaying the progress of the install.

9. A screen will confirm that iMap has been successfully installed. Click Finish.

10. After installing iMap for the first time, an administrator needs to set up and configure the required settings such as the database connection information and the geocoding preferences in order to get started.

About the License Key

The first time you log into iMap, a license key screen will appear. You will need to enter the license key CSI sent you to use iMap. If you do not have a license key, you may only use the product with an iMIS Demo database. When connecting to an iMIS Demo Database, iMap will not ask for a license key.
After entering the license key, you will be able to use iMap on your iMIS database. The license key is stored in your iMIS database, therefore you will only need to enter this key once per database. Installing iMap on a new computer will not require you to re-enter your license key.
Note: Changing the "Licensed To:" name or number of licensed users for iMIS will require a new license key. Contact CSI at support@csiinc.com with a screen shot of the current iMIS System Setup and a new key will be emailed to you.

1. Log into iMIS as an administrator (manager)

2. Click on File in the top toolbar

3. Select System Setup

4. Take a screen shot and send to support@csiinc.com

Upgrading iMap

When upgrading with a newer version of iMap, proceed with the exact same steps mentioned above. The installer will automatically remove the previous version if installed prior to installing the new one.

Using iMap

NOTE: Typically addresses process immediately, however, they can sometimes take up to ten hours to process.

1. To start running iMap click on the shortcut created during the installation by navigating to Start > All Programs > CSI Programs > iMap

   1. Note: If you are not logged in with the Windows administrator account:

   2. Find the installer folder

   3. Right-click on the Csi.AddressGeoCoding.exe file

   4. Select "Run as administrator"

Note: The Windows application program is only intended to configure and troubleshoot the setting. Once setup, the Windows service should operate the geocoding process continuously in the background. 

The main window provides a configuration menu and buttons to start/stop the related Windows service, and various troubleshooting information.

Setup database connectivity

1. Select the menu option: Options > Connection

2. Enter the necessary database connection information:

Setup geocoding parameters

1. Select the menu option: Options > Configuration

2. Enter the relevant information:

To obtain a Google API Key, please visit the following link (you will need a credit card and an existing Google account):

1. https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/geocoding/get-api-key

2. Create a new project (you may call it iMap). Agree to terms. Hit Next.

3. Go to "Get the API key".

4. Then select "APIs" and select Geocoding API, then ENABLE.

5. Create Billing Account.

6. Continue setting up an account with credit card info.

7. Obtain API Key.

Learn more about the Region option here:
https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/geocoding/intro#RegionCodes 
It is recommended that Transaction Interval value be set to 3: This determines how long the next HTTP request should wait. 
The Transaction Limits value is usually set to 1,300, depending on your license agreement with the Google© Geocoding API. 

1,300 per day should keep you under the "free" threshold of 40,000 per month.

Setup addresses to be geocoded

iMap installs a custom SQL view called: vcsi_AddressGeoCoding_Custom and relies on this view to get the iMIS addresses to be geocoded. 
Alter the custom view to meet your requirement. For example:

A custom SQL table called csi_AddressGeoCoding is used to store the geocoding results. It includes the following fields:

• ID, ADDRESS_NUM, FULL_ADDRESS, STATUS_CODE, STATUS_CODE_TEXT, ACCURACY, LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, LAST_UPDATED, and TIME_STAMP

Note: The RANK value determines the order to prioritize which addresses need to be mapped first.
Starting from version 1.0.5 a new lookup table CSI_CONFIG/IMAP can be created:

• The CODE and UPPER_CODE fields are the sorting order

• The SUBSTITUTE field should be the iMIS ID of the record to update addresses for

• The DESCRIPTION is optional and should be the address purpose or blank for all addresses.

By default, iMap will detect the any values in the lookup and process those.

Upon processing iMap will automatically remove the lookup values.

Sample 2 of custom view vcsi_AddressGeoCoding_Custom:

Prioritizing addresses that have changed and do not match with csi_AddressGeoCoding

Sample 3 of custom view vcsi_AddressGeoCoding_Custom:
Including the new iMap Gen_Lookup table with addresses to be prioritized first

Validating setup

Once all the settings are completed you can run a validation test that will already send the addresses to be geocoded.

1. Click on the Run button:

iMap will start sending HTTP requests according to the settings.

Running a Windows service

Once the settings are completed and the configuration validated, you can start the associated Windows service to let the geocoding process run in the background. 
Click on the Start Service button: 

Note: Stop the iMap windows program from processing by click on the Stop button (the Run label should then be displayed instead) and exit by selecting File > Exit.

Running Maintenance

1. Select the menu option: Options > Maintenance

The output results will display on the main screen:

Note: The maintenance program is automatically called when there is no mapping to be done. But it can be called manually using the menu option.

iMap Troubleshooting

If you have any issues with iMap, please contact CSI Support at support@csiinc.com. Tickets are normally responded to within 1 to 2 business days after they are submitted.

iMap Release Notes