Reverse geocode through Google Maps API inaccurate?

Question

I have placed around a 1000 markers in my area through Google My Maps, transformed the KML file to CSV, and now want to transform the coordinates to addresses. I am just testing with the first 5 to test my script (Python) but I am finding that from the 5 test records, only 1 is correct.

For example: Coordinate: -33.7909042,151.2603029 Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?force=canvas&t=m&q=loc:-33.7909042+151.2603029

Clearly you can see the address is Rickard St 42

BUT When you use the API to geocode the coordinates with: https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?latlng=-33.7909042,151.2603029&key= APIKEY

It returns 119 West Street, on the opposite side.

I thought the Google Maps API was really accurate, but the service doesn't reflect the actual map itself. What is going wrong? Is there a better service?

• JGH: ... and then if you run the same query several times, you will likely get different results every now and then. From a test I made a few years ago on a short street segment with +- 20 addresses, I always had 20% of error (for different addresses at each run)

Answer 1

I can confirm that using google the map gets across in to the wrong address. enter image description here

Google maps are very good in what they do, but like everything else, sometimes technology fails. I presume their AI that transformed the map marker location got it right by artificially moving the target, where the API did not.

I used same input with out reverse geocoding tool CSV2GEO and we got the results right on target. enter image description here

Here is the result from the reverse geocoding

enter image description here

• PolyGeo: When suggesting your own product to be used in a question that does not mention it please always include a disclosure statement within the body of your question.