geocode an address in php

gistfile1.aw

// Geocodes an address and returns an array with long / lat
function do_geocode_address( $address ){
    
    // Send GET request to Google Maps API
    $api_url = 'http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?sensor=false&address=';
    $api_response = wp_remote_get( $api_url . urlencode( $address ) );

    //Get the JSON object
    $json = wp_remote_retrieve_body ( $api_response );

    // make sure request was successful or return false
    if( empty( $json ) )
        return false;
    
    // decode the JSON object 
    // return an array with lat / long
    $json = json_decode( $json );
    $lat_long = array(
        'latitude' => $json->results[0]->geometry->location->lat,
        'longitude' => $json->results[0]->geometry->location->lng
    );

    return $lat_long;
}