What is what3words?
It’s a location technology that has given every 10ft square a unique identifier made of three random words. This means that any precise location can be communicated using just three words. For example, ///stating.leaders.gifted refers to a specific 10ft square in Tehama County, California.
A what3words address provides the accuracy of GPS coordinates, in a human-friendly format that is easier to communicate and less prone to error than long strings of numbers. It enables telecommunicators to convey exact locations to field responders quickly and easily by text, written message, radio or phone call.
what3words addresses exist for every 10ft square in the world, enabling people to communicate the location of incidents in places without a street address such as hiking trails, building sites and unmarked stretches of road. Unlike a street address, which may cover a large property with multiple entrances, a what3words address can be used to specify an exact building entrance or site location. This saves crucial time when describing the location to field responders and partner agencies.
How it Works
Display
When a caller dials 911, their location’s what3words address will be delivered as supplemental location information to ECCs via Radius Mapping. In Radius Mapping, the what3words address will display in the call details drawer (see image on page 2). If the caller moves out of the 10ft square, the what3words address will update accordingly on the Platform.
Search
A dispatcher might be given what3words address by a caller or partner team member. They can it directly in Radius’s search bar.
In the rare occurrence that a what3words address does not appear in the call detail drawer, the call taker can send the caller a RapidLocate link from Radius. Once opened, the page displays the caller’s current what3words address, which they can then read out to the call taker.
Telecommunicators can easily communicate the what3words address to field responders, who can cross-reference it with their what3words app to locate the caller in need. To do this, the field responder inputs the what3words address into the free what3words app, by voice or text, and then navigates to the precise location.
Downloading and Using the Free what3words App
what3words is available as a free app and online map. Users can find, share, save and navigate to exact locations using what3words addresses. The app works offline, even without mobile data, users can discover their current what3words location, or enter a what3words address to view a location.
Search ‘what3words’ in the App Store or Play Store. Full instructions on using the app here.
Using the App to Navigate to Incidents
When a field responder receives a what3words address, they can use the app to get directions to the incident location:
If the what3words location is received over the radio, Call Notes in CAD or via text message:
3. Select the correct what3words address from the results displayed to view the location.
If the what3words location is received as a link:
Click the link to open the what3words app and view the exact location.
Navigating to the location displayed on screen
Tap‘ Navigate’ at the bottom of the screen and select your preferred navigation app (i.e. Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze or Compass if you’re in an area without roads for navigation).
The what3words location will convert into GPS coordinates and open in your chosen app.
Getting Started
The what3words team is available to answer any questions or host ECC information sessions. For further information please contact what3words Partnerships Lead, Zama at zama@what3words.com or visit https://what3words.com/emergency.
