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Global Entity Matcher (GEM)

Getting Started with GEM

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Getting started

Global Entity Matcher (GEM) is designed to simplify the process of aligning your geospatial data with standardized identifiers. This guide helps you understand the prerequisites and choose the right approach for your needs.

Overview

GEM enables you to match your road network data against Overture Maps reference datasets, and your GPS traces against the roads and lanes of TomTom Orbis Maps. You can interact with GEM through two methods:

ApproachBest forKey benefits
UIInteractive use, exploration, manual jobsVisual interface, guided workflows, no coding required
APIAutomation, integration, batch processingProgrammatic access, CI/CD integration, scripting

API vs. UI comparison

CapabilityUIAPI
Interactive guided workflow✅❌
Upload data to storage✅✅
Trigger matching jobs✅✅
Monitor job status✅✅
View job details✅✅
Download results✅✅
Batch operations❌✅
Automation & scripting❌✅
CI/CD integration❌✅
No coding required✅❌

When to use the UI

The UI is ideal when you want to:

  • Explore capabilities: Are new to GEM and want to explore features
  • Get visual feedback: Prefer visual feedback and guided workflows
  • Perform manual operations: Run occasional, manual matching jobs
  • Monitor in real-time: Want to monitor job progress in real-time
  • Quickly access results: Need to quickly check job history and results

When to use the API

The API approach is ideal when you need to:

  • Automate recurring workflows: Schedule regular data matching jobs
  • Integrate with existing systems: Connect GEM to your data pipelines
  • Process multiple datasets: Submit batch jobs programmatically
  • Build custom applications: Create tailored interfaces for your users
  • Implement CI/CD: Include GEM matching in your deployment processes

Next steps