The Burlington Fire Department has started using an innovative new, free-to-use location app called ‘what3words,’ which can help locate anyone who needs assistance and cannot provide an exact location (via The Bay Observer).
The app can work offline when there is unreliable or no data connection and can locate a person on a trail, in a forested area, park, parking lot, or even in a large building such as an arena or community centre.
What3words, has divided the world into three-metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three words. For instance, dodging.late.thuds, is a precise three-metre square near the Burlington Pier.
The system covers the entire world, never needs updating, and works offline. A what3words address is a human-friendly way to share very precise locations with other people, or to input them into platforms and machines such as autonomous cars or e-commerce checkouts.
Other emergency services in Canada using what3words include Toronto EMS, Oakville Fire Department, Halton Hills Fire Department, Halton Regional Police Service and Guelph Fire Department.
What3words is available as a free download for iOS and Android and enables people to find, share and navigate to what3words addresses in over 40 languages.
