By Staff
September 11th,2020
BURLINGTON, ON
This one is a little on the complex side.
The Regional Police have signed on to a web site that will aid them in finding people who are lost and help people who are lost in getting found.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) announced a new partnership with What3Words. They are one of the first police services in the country to adopt this potentially lifesaving technology and is confident that this new program will help reduce response times.
The service is called – What3words – described as an easy way to communicate an exact location. This is done by dividing the world into 3 metre squares and assigning each square a unique combination of three words.
We did say it is complex.
For example, the what3words address of the HRPS Headquarters’ front entrance is Erupt.Venomous.Linear.
Using the app, callers can communicate their precise location to call takers at the HRPS. If they do not have the app, the HRPS can send callers a text message that will identify their location and unique what3word address. HRPS communicators can then direct officers to the exact location of the caller.
It is complex – but if it works – it could be great.
“This technology could be especially helpful in situations where people have become lost hiking, or have driven off the road and are trapped in a vehicle and don’t know where they are” says Staff Sergeant Stephanie Jamieson, Communications Bureau.
“We think this will also help immensely along the 325 square kilometres of Lake Ontario policed by the HRPS Marine Unit. Boaters can become stranded or lost and struggle to communicate their location to police.”
This program is far more precise than a traditional cell phone ‘ping’ often used by emergency services.
The HRPS will begin using this technology effective immediately.
The app is available for free on iOS and Android or via the online map at what3words.com. It’s also available in more than 40 languages.
The app also works offline, making it ideal for use in rural areas of Halton that may have poor or unreliable data signal.
For more information a video on how the program works can be found HERE.
This app is excellent to pinpoint a location for someone in distress
Also interesting to see the random 3 word names generated
for “ten foot square footprint” of landmark locations:
End of the Burlington Pier: Defended – Driveway – Private
Top of Light Tower on Pier: Caskets – Exists – Tulip
Burlington Cenotaph : Gloves – Fighters – Airship
Burlington City Hall Fountain: Sleepy – Special – Talkers
Spencer Smith Park Gazebo: Tourist – Viewing – Dragon
Tim Hortons by Lakeshore: Ambition – Leaves – Images
Joseph Brant Museum: Harmless – Squish – Assures
Very Tip of CN Tower: Strut – Explain – Chins
Centre Ice Maple Leaf Gardens: Cucumber – Cucumber – Grapes
Tip of Peace Tower Ottawa: Adjusted – Nibbles – Cricket
Larger landmarks have many 3 word names generated.