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P-codes are unique geographic (geo) identification codes, represented by combinations of letters and/or numbers to identify a specific location or feature on a map or within a database. For specific place, point, or positional locations, the geo-codes have come into common usages as P-codes (abbreviated for Place-Code). These terms can be essentially interchange as long as one recognizes the focus on “position or place” for P-codes. They are also used to provide unique reference codes to refer to settlements or administrative units in other datasets.
P-codes should be made available as a preparedness activity during the development of the Core CODs (COD-AB and COD-PS). At a minimum the taxonomy (names and p-codes) should be made available.
P-codes will be required and used at the very start of any emergency and throughout the response. P-codes help with data coordination and provide the framework for most data collection, processing, analysis and visualization. For instance P-codes/names are used to create the 3W and monitoring data collection frameworks. They are used to help process data such as when processing country specific CODs (e.g. putting P-codes for school locations) . P-codes are used for analysis such as prioritization matrix or vulnerability matrix. P-codes are also used to visualize humanitarian data in maps and charts as seen in HDX, Snapshots, Bulletins, HNO, etc).
Process
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The first and most important two steps are: 1) confirm that there is no national coding scheme already available; 2) confirm that there is no informal coding scheme that has been adopted by some national or international organizations. Only proceed to create a P-code system if no other system is available.
The schematic below shows a basic structure of a P-code system for a country with four administrative boundary levels.
The components of this system are:
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