Systems and methods for generating a compact code that accurately identifies the position of a point on the Earth or other body are provided. The compact code can signify the position of a place in a manner that is easy to remember, easy to use, and in a way that allows a person to find the location without having to depend on local directions. The compact code can be generated independent of house numbers, street names, zip codes, local character sets and other current addressing tools. The compact code can be used for a variety of applications. For instance, the compact code can be associated with points of interest in a geographic information system, can be used to geolocate information, and/or can be used to navigate to a particular geographic location.