1. A method of geocoding input geographic data into an output address match result, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a set of n “locate” tests to be used to convert the input geographic data into the output address match result; determining a certainty value (1-u) associated with each test in the selected set; determining a weighting constant (w) associated with each test in said selected set; and generating a characteristic vector defining the likelihood of the output address match to the input geographic data, the characteristic vector defined as the sum of each certainty value multiplied by its associated weighting constant: