reverse_geocode.rb

# By Louis-Philippe Gauthier
# http://lpgauth.tumblr.com/post/56451143/reverse-geocoding-google-ruby


require 'rubygems'
require 'net/http'
require 'xmlsimple'

def reverse_geocode(lat, lng)
 url = "http://maps.google.com/maps/geo?ll=#{lat.to_s},#{lng.to_s}&output=xml"
 uri = URI.parse(url)
 req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri.path + '?' + uri.query)
 res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port) { |http| http.request(req) }
 doc = XmlSimple.xml_in(res.body)
 response = doc['Response'].first
 if response['Status'].first['code'].first.to_i == 200
 placemark = response['Placemark'].first
 address = placemark['address']
 end
end

puts reverse_geocode(45.50, -73.60)